11
TATE
Dad couldn’t take his eyes off me the next day.
After what we did last night, we had cleaned ourselves in the bathroom and went back to our beds without talking a whole lot. But he did tell me that he loved me. It wasn’t the kind of I love you a father said to his daughter. He meant it differently. I felt it.
Now, sitting in the living room with Ronan and Mom around, he couldn’t take his eyes off me. I continuously blushed when our eyes met, and it was hard not to squirm or giggle.
Ronan was already looking at me with a raised brow. He had noticed something was going on, but he hadn’t caught on to the way Dad was staring at me.
The silence around me became insufferable, but most of all, Dad’s staring made me all excited and nervous at the same time. I needed to move. I needed to do something before I exploded.
I cleared my throat and moved to the edge of the couch, placing my hands on my thighs, and rubbing along them. “So…what are we doing today?”
“It’s raining, Tate. There’s not much we can do,” Mom replied without looking up from her book.
I pursed my lips and looked over at Ronan who was sitting on the recliner. He kept his eyes on me, just like Dad did. Though, Ronan’s stare was more intimidating and nerve-wrecking.
“What if we go over to the diner and play pool there? Or darts?” I suggested, looking away from Ronan because he was starting to freak me out.
My eyes landed on Mom again. She shook her head. “I’m not going out there.”
“It’s just a short walk,” I stated.
“Still. I don’t want to go out there. Besides, I’m not good at pool nor darts. I’d rather stay in here and finish my book,” she replied, meeting my eyes with a tight smile.
“Okay, uhm…” I looked back at Ronan. “What about you, Ro?”
“Not sure. I’m not feeling it. I’m tired. I might just take a nap before dinner,” he said.
“Okay.” I pressed my lips together and dared to look at Dad. His eyes were still on me, and his gaze was soft. “What about you, Dad?”
“I could play a round of pool.”
“Awesome. So…should we go?”
He nodded and patted Mom’s knee before getting up from the couch. “Yeah, let’s go.”
I got up as well and headed right to the front door where our jackets were hanging on a rack, and I took mine off of it to put it on. Dad had followed me, and when he came to stand behind me to reach for his jacket, he put one hand on my waist.
I froze, loving the reaction my body had on his touch.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
I smiled and turned my head to the side. “Thank you.”
That moment didn’t last forever. He was gone sooner than I wanted him to, but I simply accepted it because it was only right that we wouldn’t cross a line with Mom and Ronan in the next room.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes, we can go,” I replied after putting on my rain boots.
He opened the door, and I took in the heavy rain falling outside. After putting up my hood, I went outside first and waited for Dad to close the door behind us. The diner wasn’t far from our cabin, but even with running, we’d get wet anyway. “That’s a lot of rain. Tell me again why you wanted to come here in the fall and not in summer?”
Dad put his arm around my shoulders and guided me down the few steps. “Because I like this type of weather.”
That was explanation enough. I liked this type of weather too.
We got to the diner and went inside, with our raincoats and boots leaving a puddle undeath us on the floor.
“Hey, guys. Please leave the coats right there on the rack,” Yulia called from behind the counter. “Where are the others?”
She wasn’t asking about Mom. She definitely wanted to know where Ronan was.
“They stayed in the cabin. We came to play pool, if that’s okay,” Dad told her as he got rid of his coat.
“Of course! Go for it. Can I get you something to eat and drink too?”
“I’d love a Coke, please,” I said with a tight smile. “And maybe some chips?”
Yulia nodded, then looked at Dad again. “And you?”
“A beer.”
We walked over to the pool table, and Dad grabbed two cues, standing them up against the table. “Gather the balls.”
I did as I was told, and while we set everything up, Yulia was already there with the drinks and a snack platter. She put everything on the high table next to us. “I brought whatever I had left. Some nuts, chips, and olives. If you need more, just let me know.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you had any guests today?” Dad asked her. The diner was empty. We were the only ones here.
“A few came to eat breakfast, but I guess they rather stay in their cabins with rain like this.”
“Understandable. You wanna play with us?”
No.
Please, don’t play with us.
“You can’t really play pool with three people. Four would be better,” I said, trying not to sound jealous. Why was he invited her to play with us?
“She’s right. Besides, I’m not good at pool. You go ahead and play. I have to prepare for dinner tonight. We’re making soup. Perfect for this weather.” She smiled at us, then left to get back to the kitchen where I suppose she was helping the cook.
“Soup sounds good, no? Maybe we should let Mom and Ronan know.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
I didn’t like how grumpy he was now. He didn’t really look at me, and he also didn’t look very excited to be here with me and spend time alone. But I’d make the best out of it.
I liked playing pool, therefore, I focused on winning and having fun either way.
***
Dad had called Mom around five-thirty, telling her that there’d be hot soup at the diner. It took him a little while to convince her to come, but shortly after he hung up, Mom and Ronan walked through the door.
I looked at them, and I smiled until I noticed the awkwardness between them. I frowned, taking in their expressions and postures. Why did they look so…shy?
“Who won?” Yulia asked as she came to take away our empty glasses.
“Dad did,” I said, smiling tightly. “I’m not as good as I thought I was.”
“You won one game,” Dad stated, trying to make me look better.
“Out of eleven,” I added, rolling my eyes. “It’s fine. I’m hungry now.”
“Go ahead and sit down. I’ll come over in just a minute.” She walked back to the counter but kept her gaze on Ronan for a moment. He smiled at her, and I noticed Mom shooting him a glare from behind.
Damn…what’s going on there?
Once we all sat down at a table, I couldn’t help but asked what was going on between them. Their behavior was weird. “Did you fight again?”
Mom looked up at me and raised a brow. “Who?”
“You and Ronan. You’re acting weird around each other.”
She looked at Ronan and puckered her lips. “No, we didn’t fight.”
“Everything’s fine,” Ronan added, resting his arm on the back rest behind Mom.
I kept studying them, and when Mom’s arm moved, I knew she was placing her hand on Ronan’s thigh. They weren’t being very smooth.
No, not one bit.
There was something going on between them.
Sexually.
I would know because I was having sex with Dad.
After Yulia came to take our orders, I kept quiet and focused on Mom and Ronan. I needed to figure out what was happening there, and because they’d never tell me, I had to find out myself.
I’d get to the bottom of it though.
I simply had to because I needed to know if this sick and twisted state of mind was in all of our blood, and not just Dad and mine.