Chapter Sixteen – Tessa
Being stuck in a shitty motel instead of the home where I’d built my life these past two years was as good as torture. That girl thought she pulled one over on me—and she had, as much as I hated to admit it.
Still, I wasn’t going to go down without a fight. It was clear the tactics I’d used would only continue to fail. I needed something else. I needed more.
I needed help.
I paced the length of the room for a long time, and as the afternoon light waned and turned to darkness outside, I knew I couldn’t let this go. This was my life, yes, my mess, but there was someone who would do anything to help me, should I ask.
And, damn it, I had to ask.
I pulled out my phone and stopped pacing. A part of me thought I’d get a call from Vance, that he’d side with me over his daughter—but those damned recordings really put a damper on things.
As I found the name in my contact list, the story I’d tell to make my case came together in my head. I might’ve gone against the teaching family above all else , but he didn’t need to know that. No, in the story I’d tell, Kieran would be the traitor, because he was. This was only happening because Kieran chose the girl over me.
I dialed it out, and the other line rang and rang to the point where I began to wonder if he wouldn’t answer. He’d never understood my ambitions; he’d made it clear years ago. Still, I knew if I asked, he would answer.
After the fifth ring, he picked up. “Tessa.” I hadn’t heard him say my name in a long, long time. We weren’t so much estranged as we were simply apart so I could chase my life’s goals.
“Dad,” I breathed out the word. “I need help.”
“Where are you?” I told him the motel I was staying at, and he said, “I’ll be there in the morning.” And then he hung up.
Was I proud to go to my dad for help? Of course not. I was as self-sufficient as they came, but that girl had somehow weaseled her way into Kieran’s heart and fucked everything up. Our dad would know what to do.
The game wasn’t over yet.