Chapter 9
MAEVE
“What in the actual fuck is this!”
My father’s voice, deep and filled with a trembling rage snaps my eyes open for me.
Fear drives me out of bed where I quickly realize I’m naked and grab a pillow to cover myself.
My dad is standing in the doorway of my bedroom, his eyes wide with disbelief and his lips curled back over his teeth in a snarl of fury.
I’ve seen him mad before, but I’ve never seen him like this. He looks positively homicidal.
And the reason for that is sitting up in my bed, his face whiter than the sheets he’s laying on. I run a hand over my face and shake my head. Myles pulls the sheet up to cover himself.
“Dad, wait—”
He jabs a finger at Myles, his face darkening. “You come into my home, my best friend, and you fuck my daughter? What the fuck, Myles?”
“It’s not what it looks like, mate.”
“It looks like you fucked my daughter.”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that.”
“I’m not blind, Myles”
“Dad—”
“Stay out of this, Maeve,” he growls.
“I love her, mate.”
The air feels like it’s been sucked out of the room and my father, and I, both turn to Myles. He sits up and raises his chin defiantly. My heart is in my throat, and I can’t keep the smile from stretching my lips. He said he loves me.
My dad though, scowls, his face darkening and he takes a menacing step toward the bed, his hands curling into fists, snapping me back to the moment.
While he’s distracted, I quickly throw on a long t-shirt, not realizing until after that fact that it’s on backwards. There’s no time to fix it though as my dad looks like he’s about to beat Myles to death, so I jump in front of him, putting my hands on his chest.
“Dad, stop,” I shout. “I love Myles too. We love each other.”
My father turns his eyes to me and looks at me like I’ve betrayed him. I’ve never once in my life seen the look of disappointment I see on his face now and it drives a dagger of ice into my heart. But I stand firm.
“I love him, Dad.”
His gaze lingers on me for another long moment before he looks at Myles. His face darkening even more. An accusatory finger snaps out directly at Myles.
“You, you get the fuck out of my house. Now, Myles. And I never want to see you again. You hear me? Get the fuck out and don’t come back. Ever!”
My dad looks at me again, this time with something like disgust on his face then turns and storms out of the room.
I turn to Myles who’s looking like he’s just had his heart ripped out of his chest. Looking like he wishes my dad had beat him to death.
He slips out of my bed and quickly pulls his clothes on.
“I need to go,” he says.
My heart drops into my stomach and tears spring to my eyes. “Myles, don’t—”
“I’m sorry, Maeve. I knew this was going to happen.”
“Myles—”
He cuts me off with a kiss then walks out of my room without another word.
I stomp my foot and scream in impotent fury.
A cold, dark anger comes rushing into my veins and I quickly pull on a pair of yoga pants then fix my t-shirt, and storm out of my room.
I find my dad in his study. Even though it’s still morning, he’s standing at the window with a glass of scotch in his hand.
I slam the door behind me and he doesn’t flinch.
Doesn’t move. Doesn’t turn or acknowledge my presence at all.
“What were you thinking, Maeve?”
“That I love him, Dad.”
“He’s twice your age.”
“So what?”
“He’s my best friend.”
“And he’s also a good man,” I shout. “The best man you’ve ever known. You’ve been saying that since I was a kid.”
“You’re still a kid.”
I stomp across the room and knock the glass out of his hand. It hits the hardwood floor with a loud clang and rolls away, spilling the amber liquid all over. He finally turns to me. Startled.
“Like it or not, Dad, I’m not a kid anymore. I’m a grown woman,” I seethe. “I’m fully capable of making my own choices in life—including who I choose to love.”
He shakes his head sadly. “He took advantage of you. My best friend took advantage of my little girl.”
“Are you even listening to me? I told you it is my choice. He didn’t take advantage of me. I’m the one who seduced him!”
My dad’s face blanches and his mouth falls open as he stares at me, seemingly dumbfounded and at a loss for words.
“I’ve been in love with Myles for a long time, Dad.”
“Maeve—”
“No, you’re going to listen to me for a change.
I’m a grown woman. I’m an adult. And I am capable of choosing who I give my heart and body to,” I growl.
“If Mom’s death taught me anything, it’s that we’ve only got a short time on this planet so it’s up to us to make the most of it.
And I’m not going to live the way you do.
I’m going to chase who and what I want.”
His eyes narrow and his face darkens with anger. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean? Live the way I do?”
“You’re living scared, Dad. I understand.
Mom dying really tore your heart out. I get it,” I say, my voice softening.
“But ever since then, you’ve hidden yourself away.
Hidden behind your work. You refuse to put yourself out there again because you’re scared.
And I understand. I really do. But you’re not living anymore.
You’re existing. You’re going through the motions.
And do you really think Mom would want to see you like that?
” I respond before he has time to even react, “She would not.”
He opens his mouth to say something then closes again and turns away. I can see the emotions scrolling across his face and it kills me. I want to go to him. Hug him and tell him it’s all going to be okay. But I’m pissed and want him to stew in that for a little bit.
“Myles is a good man, Dad. You know he is. And you know he’ll treat me well,” I say, softer still. “I love him. I’ve always loved him. And now I’m old enough to act on those feelings.”
“What do you want from me, Maeve?” His voice is thick with emotion. “Last thing I want is to lose you too.”
“I want you to be happy for me. I want you to be happy that I found a good man who will treat me like a princess. I want you to be happy that Myles and I want to be together,” I tell him. “But most of all, I want you to live again. I want you to feel the love I feel. To be as happy as I am.”
“I don’t know how.”
“I think you do,” I respond. “You just have to let yourself be open to it.”
He’s silent for a long moment and just stands there, staring out the window.
But then he turns to me slowly and his face has changed.
The anger has ebbed away and in its place is something different.
I can’t tell what it is, but his eyes are shimmering with unshed tears and the corners of his mouth are curling upward.
He sniffs twice and blinks away his tears as he shakes his head. “I can’t believe my little girl has grown up. That you’re a woman now,” he says softly. “In my head, you’re always going to be that little pigtailed girl who liked catching frogs.”
I step forward and take his hand in mine. “I’m still that girl, Dad. But now, I’m… more.”
“Yes, you are. And you’re exceptional, sweetheart.”
“So are you, Dad. And you need to find a woman who will make you feel that way every single day. Because you deserve it. And because it’s what Mom would want you to do.”
He lays a gentle hand against my cheek. “When did my little girl get to be so wise?”
“I’ve had a good teacher.”
I turn my face up to him and he smiles as he strokes my hair. “You really love Myles, I mean, really?”
“I do,” I say.
“I have never known a better, smarter, more decent man,” he says. “And the only thing I’ve ever wanted for you is to find a man who will love and cherish you the way you deserve.”
“He’ll do that.”
“I’m sure he can,” he looks directly at me, “and, I know he will.”
He lets out a long, shaky breath. “I’m not going to say this isn’t going to be weird or anything. I mean, for Christ’s sake, he’s old enough to be your father,” he says with a grin. “But if this is what you really want, then I’m going to support you.”
Tears well in my eyes and I smile. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, pumpkin. Now, go tell him to stop packing, get his ass down here, and I’ll apologize.”
Standing on my tiptoes, I plant a kiss on his cheek and give him a radiant smile. “You’re the best, you know that?”
“Yeah, I know.” He bends gingerly to pick up the whiskey tumbler.
Laughing to myself and feeling filled with light, I swoop down and pick it up for him, then bound up the stairs and dash down the hall to Myles’ room. But when I step inside, my heart drops into my stomach. His bags aren’t there.
Tears, not of joy this time, spill from the corners of my eyes.
“He’s gone,” I whisper. “No, no, no!”