Tainted Black - Williams Shanora - Страница 24

Just let it be. Just let it be? I was still unsure. I mean, it would have been wrong to never tell my best friend, but then again, some things just... happened.

The right thing to do would have been to inform her, but I loved her too much to create such drama in her life. I cared for her, and she was still a little unstable about her mother passing away. Knowing that her father had slept with me only six weeks after her death would cause all hell to break loose.

But I liked Theo… a lot.

And I also loved Izzy. She was like a sister to me. I could talk to her about any and everything—everything but this anyway. Maybe it was best to make the sacrifice, forget about Theo and avoid him so I could keep my friendship with her on the right track.

I sighed, and seconds later, Dad walked out of the bathroom with a blue, cotton robe on. He glanced my way uncomfortably, walking to his closet. “How’d it go in there?” I asked, fighting a laugh.

He grumbled something beneath his breath, cracking the closet door behind him. Almost ten minutes later, he walked back out. I expected comfortable clothes, but instead he had on a pair of khaki shorts with an argyle shirt that matched his socks. His leather shoes were tied tight, and in his hand was a navy-blue flat cap.

“Dad…” I climbed off the bed, brows furrowed. “What’s happening here?” I pointed between us, doing a small, sarcastic spin action with my finger.

“I want to go golfing today.” He walked towards the window and looked out, observing the neighborhood. “It’s a nice day.”

“How are you feeling?”

He shrugged. “Not too forgetful. Still have my good swing.”

“Did you take your meds?”

“Yeah,” he huffed. “Nurse practically shoved them down my throat.”

“Oh.” I placed a hand on my hip. “Well, okay. But I’m going to drive you. Margie told me the doctor said you couldn’t get behind the wheel.”

“Man,” he frowned, head shaking, “that woman tells you everything, huh?”

“That’s a good thing. The keys are hidden, so don’t go trying to look for them.”

“Women,” he mumbled as I trotted out of the door.

I laughed, walking down the hallway and entering my bedroom. I took a five-minute shower and then got dressed in a pair of shorts and a blue polo and gathered all my hair into a low ponytail. Placing the black baseball cap over my head, I snatched up my keys, my cellphone, and my wallet, and then walked back to Dad’s room. I was surprised he was still in there. I guess he really was feeling himself today. Good.

“Ready?”

He looked up, standing. “Was ready almost thirty minutes ago, baby girl.”

Yep. This was Dad. The one that called me “baby girl”. The one that actually knew who I was. I smiled as I followed him down the staircase, and after we ate a light breakfast—yogurt, walnuts, and bananas—we were in the car, on our way to the golf club.

While Dad golfed and I was practically his caddy, slugging heavy clubs around the green fields, I’d received a few text messages from Izzy.

Izzy: I’m bored.

Izzy: Chloe?

Izzy: Is papa Knight ok?

Izzy: CHLOEEEE!!!!

I sighed before responding. Such an impatient being she was.

Me: Papa Knight is fine. At Bayroots with him now.

Izzy: The golf club?

Me: Yep.

Izzy: I feel so bad for you right now.

Tell me about it.

I looked up, watching as Dad steadied the club in his hand, the golf ball ready to be struck. He drew back twice, steadied his hand again, and then jerked back once more before completing his swing. The metal club hit the ball with a loud thwack, and we both watched it soar, landing on a patch of grass only a few yards away from the planted flag.

Someone let out a deep whistle from a few feet away, and when I turned to look, I was unfortunate to see Riley, my ex from high school, and his obnoxious dad. Oh, God.

“You have one hell of an arm on you!” Mr. Hunt yelled to my dad, walking in his direction. Of course, that left Riley to come my way as Mr. Hunt continued talking, leaving me stuck in an awkward situation. I couldn’t leave because Dad needed me, but on the other hand, if I had left, it would have spared me from Riley’s ignorance.

“Well, damn,” Riley said, eyes running up and down my legs. “You still have those softball player legs on you.” I thinned my eyes, picking up the bag of clubs and following after Dad and Mr. Hunt. Riley caught up to me, a smirk on his lips. “It’s been so long, huh, Chloe? You go to USC, right?”

“Yep.”

“Shit, you know we trashed them during the championships. Fucking murdered their asses.”

“Good for you,” I sarcastically noted.

“So what’s up?” he asked, running his fingers through his thick bed of curly reddish-brown hair. He’d grown it out, and he had developed more acne too. Weird. I always thought acne was supposed to disappear the older you got, not worsen.

“What do you mean?”

“What are you in town for? USC’s only like a few minutes away right.”

“An hour and a half actually.” I tried not to roll my eyes. “And I came for my dad.”

“Yeah, figured it was something. I remember you saying you would never come back once you left.”

“Yeah, well…” I shrugged, dropping the bag as Dad came to a halt. “Shit happens. Sometimes you need to surround yourself around family.”

He scoffed. “Bullshit. Only reason I’m here is ‘cause my uncle Joe died. Funeral was yesterday.”

“Oh.” I pressed my lips, turning the screen of my phone back one.

Me: OMG. You won’t believe who just showed up.

Izzy: Who?!?

Me: Riley Hunt.

Izzy: Ew. Wtf? I thought you were going to say someone hot.

Me: He won’t stop staring at my legs.

I looked up, and his eyes were focused on my thighs, yet again. Normally, it was the butt or the boobs, but since I had neither on full display, it was the legs. Ugh, he was so fucking weird.

“You know I’m in town until tomorrow afternoon. We should hang out tonight or something.”

“What makes you think I want to do that?”

“I don’t know. You’re obviously bored as fuck if you’re hanging around Bayroots and watching your dad play golf.” He laughed hard, proud of his inside joke.

This time, I didn’t prevent my eye roll. He was a complete jackass. I turned my back to him and looked towards my dad again. He was still watching Mr. Hunt talk. He seemed a little confused.

“Know what I mean?” Riley asked, moving forward and licking his lips. “Have fun together… alone. Just like old times.”

Ew. I cringed and moved away, feeling bile building up in the back of my throat. Dad turned to look at me, and I took advantage of the opportunity, walking ahead with the clubs and getting far away from my really unappealing ex-boyfriend.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, yeah. Just need a different club.”

“Oh.” I pulled the bag around, and Mr. Hunt told us to hold on one second, rushing towards Riley again and demanding his cellphone from the bag. Yeah, now I see where Riley got his everybody owes me attitude.

Dad scratched his head after accepting the club. “I feel like I’ve seen that man before, but I have no clue who the hell he is.”

I laughed. “That’s Mr. Hunt. His first name is Jake. You volunteered to go on a field trip with him one time—a long time ago.”

“Oh. The boy knows you?” he inquired.

“We… used to date.”

Dad’s face was full of disgust, nose scrunched, forehead creased. “Him!?”

I glanced back. “I know…” I turned forward again, looking down at the grass. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”