Page 65 of Saylor

“I know. Life’s been…busy.”

“Busy?” Dad challenges, crossing his arms over his broad chest. The guy’s always been in pretty good shape, but his age is slowly catching up with him. It breaks me any time he's holed up on the couch from tweaking his back or pauses to catch his breath when he’s shoveling the driveway. Thankfully, today he seems as impenetrable as possible. Though I’m not sure how great I feel about it, considering all that brooding alpha is directed at me.

“I’ve been planning a Boo Bash––”

“That was last month.”

“You didn’t let me finish,” I mutter before giving him a scowl that would make a lesser man cower in fear.

My dad only grins and cocks his head to the side. “Go on.”

“I’ve also been helping Principal Wells with a few other odds and ends too,” I huff.

“I was lucky enough to raise busy girls who know how to balance their crazy lives with what’s most important. Family. Therefore, I call bullshit, Say.”

My shoulders sag. “Dad….”

“Would your disappearance have anything to do with a certain someone moving back to town?”

“I, uh, well….” I shake my head. “You know about that?”

“Of course, I know about that, Say,” he returns. “I might not be one for town gossip, but I pay attention to my daughters’ lives, and he was a big part of yours. None of us wanted to bring it up because of your history, but now, it seems like you’re hardly talking to anyone. Period. So, why should we keep walking on eggshells around you?”

“I never asked any of you to walk around on eggshells––”

“You didn’t have to. He hurt you, baby girl. And don’t think that I don’t remember what I told you when he left the first time.”

“Dad––”

“Don’t change the subject––”

“Dad––”

; “Brock! Skye! Sway! Anthony! Saylor!” my mom’s voice interrupts us from the kitchen. “Get your butts in the dining room! Everything’s on the table!”

I cringe. “She’s already finished cooking?”

“Your mom’s on top of things this Thanksgiving.” He drops his voice low and adds, “It’s a modern-day miracle. You can help with clean-up.”

“Okay. I’m sorry I showed up late. I just figured….”

“That it would be like every other holiday?” He laughs before tossing his arm around my shoulder and guides me to the dining room. “Nah. She’s been stressed about her girls. Between Sway getting married, Skye’s pending divorce, and your…,” he pauses to search for the right words.

“My what, Dad?” I challenge.

“Your blast from the past. It’s been a lot of stress on the family. Especially when you’ve kept us in the dark.”

“Dad…,” I repeat for what feels like the hundredth time since I walked in here.

“Don’t Dad me. We’re going to talk after dinner. It’s time.”

I blow out all the pent-up oxygen in my lungs but nod my agreement. “Fine.”

“Good girl.” With another quick kiss to the crown of my head, he adds, “Now, go say hi to your mama and see if she needs help carrying anything else from the kitchen. I’m going to round up Sway and Anthony.”

“Where are they?”