Page 109

Dad's voice comes right back.

You expect that girl to just kneel in front of you and give you her life.

I stare at her with my heart pounding.

She continues, "I've been taking care of myself for a long time. I had a whole life before you walked back into it. I was pregnant and birthed Charlie without you. I can drive myself to a hotel and back."

"And whose fault was that?" I snarl, the anger I don't want to have, creeping in.

She jerks her head backward, and her eyes turn to slits.

The room goes quiet.

I don't flinch, not backing down.

With hurt in her voice, she asserts, "Mine. Is that what you wanted to hear? I made the wrong choice. But if you're going to use it against me every time we disagree, then we have a much bigger problem than who drives me to a hotel."

The anger drains out of me as fast as it came.

Fuck.

I drag a hand over my jaw, wishing I could shove the words back into my mouth. "That was a shitty thing to say."

She lets out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, it was. Especially when I've spent every day since you found out, trying to make it right."

"I know you have."

"Do you?" Her voice cracks. "Because you sure knew exactly where to stick the knife."

"That isn't what I was trying to do."

"Doesn't matter. You did it."

"I'm sorry."

She stares at me, hurt and anger competing in her expression. "Time for me to go. I'm getting in my truck, driving myself there, and spending some time with my best friend. And I'll come home when I'm ready without having to check in with you."

"I wasn't asking you to check in."

"You were trying to drive me there and pick me up."

"Because I wanted to make sure you got home safe."

"And I told you no."

My jaw clenches.

She points between us. "That. Right there. You don't like it when I tell you no."

"That's bullshit."

"Is it?"

"Yes." I rake a hand through my hair. "Jesus Christ, Lainey. I'm trying to take care of you."

"I don't need you to take care of me every second of every day."

"I never said you did."