Page 61 of House of Scarlett
There’s another moment of silence, and I know they want to mention Gabriel again, so I go there first.
“I get that you’re worried about me. I do, and I appreciate it. But, please, just let me handle some things on my own. If or when I need your advice or opinions on something personal, I’ll ask for them.”
“She just told us where to go,” Christine mumbles dryly to her brother.
“We respect you and know that you’re a capable, intelligent adult,” Ryan says. “But you’re also like a sister to us, and I’m just telling you what I’d tell Christine.”
“Aw,” Christine says with blatant sarcasm. “Now I know why Scarlett is telling us to fuck off, because I’d do the same to you if you tried to interfere in my personal life. Thanks, big brother, that was very educational.”
“I love you both and thank you for the goodies you sent. I really appreciate the thought.” Their get-well basket is still on the cart Liz rolled up when Gabriel was here.
“I’m just sorry we weren’t there in person,” Ryan replies.
“Well, my dad couldn’t make it to the hospital in person or even via phone call, so you’re doing better than him.”
As soon as I say the words, my phone buzzes with a text, and I pull it away from my ear to check the screen.
I have a moment of panic when I see Chadwick’s name on the display.Why did I unblock him?Oh, that’s right, if something happened to my dad when they were together, I wanted to make sure he could reach me. I obviously should have waited a few more months, though.
“I’m so sorry, Scarlett. You know how we feel about Lawrence. You deserve better,” Ryan says, trying to console me over my daddy issues, but I’m too sidetracked by the box on my screen and the message taunting me to click on it.
“Thank you, guys. Talk later.”
They say their good-byes, but I’m barely listening as I disconnect the call and toss my phone beside me on the bed.
“What would he possibly have to say to me that I would want to hear?” I ask the empty room, but unlike moments ago, there’s only my question and no voices of reason to answer.
I don’t have to read it. I’m allowed to ignore it. I don’t have to entertain whatever he has to say.
I remind myself of all these things, but I can’t help myself. When I tap the stupid text message, the window opens.
Immediately, I wish I hadn’t.
It’s a photo of Chadwick and my dad.Together. Laughing with fishing poles in their hands.
What. The. Fuck.
Chadwick: Sorry your dad couldn’t make it to the hospital. We were having too much fun fishing in the Hamptons.
My dad didn’t come to the hospital while I was having emergency surgery because he was fishing with my asshole ex-boyfriend? Tears burn the back of my eyes, and I can’t hold them in. They spill down my cheeks in hot streams.
How can fishing with your daughter’s ex-boyfriend be more important than your daughter?
Gut-wrenching grief for the relationship I never had with my father tears through me, doubling me over.
And that’s how Gabriel finds me.
Thirty-Six
Legend
“Fuck,are you okay? Do you need to go back to the hospital?”
I charge into the room and drop to my knees next to the bed, terrified that something’s horribly wrong with Scarlett. I have my phone in my hand, and I tap the 9 key before she looks up. It’s the worst expression I’ve seen on her face, other than the one I put there when I told her to leave my club and never come back.
Needless to say, I never want to see it again.
“I’m calling 911. We’ll get you an ambulance.”
