Page 42 of Splintered Desire

He holds up his hands in surrender. “I know, I know, you're too old for the nickname,” he says with a chuckle, scooping up some spaghetti onto my plate with a tight smile. “I’ve called you that for a long time, kiddo. You’ll have to forgive me as I try to relearn. Old dogs and new tricks, you know.” He tries to make a joke, but I see the sadness in his eyes and feel like shit.

Damn it.

“It’s fine, Dad, just not outside the house,” I tell him, and as much as I know I’m going to regret this, I can’t help but smile as his smile curls his lips, the same dimple I have on my left cheek mirrored on his.

“You're just the sweetest thing, Zela,” Diane gushes, making me blush again as I pray to any god that will listen that the floor will just open up and drop me in hell.

It can’t possibly be worse than this, right?

“She’s like candy,” Jace says, and whereas I was just overheating a moment ago, I feel as though I’ve been dropped into a bucket of ice water now.

Diane and my father seem ecstatic about his contribution to the conversation, but I know better.

We do a fantastic job of avoidance, staying out of each other's way ever since the night Jace visited me in my room last week. But even before then, family dinners were quiet; it was as if an unwritten rule said we didn’t show them we hated each other.

When did that change?

“And smart,” Isaac adds, making the room feel like it’s closing in around me.

“And brave.” Kol’s voice is steady, but I hear the heat in those two words.

I don’t dare look at any of them, but it’s impossible to miss the way Dad beams and the pride that shines in his eyes.

Even if not for myself, I wouldn’t have the heart to tell him they aren’t complimenting me. No, these are fighting words; he just doesn’t know them like I do.

“How I got so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter after the hell she grew up in is beyond me, but she did turn out pretty damn perfect, if I do say so myself.” Dad all but puffs out his chest, and Diane smiles at him like he put the moon in the sky.

Yet another reason I keep my ass in the chair instead of running like I know I probably should.

Dad’s so happy, but so is Diane.

They deserve to be happy, even if their kids are fucking crazy, myself included, because who has dinner with a man who literally held you down and came on your face?

A man who is about to be your stepbrother at that.

“Pretty damn good indeed,” Jace agrees, and goosebumps break out over my arms with the way he looks at me.

He’s left me alone since that night, but I get the feeling it’s not because he decided to; no, judging by the way Kol’s glaring at me, he made that decision, and what Kol says goes.

The emphasis on his words feels intentional.

Even if Jace didn’t tell them about what he did, I know Kol is upset with me, but it’s not like I can just do what they want.

I’m literally between a rock and a hard place, damned if I do and damned if I don’t.

“So what’s this about your Saturdays being so busy you can’t spend time with your brothers?” Dad’s question stops me short with my fork halfway to my mouth.

I set my fork down and thank my lucky stars I didn’t have a mouthful of food to choke on.

“You know I took extra classes this semester,” I tell him, and by some miracle, my voice doesn’t give me away.

My dad believes I'm a terrible liar because I’ve never needed to lie to him about anything.

This isn’t like that.

He needs to stay out of this.

“Family is important, though, kiddo. I’m sure you can squeeze them in sometimes.” The look he gives me is one I don’t often see: the stern ‘dad’ look from when I was little.