Page 45 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

“You.”

She blinked, certain she’d heard him wrong. “Me?”

“Your sisters pretended to be upset about you missing the holiday. I defended you and it got out of hand. Cindy accused me of playing favorites, while Julia started insisting I loved you more than them.”

Annie snorted. “Wow. Lots of acting going on then.”

Her dad frowned. “That’s the problem, Annie. Itstoppedbeing an act. A lot of things were said and…well, I was forced to admit some of your sisters’ accusations were true.”

“True?” Annie felt as if she’d suddenly stepped into quicksand and was engulfed up to her neck. Her chest felt tight. “They’re the ones who’ve embraced the life you’ve provided for us. I’m the one who’s always ungrateful, right?”

Her dad reached out and took her hand. “There isn’t an ungrateful bone in your body. Dammit, Annie, how could you think such a thing?”

“You were so upset when I turned down your gift at graduation.”

“I wasn’t upset withyou. I was mad atmyself. I’d diminished all your hard work, dismissed it with some stupid grand gesture that was meaningless.”

Annie shook her head. “It wasn’t meaningless. It was thoughtful.” She recalled Hunter’s comment about it being sentimental. “The Bulletinmeant a lot to you. I should have realized that and appreciated how precious the gift was.”

“You’re so much like your mother. I should have known better than to try to buy your affection like that.”

Her father’s admission caught her by surprise. “You don’t have to buy my love. I already love you.”

Joe chuckled. “And I’m a foolish man for failing to realize it. I love you too, Annie. Very much. So tell me, why are you in Australia and who is this Hunter to you?”

She sighed. “I came here because I needed a break from my life. Then I realized I haven’t beenlivinga life. Not in a very long time. Hunter opened my eyes to that.”

“You’re in love with him.”

She didn’t bother to deny it. “Yes. I am.”

Her father sighed heavily. “So much like your mother.”

There was no anger in his statement. Instead it sounded like he was pleased, happy for her. She felt like she should point out the obvious obstacle. “He lives in Australia, Dad. I live in New York.”

“That’s just geography.”

When he didn’t elaborate, she narrowed her eyes. “That’s it? Your only pearl of wisdom? What good is that to me? I need an answer, Dad.”

Joe wrapped his arms around her and Annie tried to recall the last time her father had hugged her. It had been years. “Annabel Louise Prince. You’ve followed your own path since the day you first learned to walk. You’ve made your own decisions, taking turns I wouldn’t have chosen for you. You don’t needmeto tell you what to do. You only need to listen to this.” He tapped her chest, directly above her heart. “It’s never steered you wrong before.”

This time,sheinitiated the hug. He was right. This decision would be hers.

They parted and shared a smile. “And now, I think there’s a young man over there in that godforsaken piece of shit truck waiting for you.”

Annie laughed as she took her father’s arm and they walked toward the ute together.

“Everything okay?” Hunter asked.

Annie nodded, her emotions too close to the surface. She was afraid to open her mouth, terrified they’d all come tumbling out. While she’d made peace with her dad, her future with Hunter was still up in the air.

“Hey, Dylan,” Hunter called.

Dylan and Monet were still standing near the jet. Dylan looked up.

“You two want a ride back to the house?”

Dylan shook his head. “No. We’ll walk back.”