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“You should feel like you belong regardless of who your father is. They should have never made you feel like you didn’t.”
“I know that. But it happened, and it sucks. You don’t get to choose your family,” he says on a shrug. “When I get home, I’m going to have a long, hard conversation with my father. And then I’m going to be okay.”
I smile. “I’m proud of you, Sterling Harrington.”
“Wish I could say the same for you, Emilia Cameron,” he says, stepping closer to me. “But we’ll work towards it.”
He presses a soft kiss to my forehead and when I look up into his eyes, I know I made the right decision. Because I could fall in love with him so easily.
And that’s a bad idea. Because I’ve seen firsthand how easy it for love to destroy a person.
Thankfully I get back home before Anika wakes up. When sleeping beauty eventually does rise, she finds me in the kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee after a nice warm shower. She runs a hand through her dark hair, peering at me.
“Don’t you have work today?” she questions, pouring a cup of coffee of her own.
“Day off,” I reply shortly.
“What do you mean, day off? It’s your third day!” she exclaims.
Is it? I feel like I’ve been working for Sterling for a lot longer. Damn. I must have lived ten lives in three days.
“Sterling isn’t going in to work today and since there’s nothing for me to do at work without him, he asked me to stay at home as well.”
Anika nods in understanding. “Is he okay, though? I heard Uncle Steven and Aunt Elana were back.”
“He’ll be fine,” I tell her.
He’s strong. A lot stronger than I am.
CHAPTER 18
Sterling
Things settle eventually. The past couple of weeks were relatively quiet. Albeit busy owing to the recent development. I’m glad for the work, though. It serves as a good distraction from everything else. Especially since the woman who is helping me through it is at the core of one of the biggest things weighing on my mind.
I want Emilia, but I also don’t want to scare her off. So right now, I guess I’m biding my time. Keeping her by my side and waiting until she eventually trusts me enough to open up to me.
My parents are still in town. This is the probably the longest period of time they’ve stayed in one place since I graduated college, which is how I know they feel a little guilty about everything that happened. Or at least my dad does.
My mother is still my mother. She’s never going to change and that’s okay. I made peace with who she is a long time ago. Initially, I wanted to blame her for everything, but at the end of the day, her choices are what led to me. The person who was probably the most hurt by her actions has learned to live with it. So I guess I have to as well.
“Ster,” my dad calls as I’m heading out of the house.
He’s jogging up the driveway, dressed in blue running shorts and black Vans. There’s also a blue sweatband around his head. I stop beside my car, waiting for him to reach me. When he does, his breathing’s a little erratic and there’s some sweat on his brow.
“Aren’t you too old to still be running?” I question with a raised eyebrow.
He rolls his eyes. “Who are you calling old? You and both know I can outrun you easily any day, kid.”
“Big talk for an old man,” I return easily.
Running’s one of the ways my father and I bonded when I was younger. I initially took up the hobby because of him. It was a way to emulate him, find similarities between us. I used to try so hard. But at least now it’s a hobby I genuinely enjoy on my own.
“Yeah, whatever. Listen, son, I wanted to talk to you about Sean’s birthday. It’s coming up in a couple of days.”
“I know, Dad,” I say drily. “I’m already making plans to get him his presents. As I’m sure you have as well. Just try not to spoil him too much.”
“I’ll try,” he says, and I inwardly sigh. “Anyway, what I wanted to say is maybe we could have a little get together. Like a small party for Sean.”