Page 35 of Don’t Love the Boy Next Door (Hotties Next Door #2)
Chapter Thirty-One
Eric
The concert is tomorrow night. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.
Amber’s still struggling with the lyrics. I don’t blame her because it’s hard to learn three new songs in less than a week. But I’m staying positive. We have to pull this off. We have no choice.
The only problem is that I have no idea if she’ll be ready in time.
I shake my head. No negative thoughts. She’s been working her butt off the last few days. She’ll get it. I have faith in her.
The doorbell rings. Hmm, who could that be at nearly midnight?
Mom is already in bed and Ethan’s in his room. I go downstairs and open the door slightly. My eyes nearly pop off my face as I stare at the dark-haired man standing before me with a suitcase on the floor beside him. “Dad?”
He beams. “Hey, kiddo.”
I just stare at him.
“Aren’t you going to let me in?”
“Right. Sorry.” I widen the door and step aside for him to enter. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you think?” He laughs. “I’m here for your concert.”
“You heard about it?”
“Of course. I promised I’d hear you and your brother live again, didn’t I? Now come here and give your old man a hug.”
I walk into his arms, trying not to feel too awkward. The last time he hugged me was…I don’t even remember.
“Who is that?” Ethan yells from upstairs.
“Is that you, Ethan?” Dad calls.
His footsteps are hesitant as he makes his way downstairs. He looks at Dad like he’s not sure if he’s seeing the real thing or a ghost. “Oh, so you finally decided to show up.”
Dad’s lips falter a little, but then he beams again. “You’re one fine-looking young man, Ethan. Both of you. My boys have grown up to fine young men.”
“What are you doing here?” Ethan demands.
“He’s here for the concert,” I tell him.
“What concert?” Ethan asks.
“Yours, of course.”
Ethan stares at him and then bursts out laughing. “Funny.”
“I’m serious.”
“You’re telling me that you ditched your tour to come see us perform?”
“I didn’t ditch the tour,” Dad says. “We’re on a small break.”
“Right, of course. Going to my room.” He disappears up the stairs.
Dad watches him go and sighs.
“He’ll come around,” I say. Then I want to kick myself. Why do I always lie when it comes to Ethan and my dad?
Dad smiles. “Thanks, kiddo.”
“Eric?” Mom’s voice says.
I turn around and find her standing there, blinking at Dad.
“Miles?” she asks.
“Hi, Sandra.”
“What…?” She glances between the two of us. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to surprise my boys by coming to their concert.”
“I see. How long do you plan to stay?”
“Just the weekend. If that’s all right.”
“I’ll make up the guest room.”
“I’ll help,” I offer.
Mom doesn’t say anything as we grab some linen and dress the bed. But her demeanor says enough. She’s a little shaken by Dad’s sudden arrival.
“You okay?” I ask as I fluff a pillow.
She puts on a brave smile, like she always does. “Of course, sweetie.”
“He doesn’t have to stay here,” I say. “We can ask him to sleep at a hotel.”
“Nonsense, he’s your father.”
“But he’s your ex-husband.”
She pats my cheek. “Don’t worry about me, Eric. You should be thrilled he’s finally here.”
“I am,” I tell her. “I’m just worried about you.”
She gives me another smile as she kisses my cheek. “You’re too young to be worrying about your mom.”
“It doesn’t matter how old you or I am, Mom. I’ll always worry about you.”
“What have I done to deserve such a sweet kid?”
I avert my gaze to the bed. “I’m not really sweet,” I mutter.
“Of course you are. Can you hand me the second pillowcase?”
Once Dad is settled in and Mom returns to bed, I make my way up to my room. Ethan’s leaning against the hallway wall with his arms crossed.
“So he’s sleeping here?” he asks.
“Yeah. I told Mom he could stay at a hotel, but she said she’s fine with it.”
“And you believed her? Of course she’s not fine. You should have sent him back. I don’t want him here.”
“Ethan, he traveled all the way from Texas.”
“I don’t care if he came from the moon. He has no right just dropping in on us with no warning. Although I shouldn’t be surprised,” he mumbles. “He always does whatever he wants without taking other people’s feelings into consideration.”
I release a breath as I rub my neck. “I don’t have patience for this. I’m stressed enough as it is.”
“And you think I’m not? Now we have to deal with him .”
“Ethan,” I snap. “Just stop, okay?”
“I don’t want him here.”
“ I do.”
His chest rises and falls wildly as he gapes at me. Then he spins around and marches into his room, slamming the door behind him.
I enter my room and rub my temples. I have mixed feelings about my dad. I’m happy he’s here, but upset, too. I’m worried what his presence will do to my mom and my brother. And now I’m under even more pressure to nail our concert. Because my dad will be watching us.