Page 75 of House of Payne

I’m relieved that of all the problems I’m dealing with, Mason going back on his word isn’t one of them.

I’m not sure what I would do if he had.

I can’t envision crawling back to my dad and Noah with my tail between my legs and nothing to show for it.

This will all be worth it when I make it to the other side.

It has to be.

“Or you’ve struck some kind of deal with them directly. Sweetheart, I know you think you need to solve my problems, but I hope you haven’t done anything you’ll regret.”

I force out a laugh that sounds fake even to me. “Dad, come on. You know I wouldn’t do something like that. I told you I took a job abroad. Iknow not knowing the details is killing you, but I got in because of an old college friend of mine. You remember, Dinah, right? She’s the one who got me in.”

The lie flows easily, and I sink deeper into despair.

This is what Mason has reduced me to.

He didn’t ask you to lie, did he? You’re doing that on your own. You could’ve just left it vague.

Knowing I was nearby wouldn’t have helped anyone.

Noah and my dad need to believe I’m out of the country, or this won’t work.

“…so she made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” I finish weakly. “Anyway, how’s the diner going? How is everything else?”

“Noah stopped by today to help me with some repairs,” my father says, a smile in his voice. “He mentioned that things haven’t been great between you two lately.”

“I’ve been busy,” I respond. “I know it’s hard because we’ve gotten used to seeing each other so often, but it’s okay. We’ll be okay.”

“You know, when your mother and I first met, we were inseparable, too.”

I drift closer to the window and look outside. “Yeah, I think you mentioned that.”

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, London, but nothing I regret more than driving your mother away. I held on when I shouldn’t have, let go when I didn’t mean to, and most of all, I didn’t know how to open up.”

My ears are ringing. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I can see you making the same mistake with Noah. He’s kind and patient, and he loves you, London, but he won’t wait around for you forever. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t push him away.”

My free hand curls into a fist, and a burst of frustration courses through me. “It’s not the same thing, Dad. Noah and I aren’t you and Mom.”

“No, you aren’t. I’d like to think you’ve learned from my mistakes and that you’re smarter than I am.”

I’m on my feet before I know what I’m doing. “Look, Dad, I know you miss Mom, and I know you regret how some things went down, but I’m not you, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t lecture me about this. You don’t know what Noah and I are going through.”

Opening up to Noah isn’t an option.

“I don’t mean to overstep, but I’ve seen him moping the past few weeks—”

“He seemed fine when I spoke to him,” I say. “Anyway, it’s just a rough patch, Dad. All couples go through it, especially long-distance ones. We’re going to be fine.”

I don’t know if knowing Noah misses me makes things easier or harder.

“London, I—”

“Dad, I have to go,” I interrupt. “I know you mean well. It’s fine. I’ve just had a long day. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

He says something else, but I don’t hear him.