Page 192 of Mountain Daddy

I blow out a breath as I cut through the tables.

The music has gotten louder, and the tables are half empty now that some of the people have left and some have moved to the dance floor.

Stopping at the trash cans, I sort out the garbage, then set the trays in the provided wash bin.

Jessie is in line at the bar, and a glance across the station shows that my dad and Luther are no longer alone.

Four women.

Four women, appropriate in age, have taken up the empty seats around them.

The chairs Jessie and I were sitting in are still open, but I watch the woman next to Luther lean into him, reaching for his arm.

I look away.

Hopefully Dad will see my sunglasses and grab them before it’s time to leave. But even if I lose them, it will still be better than going back to that table.

Chapter 117

Luther

The womanon the other side of the table reaches for the chair across from me like she’s going to move into it.

I hold my hand out. “That’s Kendra’s seat.”

She glances around. “Who’s Kendra?”

It’s hard not to grit my teeth.

How could anyone not know who Kendra is?

She’s my fucking reason for existing.

The reason I want to live and die at the same time.

“He’s talking about Kenny, my daughter.” Joe looks toward the garbage cans and shrugs. “She’s around here somewhere.”

“Oh, well, I can move when she comes back.” The woman slides into Kendra’s spot.

And it infuriates me.

That’s not her chair.

It’s Kendra’s.

And it’s the only way I get to be near her.

Chapter 118

Kendra

A form swimsinto view beyond my phone.

I lift my eyes from my screen and watch as Luther lowers into the chair across from me.

I’m in the farthest corner of the farthest tent, sitting mostly in shadows, in the hopes that no one would find me.

Luther sets something on the table between us. “Didn’t want you to lose these.”