Page 47 of The Love Ambush (The Sullivans #1)

Gentry

S omehow, I manage not to question my dad until I find him alone later that night.

He’s in the den, watching sports ball and scrolling on his phone.

Trisha’s in their room, talking loudly on the phone.

The kids are holed up in their rooms, supposedly doing homework but probably watching something mindless on the Internet.

“Hey, Dad,” I say. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

He pauses the game and turns to face me. He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Sure, kiddo. What’s up?”

“I was on my break at work and saw you and Trisha leaving the real estate agent’s office today.”

His smile doesn’t slip, but something about his face changes. It goes harder, tense. “Well, sure, you did, kiddo. Trisha and I are putting the house on the market.”

All the air goes out of my lungs like he’s punched me. I guess a small part of me still hoped he’d actually changed.

Dad laughs. “Look at you. You just went white as a ghost. Which is why I didn’t tell you. Your mother poisoned you against me, and I knew whatever I said or did, you’d anticipate the worst.”

“How is this not the worst?” I’m barely able to get enough breath for those words. I sink into the nearest seat, a hard, black leather chair that isn’t even remotely comfortable.

He gives me a patronizing smile. “Gentry. kiddo. You’re going to be moving out soon and—”

“I am?”

“And Sophie’s got less than two years before she leaves for college or gets married and starts a family.”

My head goes light, and the room spins. “Married?”

“This house is way too big for just Trisha and me.”

“And Emily.”

He waves a hand. “I get that you’re emotionally attached to this place, but it’s going to need a new roof and a new AC unit soon. The water heater is a piece of crap. It’s just better to sell now before we have to put a bunch of money into the house.”

“How can you sell it without Mom’s permission? Her name is on the deed.”

His jaw tightens, and his eyes narrow. “I saw your mom last month. Told her I wanted to take care of you kids. She signed the house over to me.”

“She did?” Why would she do that? Why would she give him anything? Unless she was too high to understand what she was doing. “How is she? Is she sober?”

He frowns, lets out a dry chuckle. “If I’d known she’d left, I would have been here years ago. Why didn’t you call me and let me know what kind of trouble you were in?”

Weird that this is the first time he’s asking. I don’t like it. “I didn’t have your number. How was Mom when you saw her?”

He glances at the television, watches for a moment that stretches out so long I’m sure he’s not going to answer me.

“Strung out.” He looks at me, his mouth turned down in what I assume is supposed to be sympathy, but feels like pity.

“She asked me to tell you she’s sorry she can’t be here for you kids. ”

My throat goes tight, and a tear slips down my cheek. I don’t want to believe him, but how else could he have gotten her name off the deed?

The fact he hasn’t told me until now, though… Was he avoiding an uncomfortable conversation? Or waiting for the best time to use the information? As much as I want to believe in him, I just… Don’t.

“Where are we going to live?” I ask.

“kiddo,” he says in a tone that makes me want to punch him right in his white, shiny teeth. “You’re going to live wherever you want. You’re an adult now. You’re free to live your life.”

I swallow back the rising panic. I need to be here with him and the kids so I can truly understand what’s happening. “Where will you and the kids live?”

“We’ll rent a small apartment until we find a place more suited to the size of our family.”

None of this makes sense unless he’s looking to cash out on the house and run. It’s got to be more expensive to rent and buy a new house than to replace a roof and a water heater.

“Emily’s only going to be in school here for four more years,” I say. “She should get to stay in the home she’s always known.”

“You’re such a good big sister,” he says warmly, and it makes me feel sixteen again.

He used to say that to me all the time, usually when he was asking me to babysit.

His words had filled me with so much pride back then.

Now, they feel manipulative. “You’re right to care about the well-being of your sisters, but you can trust me to do what’s best for them.

We’ll find a place they’ll love even more than this house. Change isn’t always bad, you know.”

“I know,” I lie. Change, starting with his leaving this family, hasn’t really worked out that well for me the past few years. “Can I just stay here until I find a place to stay?”

His smile returns. “Of course, kiddo. Just don’t tell your sisters about the sale. We’re going to have the viewings when they’re at school.”

“When are you going to tell them?” I ask, so surprised I don’t manage to hide it. Surely, my sisters need to know.

He shakes his head, looking disappointed in me. “I’ll tell them when the time is right. They need to get used to me and Trisha being around before I drop that bomb on them.” He pats my knee. “How about a hand or two of Gin Rummy? That still your favorite game?”

For a moment, it warms me that he remembers. When I was a kid, it always felt like the sun was shining on me when my father noticed me. Now, though, it feels like another manipulation.

He’s just pulled the rug out from under me and might be planning to take the money he earns from the sale of this house and leave us with nothing. Again. And he wants me to play a stupid card game with him?

I want to get as far away from him as possible, but I need to stay on his good side so I can find out what he’s really up to. “Sure, Dad,” I say, forcing a smile. “I’d love to.”

We move to the kitchen and play five rounds, laughing and trash talking each other just like old times. There are moments when I forget I don’t trust him. Moments when it just feels so damn good to be hanging out with my dad again.

But those moments don’t last long.

He can’t be trusted. I just hope my laughter and smiles are believable enough to convince him I’m fine with his plans for the house.

When I’m tired of pretending, I fake a yawn and announce I need to get to bed.

I say goodnight to Dad and head up to my room. The first thing I do when I’m alone is call Levi. He doesn’t answer, so I send a text: Dad’s selling the house.

I don’t dare ask outright, but I hope Levi will find out what the hell Harley Lendew is really up to.