Chapter 27

"Remi, it's me!" Dad barked, covering his ears with his hands. "Calm down."

"Dad? What are you doing?" I yelled. My mind was racing and my lungs weren't getting enough air.

"I need to talk to you," he said calmly as if he didn't almost give me a heart attack just a few seconds prior.

"You couldn't call?"

"I did. So did your mother. Remi, just come home. We – your mother is worried about you. Living in a hotel? And this one?"

I rolled my eyes but inside I wanted to hug my dad. I wanted to cry into his arms like when I was a little girl.

I'd always taken the easier path whenever I had a choice. I left home to be with Oscar instead of following the path my father had carved out for me; most people didn't get that. I'd also ran right back home when my marriage blew up in my face instead of trying to fend for myself.

All of that had to come to an end. I needed to make my own way.

"I'm sorry, dad. I can't do that," I muttered under my breath.

He sighed a deep, heavy exhale that blatantly