Page 46 of Losing the Rhythm

“I have my phone ready to dial 911,” Seth whispered.

“Shit, why didn’t I think of that,” I replied.

“I got you covered, Cadence.” He squeezed my hand to remind me that he really was there for me and we’d face whatever this was together.

As we got closer to the car, I saw the license plate and frowned, taking in more details about the car. It wasn’t anything special. Seemed like just any other car on the streets. Clean. Not fancy or expensive. My Impala looked more expensive than the car.

“You really don’t recognize it?” Seth asked again.

I shook my head. The only other people who’d stop by would be my lawyer, Micah and his parents, and maybe even Roman Davies. Though despite his efforts to get in contact with me since my kidnapping, I’d been ignoring him. I couldn’t get over the fact that he had ultimately used me as bait. Last I knew, Toby and the others were doing the same. They were furious when they learned that I could have most likely been saved.

“I don’t know who this belongs to.” I walked beside the driver’s side of the car, seeing the stickers. “I think this is a rental.” I pointed at it.

“Hello?” a man said, coming around from the side of my house. I knew he couldn’t get around because there was a fence he’d have to get through and it was definitely locked. And with an alarm thanks to the system Bryan personally installed.

“Who are you?” Seth asked in a hard voice, moving so he stood more in front of me.

I took in a sharp breath as the man came closer and I was able to take in more of his features. Everything in me pulsed in shock. The man stared at me too with wider eyes as we took each other in.

I suddenly knew exactly why Lindie was so harsh with me. Like I understood and I knew. But I only reallyknewnow as I stared at the man. At his light brown hair. The honey-colored eyes, the wide, thin mouth. Our cheekbones.

My eyes watered, my nose burned, all of me ached in shock and confusion as I gasped out, “Dad?”

Chapter Fourteen

If I were a wooden doll, would I feel as I did now as I moved? I wasn’t even sure how it happened, but somehow, we talked long enough to invite him into my house. We even made it into the kitchen.

Maybe it was because Seth was by my side. He had steadied my hand as I tried to unlock my door. He even remembered the alarm code when I couldn’t form a single thought. His warm hand supported me as I walked into the kitchen with my dad following.

Now we all stood there, staring at each other awkwardly. Dad was exactly as I remembered him but only a little older. And with a few extra pounds, but nothing alarming. He still looked fit. I was still amazed with how much I really was my father’s daughter. After he had left, Lindie had purged the house of him. She took all his photos away and when I had asked, she only said she purged him from our lives.

He seemed as taken with me as I was with him. He kept staring at me, watching my every little movement. He seemed interested in everything I did.

I licked my lips. “Would you like a drink?” I grimaced as my voice came out thick and husky, cracking at the end. This had to be a dream, right? It felt like a dream.

“Sure,” he said, standing on the other side of the island counter. It was acting as a barrier between the two of us. A buffer I really appreciated.

Drink. Right.

I could do that.

I went to the fridge and opened it, and quickly saw the effects that not spending any time here had caused. While Seth’s fridge was always filled with soda, juice, and water, mine was completely bare. The only thing inside was a tub of butter.

I couldn’t even offer anything to guests with how empty my house was.

And then the one guest I wanted to best take care of was in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything for him.

That was rather pathetic.

“I got it,” Seth said, resting his hand on my back briefly before slipping by me and grabbing a glass cup out of the cabinet and then filling it with water. Surprisingly, there was ice in the freezer. At least there was that.

“Thank you,” I whispered after he handed over the drink.

“I got you covered,” Seth said, giving me a small smile, resting his hand on my lower back. With him at my side, I really did feel like I wasn’t facing this alone.

“So, I got your letter,” Dad said a little meekly. Then he cleared his throat and looked down at his glass, frowning into it. His next words were muttered out. “I guess that’s obvious.”

“I thought you’d write back. Not…” I trailed off.