“So don’t worry, okay?”
I nod. “Okay.”
He kisses me again and then goes to start the car as my phone goes off in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see that it’s my dad and soon I’m unable to breathe. I haven’t heard from or talked to him since I left New Jersey.
“Who is it?” Jace asks as he pulls out of the parking lot.
“My dad.”
His eyes widen and I shrug. “I wonder what he wants.”
“Don’t know. Answer it.”
Biting my bottom lip, I mutter, “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s Dad.”
“I know, Dad. I have caller ID.”
“Oh yeah,” he says slowly, letting out a long breath. “How are you?”
“Good.”
“Still married and pregnant?”
“Yup,” I say simply. “Nothing’s changed.”
He sucks in a deep breath. “Okay, well, I wanted to let you know that we will be in Nashville two weeks before Christmas. We want to meet your…” he pauses and clears his throat “…husband, and we would like to see you.”
“Why?”
“Because you are our daughter.”
I make a face because I know damn well that isn’t the reason. “Okay, but why are y’all coming into town?”
“Matty is playing the Bullies, and this was one of the games we bought flights for. We figured we could watch him and see you at the same time.”
I know that shouldn’t make me mad. I know I should be happy he wants to see me, but it pisses me the fuck off because I know I’m not the original reason they are coming to see me. I haven’t heard from anyone, not even my mom. But now they are coming into town to watch Matty and figure they might as well see the daughter they made too. Whatever. If they were really concerned about me, or even meeting Jace, they would have come weeks ago.
“I think I’ll pass.”
“Why? Won’t you be at the game?”
“Yeah, to see my husband play, and that’s it.”
“Avery, we want to see you.”
“No, you are coming ’cause of Matty, and like always, I’m an afterthought.”
“That’s not true, Avery. We wanted to see both of you at the same time.”
But I don’t believe him. Fighting back the tears, I shake my head. “Dad, if that were true, why haven’t you come sooner?”
“I’m busy. I work all the time.”
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. “Yeah, whatever.”
“I’m not sure what that means.”