p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Merrick couldn't quite believe his eyes when he saw a fifteen years old grumpily dragging her luggage up the stairs. He had known about his friend's death for a couple of weeks now, but his daughter only found out two days ago. She didn't look heartbroken. She looked annoyed, almost./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Thomas never asked to get a daughter. He had one before. He also had a wife. That was before. Now one of his best friend dumped his own daughter on him as some sort of fucked legacy./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I have a room upstairs," he grabbed one of her bags and went up the stairs. "It's a bit outdated, sorry."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""It's fine," Alex scoffed and threw her bag onto the bed, taking out her belongings./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Merrick stood in the doorway for a minute, thinking. Rorke didn't let his own kid stay with one of his brothers- his mom, even. No, he had to give Merrick custody. Because that was a genius idea. If anything Gabe probably thought it'd bring his old friend some nice memories of having a family./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why didn't he let me go with Elias?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He looked over at the bed, where Alex was sitting./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Look, no offense to you, but you're a total stranger. I literally don't know anything about you," she crossed her arms and pouted. "I could've lived with David and Logan."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Merrick sighed and sat on the bed before glancing at her./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I don't know why either. If you wanna give them a visit, I can-"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No, no it's fine. I just feel like I'm moving in with my dad's secret friend who shall never be discussed- ya know?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Merrick chuckled and shook his head./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I'm Rorke' friend, yeah. There's more to it, I guess. Maybe I'll tell you later."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Oh c'mon, I'm going to live with you-"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Nope, confidential."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Alex groaned and crossed her arms while Thomas snorted./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Get your stuff unpacked, I'll get dinner ready."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She nodded and got up from her new bed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""And no boys at home!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Merriick-"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emAnd/em call me Thomas, for the love of God."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Thomas never asked to get a daughter. He had one before. He also had a wife. That was before. Now one of his best friend dumped his own daughter on him as some sort of fucked legacy./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I have a room upstairs," he grabbed one of her bags and went up the stairs. "It's a bit outdated, sorry."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""It's fine," Alex scoffed and threw her bag onto the bed, taking out her belongings./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Merrick stood in the doorway for a minute, thinking. Rorke didn't let his own kid stay with one of his brothers- his mom, even. No, he had to give Merrick custody. Because that was a genius idea. If anything Gabe probably thought it'd bring his old friend some nice memories of having a family./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why didn't he let me go with Elias?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He looked over at the bed, where Alex was sitting./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Look, no offense to you, but you're a total stranger. I literally don't know anything about you," she crossed her arms and pouted. "I could've lived with David and Logan."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Merrick sighed and sat on the bed before glancing at her./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I don't know why either. If you wanna give them a visit, I can-"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No, no it's fine. I just feel like I'm moving in with my dad's secret friend who shall never be discussed- ya know?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Merrick chuckled and shook his head./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I'm Rorke' friend, yeah. There's more to it, I guess. Maybe I'll tell you later."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Oh c'mon, I'm going to live with you-"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Nope, confidential."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Alex groaned and crossed her arms while Thomas snorted./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Get your stuff unpacked, I'll get dinner ready."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"She nodded and got up from her new bed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""And no boys at home!"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Merriick-"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""emAnd/em call me Thomas, for the love of God."/p