54

NOte: Yes, I know this is short. I am dealing with health issues, both my own and those of my sick cat Niko. So I am not up for writing much. Since I finished this part, I thought I would post it. Apologies again for all the chapters.

[Kat]

Continental breakfast was snatch and grab before zooming off in our cozy convoy.

Patrick drove the Volvo while I rode shotgun with my sighing, teeth gnashing Dad. We were south of LA before he pulled over in a rest area and said, "You drive."

After belting myself in, I looked over at him and said, "What happened to discussing last night?"

"There's nothing to say. You've made your choice, and now I'll make mine."

That sounded ominous. "And what is that?"

"You'll see."

I made a face as some ass hat in a Corvette swerved in front of me. "Let me guess. I'm grounded for life?"

"Don't I wish."

I suddenly remembered Ms. Tharp. "Is your girlfriend in on it?"

He held up a finger. "Great idea."

"Are you kidding me? This is insane. You're punishing me because I love someone?"

His look was long and reflective. "That's not why."

I knew what he wasn't saying. "You don't trust me."

"With him."

"I know you think he's a bad influence, but nobody forced me to ditch school."

"You've explained that…multiple times."

"Yet you still don't believe me."

"Oh, I believe that part."

It all came down to sex. "Look, I can't take it back."

"No kidding. I get it, Kat. You like how it feels and you don't want to stop."

"You make it sound so…"

"Cheap?"

I ran one hand nervously through my hair. "Not what I was getting at."

"But deep down, you know it's true."

"It isn't. I love him, and when we're together…it feels right to me."

"So tell me, did sneaking out after hours and breaking into the pool feel right?"

"Well, no, but…"

He cut me off. "Of course it didn't. And despite all your words about being above board with this relationship, you're still sneaking around. How am I supposed to trust you?"

"I don't know."

"Like going off on this trip without permission. And ripping up that check. Are these the actions of a trustworthy person?"

"No."

"You know that it's wrong, but you're not sorry for any of it."

Dad had me nailed dead to rights. "Not true."

"See, even that is a lie."

"I am sorry for hurting and disappointing you, Dad."

He looked over at me with that hangdog look that always got to me. "You're not my little cactus anymore."

This was the part where I was supposed to reassure him that I'd always be his little cactus, but this wasn't some half-baked TV plot. "Maybe I can be your saguaro."

That earned me a twitch of his lips. "That's a tall order."

"We could always cut a hole in the roof."

Dad chuckled and that evaporated the tension immediately. "That can be your first after school project."

I rolled my eyes and smiled before returning my attention to the endless coastal route.