One More Time (Ruby Falls #2) - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,72
Dad asks and I shake my head.
“Tide’s daughter.”
“You have a daughter?” Dad asks, sounding stunned, and I roll my eyes.
“See what I mean? I’ve been seeing Tide pretty much since I got back to town, and you guys know nothing about him.”
“You don’t share anything with me,” he says, and I shrug.
“You’re right; I don’t. When you’re sober, you’re not exactly Mr. Approachable, and when you’re drunk, it doesn’t make sense to tell you anything, because you won’t remember it anyway.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Maybe, but it’s still true,” I say as Tide turns into my parents’ driveway. When we pull up out front of the house and park, Dad doesn’t get out right away, and I turn to look at him. “Do you need help getting inside?”
“I don’t want to go inside,” he says quietly before scrubbing his hands down his face. “Do you think you can take me to a hotel?”
“You don’t have to crash at a hotel.” I sigh, and Tide takes my hand and laces his fingers through mine. “You can sleep on the pull-out in the living room at my house.”
“After everything you just said, you’re inviting me to stay with you?” His tone is filled with disbelief.
“Just because I don’t like the way you are, doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. You’re still my dad.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?” He looks at Tide.
“It’s fine with me.”
“Thanks,” Dad says.
“Do you need anything from inside, since we’re already here?”
“It probably wouldn’t hurt to pack a bag.” He opens his door, and Tide and I get out as well. Once inside the house, we help him up the stairs after he attempts to make it on his own but falls twice. When we reach the top landing, I start leading him toward the master bedroom, but he stops me. “My room is down here.”
“Right,” I mutter, taking him into what was the guest room when I was a kid but is obviously his room now. With the state he’s in, I make him sit on the side of his bed, then grab his travel suitcases from the top of the closet and ask what he wants me to pack. It doesn’t take long to gather stuff from the bathroom, a couple of suits, and a pair of pajamas. After zipping up his bag, Tide takes it from me, and we head back downstairs.
“Is your car parked at the bar?” Tide asks him when we’re getting into the truck, and Dad mumbles in the affirmative. “Give me your keys, since we’re gonna pass by there on the way out of town. Aria can drive it to the house. That way, you’ll have it tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” Dad passes the keys up to the front, and I take them from him.
When we reach the bar, Tide parks behind my dad’s Jaguar and I open my door. “I’ll follow you, baby.”
I nod, hop out, and get into my dad’s car. It takes me a minute to get everything adjusted before I back out, and as I exit the parking lot, I glance in the rearview mirror to make sure Tide is behind me. As I head for home, I try to figure out how I feel about everything I learned tonight, but it’s too much to process on the fifteen-minute drive to my house. And really, I think it’s too much to process without the help of a psychologist.
I pull into the driveway, parking my dad’s car next to mine, and Tide pulls up next to me. Before I even have a chance to open my door, he’s there helping me out, then wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug.
“I needed that.” I sigh, and he pulls back just enough to look into my eyes.
“I love you.”
“I needed that too,” I say quietly.
“Your dad passed out on the way here. I’m thinking it might be better if we head on in and make up his bed, or he can sleep in Olivia’s bed, since she’s not here.”
“He’s not sleeping in Olivia’s bed,” I deny instantly, and he smiles like he thinks I’m cute.
“All right, then let’s make up the couch, and I’ll come back out to get him.”
“This is a mess.” I drop my forehead to his chest. “Why didn’t we just take him to a hotel when he suggested it?”
“Because he’s your dad.”
“That’s a stupid reason,” I mutter, and he laughs.
“You’re doing the right thing, baby.” He urges me back and cups my cheeks. “And I’m proud of you for