“Yo,” I answer as I click the button to accept the call.
“Dom? What’s wrong?”
Thea’s voice moves through me. The warmth in it takes over the coldness that I’ve felt since talking with my father.
“Gorgeous, I’ve said one word. Why would you automatically think something is wrong?”
“Cut the bullshit. Are you okay? Is Mattie or Raze giving you shit? I can?—”
“You worried I can’t take care of myself, Thea?” I respond with a smirk on my lips and my laughter—though not verbal—evident in my words.
“I don’t want them…upsetting you.”
“It’s fine. I told you to stop worrying. Breaker helped me get the day off. I was actually just heading over to pick you up at the college.”
“You bringing your bike?” she murmurs, and I fucking love the way her voice goes soft.
“You want the SUV? I don’t want your leg hurting, and it’s kind of a long ride.”
“I’d rather be on your bike. It won’t bother me since you were so sweet and installed the rests for me.”
I do laugh then. “Not sure I’ve been described as sweet before.”
“I’ve been telling you that you’ve been hanging out with the wrong people for years,” she giggles.
“Yeah, yeah. I will say I prefer sweet to being called a dick.”
“Oh, you can still be a dick, too,” she practically sing-songs.
“Good thing you’re prepared for both sides of me, babe.”
“Looking forward to uncovering more,” she practically whispers.
“Now who is being sweet? I’ll see you in a bit.”
“You got it. Later, Dom.”
“Later.”
I click the phone off and stare at it in my hand for a minute until I hear my father clearing his throat.
“That our Thea?”
“Yeah,” I respond.
“She’s the reason you took the day off?”
“I have to get going,” I respond instead of answering him.
“Bring her with you to dinner tonight,” Dad says, studying my face.
“Not happening. She’s had a rough couple of days, and I want her to relax, not deal with family bullshit.”
“Thea is family. She’s not going to get anything but love from us, you know that.”
“Yeah, but she’ll pick up on the tension with us and that’s the last thing she needs.”
“If you’d talk to me, maybe some of that tension would leave.”