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She strokes my cheek softly. “The look in your eyes told me everything your words couldn’t. Besides, with time, I came to see how this thing between you two works.”
It does? How?
I want to ask since I certainly don’t see it, but the last thing I want is to worry my parents any further. I’m already the worst thing that’s happened in their lives, so there’s no need to make it any uglier.
“It doesn’t work.” A deep, familiar voice reaches us first before Papa stands in front of us, jacket in hand. “Stop indoctrinating her into believing in that useless marriage.”
“Papa!” Ari wraps herself around him in a koala embrace.
I shove her away to hug him longer than needed and then my sister and I fight over who hugs him more, just like when we were young. So Papa pulls us both to either side of him and kisses the tops of our heads.
“Are you here to announce your overdue divorce, princess?” he asks with unmasked hope.
“Cole!” Mama scolds.
“What? We all know she should ditch the loose screw and come back to live with us for life. Isn’t that right?”
I smile. “I’m an adult, Papa. I can’t live with you my entire life.”
“Sure can. It’s completely acceptable in other cultures, and we should normalize it here as well. We can start with our household. Look at Ari, she’s already sworn allegiance to me for life.”
“Is that so?” I tilt my head to look at her.
“Shut it,” she mouths at me, then grins at our father. “Daddy’s little girl for life. You’ll never get rid of me.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
“You’re so full of shit,” I say.
“Ava is jealous, boohoo.” She clings to Papa before Mama pulls her away, probably to stop her from grimacing at me.
“Have you lost weight?” Papa examines me closely, rotating my face from side to side. “I knew the prick wasn’t feeding youproperly. Let’s sue him for neglect and get those divorce papers while we’re at it.”
“Cole…” Mama warns.
“Maybe he can serve some time in prison as well?” He smiles mischievously. “It’d be perfect revenge for taking away my princess. The horrified look on Aiden’s face would be worth it as well.”
“I’m eating just fine, Papa. He actually takes me out to dinner regularly and makes an effort to pick restaurants that serve my favorite cuisines.”
“Hear that?” Mama asks with a warm smile. “Will you stop being insufferable to our son-in-law?”
“I have no son-in-law and never will.” He narrows his eyes. “Did he tell you to say that? You don’t need to lie, princess. I’ll make him pay.”
“I’m not lying, Papa.” I kiss his cheek. “In fact, I promised to join him for dinner tonight, so I have to go.”
“What about me? You won’t have dinner with me?”
“You have Mama and Ari.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but Mama stands and interlinks her arm with his.
“Go on, hon. I’ll take care of your dad.”
“Love you.” I hug them together, then smooch Ari on the cheek before I head to the door.
Behind me, I hear Papa saying, “What’s the restaurant? Maybe we’ll join.”
“And start a world war?” Mama asks.
