With that, he releases me and opens his car door.
He’s reversing out of the driveway when I realize he was referring to the drive from Los Angeles to Dartmouth.
CHAPTER 16
LENNON
My dad refuses to look at me when I walk through the front door.
One of us has to break the ice, but it’s clear he’s still angry, so I brush past him and head up the stairs.
He can’t stay mad at me forever.
Once I reach my room, I swipe my laptop off my desk and sit on my bed.
I’ve been putting off scheduling my road test because of my anxiety, but Phoenix just gave me a damn good reason to get over it.
Less than five minutes later, my test is officially scheduled for the day after he leaves.
This way I can make those forty-four-hour drives, too.
I’m in the middle of texting Phoenix the good news when there’s a knock on my door.
“Come in.”
My dad’s expression is still sour as he enters my bedroom, but at least he’s willing to talk this out now.
“I never meant to hurt you,” I begin. “But I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“I know.” Looking defeated, he lets out a heavy sigh and takes a seat at the end of my bed. “Tell me about this Phoenix guy.”
I grin, my heart skipping several beats. “Well, for starters, he told me I should come inside and talk to you.”
He gives an approving nod. “Keep going.”
My grin grows. “He’s had a hard life, so he’s a bit rough around the edges, but he has a good heart.” I look down at the carpet. “Sabrina and a bunch of her friends threw pig slop on me at the graduation party—”
“What?” he booms. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was embarrassed, and I didn’t want you going apeshit and calling everyone’s parents.” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Anyway, Phoenix was there for me. He not only picked me up from the party, he took me to Storm’s house so I could shower.” I gesture to his Papa Roach T-shirt near my pillow. “I didn’t have anything to wear while my clothes were being washed, so he gave me that.”
The groove in his forehead deepens as he takes all this in. “I’m glad he came to your aid, but I still wish you would have called me.” He cocks his head to the side. “And who’s Storm?”
At that, I laugh. “Storm is Phoenix’s best friend…and bandmate.”
Whatever progress we were making dies with those words. “He’s in a band?”
Here we go. “Yes. And before you freak out, he’s incredible. And I swear, I’m not just saying that because he’s my…you know.” My hand finds my heart that beats out of my chest every time I think or talk about him. “His voice…his talent. It’s out of this world—”
A hostile snort cuts me off. “Wait until he breaks your heart.”
“He’s not going to break my heart,” I defend, growing upset over his assumptions. Not only did he meet Phoenix for all of two seconds, it was while the circumstances weren’t in his favor. It’s not fair for my dad to judge him or our situation. “You don’t even know him.”
Standing, he dismisses both me and my statement. “Oh, but I do. I work with guys like him all the time, remember? They’re all cocky, selfish assholes who only want one thing when it comes to girls.” He crosses his arms. “I give him a week before he’s replacing you with another girl and you’re crying yourself to sleep…and that’s being generous.”
That’s not true. Phoenix isn’t looking to hurt me. He said so himself.
“Phoenix won’t do that to me.”
“For such a smart girl, you’re acting real dumb when it comes to this boy.”
“The boy has a name.” My chest tightens with anger. “And for such a great father, you’re acting like a real shitty one right now.”
“No, I’m not,” he argues. “I’m simply trying to protect the thing I love most in this world.” He jabs his finger in the air. “I don’t want you to learn this lesson the hard way.”
“The only thing I’m learning is that you can’t handle the fact that there’s another guy in my life.”
“Not for long,” he scoffs.
Exasperated, I stomp my foot. “Dad—”
“How do you know he’s not just using you so he can take advantage of my connections? Ever think of that?” He snorts. “Of course not. Because those damn stars in your eyes have rendered you blind.”