Circle of Lies (Red Ridge Pack) by Sara Dailey, Staci Weber Read Free Book Online

mom had just run off…and as soon as he got what he wanted, he dumped me like yesterday’s garbage. To make matters worse, he let the whole school know how he managed to get the new girl into bed and then broke up with me in the cafeteria the next day. No, I wouldn’t fall for a guy like that again. Aiden Wright would have to find someone else to bat his eyes at.
    *****
    I rushed home after school to grab a quick bite before work. I walked in the door to find Dad holding pasta.
    “Hey, hon. I’m making dinner so you can eat something good before work,” he said, as if this were a completely normal occurrence.
    Not that he’d never before attempted to play father of the year. Unfortunately, it usually ended with a drunken brawl at the local tavern or a drunken rage at home where he’d once again blame me for everything wrong in his life, especially Mom’s disappearance. James, the good Dad, never lasted longer than a few days tops. Still, this felt different. Something was up.
    Part of me wanted to tell him never to bother trying to make up for being a shitty father, but it was easier just to play along and ride it out. I put my purse and school bag down and went over to check out dinner. There wasn’t much to say about it.
    “Looks pretty good, huh?” Dad asked.
    “Sure, it looks great. Thanks,” I replied then pasted a fake smile on my face as I took a seat at the kitchen table. “I only have about twenty minutes before I need to leave, though.”
    Dad started making up our plates. “Well, about that. I had to put the Subaru in the shop, so I need to borrow your car. Before you say anything, I can drive you to work and then pick you up when you get off.”
    I’d known there was a catch. “Seriously, Dad? Where do you need to go?”
    “Actually, to an AA meeting. I know I’ve been horrible lately, and I just want to make things better. Really, Teagan.”
    Asshole! Now I couldn’t even be mad or say no, even though I knew his AA ventures never lasted. If I told him he couldn’t borrow my car, I would look like the jerk. I’d look like I didn’t want him to get sober.
    I tried to keep the bitterness out of my voice. “Fine, but make sure you pick me up at nine o’clock. I have homework to do when I get home.”
    He put our plates on the table, and the little-boy-lost look on his face immediately made me feel guilty. How could he still manage to do that after all these years? But I knew exactly what he wanted to hear, so like a good little daughter I said, “And Dad, I’m really glad you are going to AA. I hope it helps.”
    “I’m really going to try this time. You’ll see, Teagan. Things will be different from now on.”
    I wish I’d kept count of how many times I’d heard that.
    I didn’t reply. I was pretty sure that anything that came out of my mouth would be sarcasm-filled, which would only fuel the fire. Better to just let it go and eat. So, that’s what we did. With only a few minutes to spare, Dad and I made our way out to the car and headed to the mall. Not much was said on the way besides small-talk and the usual parent-child pleasantries. Dad needed me to be nice, so I was, even though I knew how this brand-new-man thing would soon end. Been there, done that.
    Dad pulled up to the entrance nearest Sephora and promised once more, “I’ll be here at nine p.m. sharp.”
    I got out and said, “Okay, Dad. Be careful.” Then I watched him drive away. I prayed his sobriety would at least last through the night.

12.
    Peter
    Peter grabbed a map from the lobby of the Red Ridge Motel. He’d been hoping for nicer accommodations, but his choices were limited in this cozy little town and he now knew he needed to be here. He was determined to learn every inch of the place before he left. Maybe he’d never hit Albuquerque after all. Something about this town was calling him. Uncle Raymond seemed to agree.
    His room was small and dark, but at least it looked clean and Peter wasted no time. He