Spent - Part Three (Bad Boy Fighter Book 3) by Elise Holland Read Free Book Online Page B

seconds pass by, and my father doesn’t say or do anything, I begin to realize that he won’t. I don’t know what to think of all of this, but I do know that I have to tell my Mom about everything that has transpired as soon as daylight arrives.
    Luke steers the car into the Laurel West Holiday Inn. We’re less than 10 miles away from our house, but I assume Luke wanted to keep my father far enough away from our College Park home that he won’t randomly show up at our door. Luke turns off the car and climbs out.
    “You two stay here while I get a room,” he says without looking back at us.
    Once Luke closes the door, it’s just my father and I, alone together for the first time in years. The little girl that was once deathly afraid of him begins to creep back into my body, sending a chill through my body despite the comfortable morning temperature.
    My father just glances down at his fingers, as if he doesn’t know what to say. That’s a first. Used to be he would never shut up. But then again, there have been a lot of little surprises since my father walked back into my life.
    “So,” I’m the first to break the silence, “What’s your plans?”
    Beto sighs, “I’m dying, Tasha.”
    The air seems to disappear from the car. I stare back at my father. It’s far too early in the morning for my brain to process something this deep. As my mouth opens to say something, the driver door opens.
    “All set, Beto,” Luke mutters as he tosses a set of keys back to my father, “You’re checked in for a week. There’s plenty of places to eat within walking distance, or you can do delivery.”
    Luke fishes out his wallet and pulls some cash out, “Here’s some money for food,” Luke hands my father the cash, then stares at him intently, “After the week is up, I want you out of town, unless Tasha says otherwise. Do you understand me?”
    My father nods, “I’m glad she has you,” he opens his door and climbs out of the car, “Thank you for taking care of my daughter.”
    Luke nods, but doesn’t say anything as he climbs back into the car. My father walks away from us and towards the rooms. I notice that it’s probably the first time I’ve never seen him stagger as he walked. I shake my head, unable to decide what I should think about the supposed ‘new man’ my father has become.
    “You okay?” Luke asks as he turns on the car.
    “He said he’s dying,” I whisper.
    Luke arches an eyebrow, “Do you believe him?”
    I sigh, “I think I do, actually.”
    “So, what do you want to do about him?”
    I turn and look out the window, “What would you do?”
    Silence follows us for a few seconds as Luke tries to work out a reasonable answer. A lazy response would be, ‘It’s your dad, do what you want,’ but Luke doesn’t do simple responses. Everything comes from the heart with him and I’ve learned to just give him his time while he thinks over his words.  
    Finally, his lips part, “I would do almost anything to be able to talk to either one of my parents again. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”
    “I guess I have a week to decide if I want a father or not.”

Chapter 7

    “Do you really think Luke will care where all those pictures go?” I grumble at my mother.
    “No, but I care,” she winks at me as she returns her attention back to the picture she’s trying to hang in a particular spot.
    I sigh. I had no intentions of having her come over here and help me decorate mine and Luke’s new home, but when I accidentally let it slip about the fiasco at the arena with my Dad, Mom insisted. When she finally realized I wasn’t in the mood for her interrogation, she decided to help me decorate instead. I am beginning to think that I would have rather put up with the questioning.
    “Ah, finished!” Mom declares as she steps back and takes a look at the pictures on the wall, “Now, to tackle Luke’s gear.”
    I roll my eyes, “Usually he just throws it all in a corner. Or he’ll leave