Chapter 223

Tessa’s POV

I wasn’t sure why I was saddened by Penny’s text. I did tell them I wanted them to leave; I mean my father attacked Joseph and I almost got hurt in the process. He deserved to get his hand broken and I didn’t want him to cause anymore unnecessary drama. Especially at my graduation ceremony.

But there was still a part of me that wanted my father there. I hoped we’d be able to talk and that he’d actually apologize for his behavior.

Maybe it was just wishful thinking.

I decided to call Penny before leaving for the apartment. I didn’t have long before I needed to be at the school.

“Tessa?” Penny said as soon as she answered the phone.

“Hey, Penny,” I said, almost sheepishly. “I just wanted to check in and see how Dad is.”

She was quiet for a moment like she was processing what I had said.

“His hand is broken, and he’s upset. But he’s fine. We are packing up right now and we'll be out of your hair soon. That is what you wanted, right?”

“He tried to punch Joseph and almost punched me,” I reminded her. “It might be for the best.”

“He wouldn’t have hurt you and you know that, Tessa,” Penny said kind of harshly. “It was unnecessary for Joseph to break his hand.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I looked over at Joseph who watched me carefully.

“If he could only give Joseph a chance…” I said in only a whisper. “He shouldn’t have attacked him like that.”

“I think that chance flew out the window when he broke your father’s hand,” Penny quipped.

I was about to hang up, not wanting to hear any more of this, I wasn’t sure what I expected when I called. But it certainly wasn’t this. But then I heard some talking in the background and soon my father’s voice was loud and clear.

“Tessa?”

I sighed.

“Hi, Dad,” I said, meeting Joseph’s worried eyes from across his living room. “How’s your hand?”

“It’s in a cast. But it’ll heal,” he murmured. “Look, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for how I acted. I let my anger get the best of me and I shouldn’t have attacked him like that. Especially not in the middle of your school. I’m lucky I didn’t get arrested. The security officer was very nice and didn’t ask too many questions. I got lucky in that aspect.”

“I wish you could just get along with Joseph. I know you don’t like him. But—”

“It’s more complicated than that, Tessa. I told you that your mother died because of a war between witches and vampires,” my father reminded me. “Joseph was there that night. That’s why he was so familiar to me. I met him the day your mother died. I already told you this and I thought you would have seen things from my perspective…”

I guess I didn’t really stop and consider how my father felt. In my father’s eyes, Joseph was the reason my mother, his wife, was dead. But in my eyes, I knew Joseph couldn’t have been a part of that war.

I trusted Joseph with my entire life and with the lives of those I love. He wouldn’t have killed someone innocent for his own gain.

That’s not who Joseph was.

When I didn’t say anything, my father sighed.

“I deserved to get my hand broken,” he said again. “I don’t blame him for that.”

“What?” I managed to ask.

“I almost hurt you. It would have been by accident, and it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t intervened. But I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself,” he said sadly. “I’m sorry, Tess.”

My heart squeezed in my chest from his words, and I chewed the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. I hated fighting like this with my father; I just wished he could get along with the man I loved.

“It’s okay,” I finally told him. “I know you wouldn’t have meant it. Thank you for the apology.”

“I know I have a lot to make up for. But I would love to see my only daughter graduate college. If you’ll let me.”

I was quiet for a moment; my eyes never left Joseph’s.

“I don’t know, Dad—”

“I promise I won't cause any issues for you and—” his voice trailed off as if saying his name was too much to handle.

I rolled my eyes.

“Joseph,” I said, my tone dry.

“Right,” he muttered. “I don’t want to miss this big day…”

Truth be told; I didn’t want him to miss it either. He was my father after all.

“You have to promise you’ll leave Joseph alone,” I told him sternly. “I mean it, Dad. I won’t forgive you if you make a scene at this graduation.”

“I promise, I will behave.”

I sighed.

“Okay,” I finally said. “I’m running home so I can grab my outfit and then I’m heading to the school.” I paused for another moment before adding, “By the way, Joseph is coming with me.”

Before he could protest, I hung up the phone.

Joseph had his brows raised as he looked at me.

“So, they’re coming?” Joseph asked, not sounding entirely thrilled.

I nodded, biting my lower lip.

“Yes,” I told him. “It would be nice to have my dad there. He promised he won’t try anything.”

He nodded and wrapped me in his arms. My stresses and worries soon melted away from his touch alone and I closed my eyes, basking in his warmth and comfort. We stayed like that for a moment before we pulled apart.

“Are you ready to go?” He asked, running his thumb down the side of my face.

I nodded and together we left his villa. I was glad that Joseph finally got window tint for the inside of his car to shield out the sun because I wasn’t sure I was up for driving. My mind felt so chaotic and despite my father apologizing and everything seemingly normal again, I still had a nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach.

My intuition was telling me something and I wasn’t sure what it was.

Joseph drove with one hand on the wheel and the other hand entwined with mine. His thumb caressed my knuckles sending shock waves through my body.

Once he pulled into the lot, I stayed still for a moment longer, staring up at the building I considered home.

“You can stay here; I’ll only be a moment,” I finally said, taking a deep breath.

“I don’t like the idea of you going in there alone,” he told me. “Let me come with you.”

I gave him a thoughtful smile.

“I think I need to talk to my father alone. It’ll only be a minute. I doubt anything bad will happen anyway. He’s my father. He’s not dangerous.” I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince Joseph or myself.

“I just have a bad feeling,” he breathed, shaking his head with dismay written on his face.

He was getting that feeling too?

I leaned over and brushed my lips across his.

“I’ll be fine,” I whispered. “Trust me.”

He smiled at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I knew he was still worried. I left the car without another word and entered the apartment building. It felt like it was miles before I reached my apartment door.

It was already unlocked when I opened it and as soon as I stepped in, I smelled eggs and bacon being cooked in the kitchen. My father sat on the couch with a pillow under his casted arm. Penny was in the kitchen cooking breakfast, and she was humming along to a song that was playing on her phone.

My father was flipping through the TV with his good hand.

Neither of them noticed me entering the apartment.

“Hey,” I said, loud enough for my father to hear me.

He turned and his eyes narrowed when he saw me.

“Hey,” he said in return.

Then, his eyes shifted to behind me. I knew he was searching for Joseph. I pursed my lips together and folded my arms across my chest, daring him to say something.

“You came alone?” Was all he said.

“Joseph is in the car. I told him to stay behind,” I responded, trying to get my body and heart rate to calm down.

He nodded, his expression softening.

“I really am sorry for how I acted,” he said, lowering his gaze. “I never meant to cause such issues for you. That was never my intention of coming here.”

I shifted my attention to his cast, and I felt a ping of guilt in the pit of my stomach.

“I’m sorry about your hand,” I said in return.

“I deserved it,” he said, letting out a small laugh as he spoke.

I gave him a small smile before turning toward my bedroom. Penny was now staring at me from the kitchen. Her expression was soft with worry and when she saw that I noticed her, she smiled sweetly.

I returned the smile and went toward my bedroom. Once I was in the closed compacity of my room, I felt like I could finally breathe. I walked to my closet and pulled out the dress I bought specifically for graduation. I completely forgot that we were having the after-party at Joseph’s house and suddenly my entire heart was in my stomach.

I sent Joeph a quick text.

Me: You have to get your house ready for tonight. The party is at 8 pm!

While I waited for his response, I quickly got dressed. I only applied a little bit of makeup, not really liking how it felt on my face. Then, I did my hair. I curled it lightly, wanting to leave it down. I pinned my side bangs out of my face with a hairpin.

My phone chimed just as I finished.

Joseph: I’m pretty good at throwing parties. You don’t have to worry.

It chimed again a second later.

Joseph: Everything okay? You are taking a while.

I smiled, rolling my eyes.

Me: Patience, love. I’m almost done.

I grabbed my purse off my dresser and shoved my phone inside before leaving my room.

As I neared the living room, I heard some muffled voices coming from the kitchen, making me pause.

I wasn’t really meaning to eavesdrop; it kind of just happened. But when I heard Penny’s words, my entire body felt paralyzed.

“Maybe you should just tell her the truth, Rick. It’s not fair to her to keep her in the dark about her heritage.”