Chapter 25
I take some time to clean myself up at a motel that I checked in to for the night. I don’t want to look a mess when I see my dad for the first time in ten years. After a long refreshing shower, I brush out my hair and find my best clothes from the little I have. I managed to get a pair of sneakers from a small store. Now that I’m more comfortable and look decent, I’m ready to see my dad.
Linda is behind the counter yelling through the window when I return to the diner. The place is much busier than it was this morning. I sit at the same stool as earlier and read the day’s specials on the white board until Linda drops a menu in front of me. “Welcome back, sweet pea. Just holler at me when you’re ready to order.”
“Thank you. I’ll just have a cheeseburger mid-rare and a strawberry milkshake. Is Mac in now?” She places the ticket with my order in the metal wheel thing.
“Yeah, he’s manning the grill right now. It could take him a while. As you can see, we’re a little busy,” she tells me as she grabs three plates of food and stacks them precariously on her arm. She delivers the plates to the awaiting table without dropping a single one.
It is dinner time, and from the looks if it, she’s the only server. I guess I should have come in earlier… oh well. At least he’s here. “Thank you, Linda. Just let him know Gypsy is here to see him when you get a chance.” She nods then continues to serve other customers. Oh, Goddess, he’s here. I bite my lip and contemplate the many scenarios and outcomes when he comes through that door. What if he’s mad I’m here? What if it’s not really him? What if he gets pissed that I got banished so he wants to go after Alpha Greg? Okay, that one sounds good to me. What if he’s disappointed in me?
Linda brings me my order, and although I’m freaking out, I’m still hungry. I savor every bite I take, enjoying dad’s cooking. It has to be him. Before long, the rush dies down, and Linda makes her way into the back. Oh Goddess, I’m so nervous I stop eating, and my eyes lock on the door. Straining my ears, I’m trying to hear her, but it’s too loud in the dining area, and a radio is playing in the back.
Everyone stops what they’re doing when the sound of crashing dishes breaks the buzz in the room. I knit my brows. What was that? The door to the back is slammed open, and the doorway is filled by a gigantic man’s form. I bite my lip and wipe a tear away as my dad’s face breaks down with tears. He rushes over to me and picks me right up off the stool. My arms wrap around his thick neck as I sob into his shoulder. “My princess,” he whispers as he crushes me to him.
He sits in my seat but doesn’t release me. I am reluctant to let him go either. It’s not until I’ve cried my eyes out that I pull back enough to see his face. “Hi, Daddy.”
He smiles at me. His face is, of course, older and more weathered. His eyes have wrinkles at the corners and his once black hair is now peppered with patches of gray. He’s still supersized. I get why they call him “Big MAC.” “I thought I’d never see you again, princess.” He kisses my forehead.
“Me too, Daddy. Gran told me how to find you. She gave me this.” I pull the matchbook out of my pocket.
He crinkles his brows. “Alyssa told you who she is.” He sniffs my neck then whispers. “You’re rogue now.” I swallow, but nod. Linda clears her throat. I look up to see her tilt her chin to the metal wheel thing. Dad chuckles then gives Linda a nod. “It’s okay, princess. You can tell me everything tonight. I have to get back to work. Don’t go anywhere.” He places me back on the stool. He gives me one more crinkled-eye smile before disappearing back into the kitchen.
I don’t have to wait long before the dinner rush dies down. Daddy comes back out of the kitchen with his handsome smile. He takes my hand and pulls me back into his office. He clears a stack of papers off of a metal chair, allowing me to sit down. “You own this place… Big MAC?”
My dad chuckles. “I couldn’t use my real name. Greg sends his guards out looking for me every now and then. Yeah, I own the place. I had to figure out some way to stay sane. Not having a pack, my wolf was going nuts alone. At least I have some semblance of a community here. You met Linda, but Ralphie, Mae, and Jan work here too. They’re all like family to me.” I look out the office window and find a young guy reading a ticket from the now empty wheel. I’ll admit I’m a bit jealous, but I know I’m always his favorite. I’m glad he found a way to maintain his sanity. “So tell me, did you chose to go rogue or are you in any trouble?”
I bite my lip then tell him everything starting with Hunter’s rejection, even though he knows that part, to rescuing Ashton, all the way up to the battle. My dad listens to every word. He nods his head and smiles when I talk about Ashton, his brows crinkling every once in a while. “Daddy, I loved him. He said he wanted to be my mate.”
His smile returns. “I’m so happy you found love, princess.”
I shrug, fighting the longing to see Ashton again. “I lost him though.”
Daddy wipes a tear from my face that I didn’t know slipped out of my eye. “Don’t give up on hope. I always hoped to see you again. It’s taken ten years and seven months, but here you are.” I don’t even know if Ashton is alive at this point. I let out a ragged breath and stare at my feet. Linda calls out to my dad after knocking in the office door. He lifts my chin up. “Don’t give up. We’ll figure something out. Together.” I give him a nod and watch him leave the office.
My dad is standing right there on the other side of the window, and I have never felt so safe. I always felt safe with Ashton, but there was always the fear of getting caught thing that prevented me from entirely letting my guard down. Although my dad is as big as I remember him being size wise, I can tell he’s not in the same fit shape. I wonder if he even trains anymore.
He finishes speaking to Linda then gives her a peck on the lips. I cock my brow. Huh. Good for you, Dad. I wonder if she knows what we really are. I smirk at my dad as he walks back through the door. He shakes his head, and we both start laughing.