Danger! Bad Boy(52)

I gave her a fake smile, one I’d first learned in all those stupid pageants and had perfected while in high school. “Very rich, you’d totally approve.” She was making me angry and I couldn’t help adding, “I think his dad is single. Want me to hook you up? He could be husband number three.”

“That was uncalled for, Gianna,” my mom chided.

Whatever, I wasn’t the one who’d driven away one husband and threw away another perfectly good one, no, a great one. At this rate, she’d be on a fourth husband by the time she was forty. She was so narrow-minded she didn’t realize how stupid she was being. She might be fairly young and attractive still, but she wouldn’t be both of those forever. Scott had loved her and there was no guarantee she’d find another like him.

She frowned. “But you still spend the night at Cece’s house, right?”

“Yep,” I answered, wanting to change the subject. “So, Chance, how was school today?”

“Fine,” he mumbled then took a drink of his milk. He had spaghetti sauce on one cheek and I wiped it with a napkin for him. He moved his head away as if I were harassing him. He’d been quiet since Scott left and it was just another reason for me be pissed at my mom. How many dads was he going to lose because she was a dumb bitch?

“This Ian sounds like a good catch,” she commented.

Having a mother who encouraged me to be a gold digger was sickening. “Maybe I’ll date him so I can get knocked up by a rich guy like you did.”

It was true. The child support my dad paid was more than the average adult’s salary. And even when they first got together in their teens, I don’t think it was a coincidence that she’d dated a guy who came from money.

She was momentarily shocked but then surprised me by reaching over to slap my face. Cheek stinging, my eyes immediately went to Chance, who now looked like he was about to cry. I felt guilt about my part in the upheaval in his life. Since he was five, he’d known a stable home with a good stepdad. Now he had to deal with a divorce and a family in turmoil.

I glared at my mom. “Do you have to act like a psycho in front of my little brother?”

She returned my look, not about to admit she’d ever done anything wrong. “Go to your room.”

Jumping out of my chair, it toppled back to hit the floor. “I’m calling dad!”

Her face went white, knowing he’d chew her ass out for hitting me. “Gianna!” she yelled after me as I ran up the stairs. I wasn’t about to let her talk me out of it. Slamming my bedroom door, I made sure to lock it.

My dad didn’t answer his cell so I tried his home phone. He must have checked the caller id, because he answered with, “Gianna?”

Riled up, I rushed to say, “Why did you have to breed with a crazy person? I mean, wasn’t there anyone better to choose from in the mental hospital?”

My dad, always ready to listen to me vent about my mom, laughed. “What has she done now? I’ve told you before, you’re always welcome to move here and live with me in Houston.”

I scowled. “Are you still dating that bimbo?”

“Mia’s a surgeon and hardly a bimbo. But no, we aren’t together anymore. She’s still a good friend.”

“I still think she slept her way through medical school and she has fake breasts.”

I was glad they weren’t dating anymore. When we would visit my dad, Mia would suck up to me and Chance in front of him, but when he wasn’t around, she’d act like we didn’t exist. She was never outright mean, but it used to confuse the heck out of my little brother. Good stepmother material, she was not.

I sighed sadly, thinking how much easier life would be if I lived with him. “Dad, can’t you move back to Denver?”

He groaned. “You’re making me feel like a terrible father, Gianna.”

“You’re an awesome dad. You just have poor taste in women.” In a softer voice, I said, “Chance and I need you.”

“I’ll think about it,” he promised, not sounding too sure. “We’ll see.”

“That’s all I ask. Just think about it.” I decided to play dirty. “With mom divorcing Scott, Chance won’t have a man in his life.”

I realized it was a deliberate change of subject on his part when he asked, “Your mom mentioned something about Scott’s stepson.”

Startled, I wondered just how much she’d told my dad. Generally, they didn’t get along, but every once in a while they’d have a real conversation.

“Yeah?” I prompted, trying to sound innocent.

“That you were seeing him?”