“Addie has hardly ever spoken about high school,” my father offered.
“Really?” Daimon said seemingly annoyed.
“So why come introduce yourself, Daimon?” My father got right to the point.
“Because I care about her and I wanted to meet her family. Addie hardly tells me anything so I make it my business to find out as much as I can about her,” Daimon said rather calmly.
“Addie rarely tells me how she feels and if you think you can change that then I would be grateful.” My father chuckled knowing it was an impossible task.
I came back into the room as I heard footsteps upstairs. For sure, Sofia would come down and want to see who was here. I put the tray, which had the coffee, and tea onto the coffee table just as Sofia came running down the stairs.
“Sofia, I'm assuming. I didn’t get to talk to you the last time we met.” Daimon stood and extended his hand to her.
“Yes,” she said quietly. She moved her head to the side and looked at me.
“This is Daimon Evans,” I stated.
“Oh, so is this who Frank was talking about?” Sofia looked right at him trying to challenge him.
“Frank, the ex you mean?” Daimon fired back, ready for her. “Yes, I met Frank, an interesting fellow.”
“Sofia,” I called out her name as a warning.
“Whatever,” she said as she ran up the stairs.
“She met Frank.” My father turned to me, his face somber.
“Dad,” I said hoping he’d understand and stop.
“I guess Frank was a regular,” Daimon said rather bitterly.
“He was a regular, but he isn’t anymore.” My father grew angry.
“Dad, please!” My father groaned under his breath moving his hand onto his belly.
“If you would excuse me,” my father said as he stood up. I could hear his stomach react to his anger over what had just happened. I ran up to Daimon, seized his arm, and made him face me.
“Why? Why did you do this?” I could feel myself starting to sob as I shook. Daimon just stared at me.
“Your father?” he asked.
“Yes! My father is sick. He has a severe case of Crohn’s.” I admitted to him.
“How long?” Daimon looked at me with concern.
“Long, really long,” I said quietly, biting down on my lip in an attempt to not cry.
“Addie…” Daimon stopped.
“Don’t. Don’t you dare look at me with pity. I don’t want it, especially from you. You’ve done your punishment, can you leave now?” I asked, begging him to go. Daimon took my hand and led me outside, closing the door behind me.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?” he said bitterly, his angry eyes were cold, chilling me to the bone.
“My personal life is my own. What business is it of yours?” I attacked.
“Addie, if you are to be mine, I need to know all aspects of your life. Don’t you understand I need you to be safe? In order to do that I need to know everything.” He leaned in close so I would hear him clearly. His words rang loudly in my ears and in my heart. The more I was with him the more I had to remember this was a game we were both playing.
“Leave,” I said roughly.
“This isn’t over, Addie. Tomorrow you better tell me every fucking thing about you,” he said angrily.
“Not on your fucking life Daimon. That’s giving you way too much power. I'm only playing your girlfriend. You don’t need to know everything,” I hissed. A muffled fuck came out of him as he stood quietly glaring at me.
“Is this why, Addie? Is this why you didn’t go to Yale? Is this why you work as much as you do?” Daimon barked after a few minutes of silence.
“I do what I have to for those I love. I work because my dad can’t,” I choked out.
“So sell the damn thing!” Daimon yelled in a hushed voice.
“Don’t you think I’ve tried? He doesn’t want to,” I snapped.
“You have to be fucking kidding me right? You’re telling me you work every fucking day in that shithole so your dad can do what, Addie? Make money?” he challenged.
“This is of no concern to you. Why do you even care what we do? In a few weeks this will be all over and I won’t need to even see you nor will you need to see me,” I said coldly. He brooded as he looked at me his lip twitching.
“Anything to do with you, concerns me,” Daimon said fiercely.
“Why?” I bit out. “Why does it concern you?”
Daimon stood silent, his eyes never wavering. He let out a loud sigh and left me standing on my porch as he entered his car and drove off. I was completely stupefied by his behavior.