Tristan’s POV
When I walked up my driveway, I hadn’t expected to see any cars, let alone two. David’s sedan and Cris’s car parked side-by-side like they belonged. My stomach coiled with unease. David had said he was leaving for a business trip this morning. And Cris wanted to look for the old articles her mother wrote. So what the hell was David doing here?
I walked up the few steps, every bone in my body was alert. As soon as the door creaked open, I heard it...a breathless gasp, the faint shuffle of hurried footsteps, and then... A muffled moan.
I didn’t think. I stormed forward, down the hall toward the noise, and there, against the wall, I saw them. Cris, my only daughter, pressed against David’s chest, his hand splayed at her waist, their lips locked in a kiss that made my blood boil. Her mini skirt rose up as he held her leg up to his waist.
“Are you out of your fucking minds?!” I barked, my voice echoing like a crack of thunder through the hall.
They tore apart like guilty teenagers caught sneaking out after curfew. Cris’ eyes went wide, a mixture of shame and panic. David had the audacity to look remorseful, like that would soften the rage clawing its way up my throat.
Cris clutched her chest. “Dad-I-this isn’t-”
“Don’t,” I warned her with my hand up, my breath shaky. “Not one word.” I felt myself tremble with anger.
She scurried down the hallway, as she smoothed her mini skirt down, her top half-tucked, and her hair a mess. She couldn’t look at me. I looked at David, who had the nerve to straighten his jacket after he had zipped up his pants, like I was the one who was being inappropriate. “In my house?” I growled at him.
He raised a hand in half-hearted apology. “Tristan, listen. How many times have you done this very thing with Elona? In my house?” That hit a nerve. A deep, sharp nerve.
“Wear a condom,” I warned him before I pushed past him without another word, fury threatening to explode from every inch of me.
I stormed to the old study room where I knew Cris would be, and there I found her rifling through drawers, her expression pulled tight with tension.
“Don’t walk away from me when I talk to you!” I snapped. She didn’t even flinch.
“I’m not afraid of your disappointment in me, Dad. Not anymore.”
I stepped in with my fists clenched. “Are you sleeping with him?”
Her jaw tensed, and she slammed the drawer shut. “That’s none of your business.”
“The hell it isn’t! Are you on birth control?” I demanded.
She whirled around, her eyes blazing. “Yes! Gosh, yes! What, do you think I’m stupid?”
“I think you’re reckless,” I hissed. “And a liar.” That seemed to land. “I asked you. I asked you if there was something between you and David, and you denied it. You lied to my face.”
She shook her head. “You’re one to talk about lies. You’re in love with my best friend. You slept with her. She’s half your age-!”
“What makes this different,” I snapped, cutting her off, “is that I loved her. That I still do. That we lost a baby, Cris. A baby!” Her eyes widened. Her lips parted. I didn’t even realize that slipped out of my mouth, but now she knows. “You didn’t even know,” I said, bitterly. “Because you weren’t there. She was in pain, and I wasn’t there because of Maggie. You were rude to her with words that ripped her to shreds, and then having to find out that she actually miscarried on my birthday because Grace pushed her, and because of her condition. You should’ve been a friend to her, but what did you do during that time? Give her the cold shoulder, flirting and fucking around with David like he was some fantasy to distract you? Cheating on Spooky?”
“That’s not fair,” she said softly.
“No, it’s not. It’s not fair to Elona. She trusted you, Cris. And you’ve been a sh^tty friend to her.”
She recoiled. “You don’t get to call me that.”
“You earned it!” I thundered, finally letting my voice rise. “You weren’t there when she cried herself to sleep. You weren’t there at all.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “I don’t even know who you are anymore. Your mom and I raised you better than this, and I think we have spoiled you too much.” There was a long pause, just silence.
She finally spoke, her voice trembling. “I did apologize to her, and we are friends.”
I frowned. “You think that makes this better?”
“I wanted to help her in this case of VFS,” she said, softer now. “To make mom proud. I’ve been working on this story because someone has to say something. And you… you just get to be the knight in shining armor while I’m the villain now?”
I scoffed. “You’re not a villain, Cris. But you made choices. And this-him-it’s a betrayal. Of me and Elona. Of everything your mom and I raised you to be.”
She bit her lip, and then she snapped, “Like father, like daughter, right? Isn’t that what they all say about me? I got your temper. Your d^mn stubborn pride, too.” I froze, something twisting in my gut. She shoved past me. “You don’t get to judge me for falling for someone older when you did the same. Maybe David actually listens to me. Sorry for your loss and maybe that wasn’t even meant to be for a reason.”
I turned around, my jaw clenched. “I don’t want to see you for a while, and call before you need something out of this house, because I refuse to walk in on you and David again!” I called out over my shoulder.
“Fine!” she spat. “I wasn’t planning on staying or coming back anytime soon!” I watched her storm out, slamming the door behind her. The echo rang through the study room like a bullet.
I walked out a few minutes after her. I didn’t say another word while she gathered the last few things ,and then she left. David was gone. Of course, he was. Coward. I took my phone out of my pocket and texted Elona.
Me: Change of plans. You will be staying with me at my house. I will come over in a few minutes to get you.
I didn’t want to see Cris again until I could look at her without feeling the way that I was right now, especially the back chatting from her, and I didn’t want to see David when he returned from his business trip. All I want to do now is care for my girlfriend, who needs me more than ever.