《Astrid Vs. The Asteroid》14. Final Decision
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The moment I got home, I knew I was in trouble. My dad’s car was in the driveway and the light to my bedroom was on. I had made a point of turning it off before I left.
Just in case, I tried the window and found the screen replaced and the window locked so I couldn’t slip back inside.
Turning away, I eyed the front door and took a deep breath. My shoulders straightened. I wasn’t going to apologize for this.
My dad opened the door on my second knock, glowering down at me. “Where have you been, young lady? I’ve been out of my mind with worry. Why didn’t you have your cell phone with you?”
“I accidentally left it behind.”
“Damn it, Astrid! Do you know how dangerous it is out there?”
“Dad,” Asher said from somewhere behind him in the living room. “Calm down. She was just with Connor.”
Asher knew damn well that I wasn’t. My eyes widened in surprise, but by the time my dad turned back to me I’d managed to smooth my expression.
“I wasn’t in any danger,” I said and looked up at my dad. “Can I come in, or…?”
He glowered, but stepped aside. “You should have told me where you were.”
“Why should I? You don’t care. You only come home when you feel like it anyway.”
“Young lady, you know what is not true.”
“Yes, it is!” I glanced at Asher, hoping he would back me up. It felt like he and I had traded places. Normally he was the one to get on Dad for never being around and I was the peacekeeper. Now he was silent and staring.
My dad was pissed. He brought his fist around hard on the nearby wall. “If you knew about half the things I did to keep our family safe—”
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“Yeah? How’s the SAFEsite coming? Got a spot for us yet?”
“Astrid!”
That surprised yelp came from Asher. He looked around wildly, reminding me that we were worried about prying ears.
Dad scowled, too. But when he spoke, he didn’t address the SAFEsite. “I have a duty to this country. You know that.”
“You have a duty to us! Asher and I need you here!”
A look of pain crossed his face. Taking a deep breath he turned away as if to regain his composure. For a second I thought I had actually gotten through to him. Then he shook his head.
“You have no idea how lucky you two have it. The United States is still holding strong. Other countries...they’ve already fallen apart. No food. No rule of law on the streets. And that will happen here unless we protect our borders.”
God, what did it matter? Didn’t the aquarium make that obvious? Things were falling apart here. Why couldn’t he see that? I opened my mouth to reply, but he cut me off with a stern look.
“You know what I told you when we spoke of…that place.”
He didn’t want to risk saying the word SAFEsite. Despite my anger, my blood ran cold. I nodded, and so did Asher.
“I know things have been difficult, but you two need to keep your heads down and let me do my job,” Dad said. “I can’t do that if I’m worried about you. That means school.”
“We have been going to school,” Asher muttered. Unsaid was that Dad would know that if he were ever here.
“Good.” Dad turned to me. “I’m not angry you were seeing your boyfriend. I’m angry no one knew where you were. When I heard what happened at the aquarium…I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you this afternoon.”
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Not sorry enough to stay, though.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. He reached for me as if to draw me into a hug, but I didn’t want it. I couldn’t even look at him.
“I’m going to bed,” I said. “It’s—it’s been a long day.”
Then I walked past them both to my bedroom, already knowing that Dad wouldn’t be home when I came out again.
One thing was brutally clear. Dad still didn’t have a guaranteed spot for us in the SAFEsite.
For mine and my family’s sake, I had to find a way to put my feelings for Shane aside.
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