“Nope, I didn’t. PT is going great. Thanks for stopping by.”

“Don’t try to rush me out, girl.” His words take me back to when I was twelve years old, trying to please him. I hate that he’s still able to reduce me down to that. I’ve long given up on the hope that I could make him happy, but I still do what I can to not make him angry because when he’s angry, it takes forever to pick up the fragments of my life he shatters in his wake.

My fists tighten as he walks farther into my house. My skin crawls with every brush of his hand against something that belongs to me. He picks up Kai’s coffee mug and my hackles rise. My soul screams to demand he put it down because he has no right to touch his things. He doesn’t even deserve to exist in the same space as Kai. Instead, I keep my mouth shut because I can’t afford to clue him in to the fact that Kai is staying here. Shame coats my insides as I once again don’t stand against my father in defense of the only man who has ever put me first.

“Can I get you some water or something?” I’m so disgusted with myself.

He shakes his head. “No, I’m not staying. Just checking in. So who are you working with for PT?”

He hasn’t once asked how I’m doing. He’s only concerned with me getting back on that field. I don’t even think he sees me anymore. I’m just a means to an end. “I’m working with Kai Morris.” There’s no point in hiding it from him. He’ll find out eventually; I might as well stay ahead of it.

He blinks in disbelief. Satisfaction coils in my gut as the panic sets in his gaze. “You’re not serious.”

“I am.”

Four steps. That’s all it takes for him to make his way from my kitchen counter to my personal space. There’s a silent battle of wills between us, and I take pride in my small victory when he looks away first.

“Why would you be working with him?”

“Because he’s the best.”

“You can’t afford to get distracted from your goals.”

“I’m not distracted.”

“That boy does nothing but distract you.”

“He’s not a boy anymore, Dad. Just like I’m not a little girl anymore. I can handle my own recovery without your input.”

His eye twitches. “I’m the reason your career has gone as well as it has, so you should be thanking me instead of being a little shit.” Right. He’s the reason. Not my natural talent and sheer determination. I’m done with this conversation.

“Loosen the reins. I got this. Kai and I are long over. You made sure of that, remember? It’s just PT.” I won’t let him do to Kai what he did to Dante.

He looks me over as if he’s waiting for my nose to grow before checking his watch. “I’m running late for a meeting, but we’ll talk about this later, Liv. Answer your phone when I call you.”