Ink (Book 1 of the Ink Series)

Girls night

I heard dad's van rumble to a stop in our driveway. My stomach knotted up and I felt almost scared. It wasn't that I feared him, because I didn't. I just didn't like to disappoint him. The look on his face when I did was too much to bear.

I hurried across the room, giving the big pot of chili one last stir. I had concocted the idea in my head that if I made him his favorite meal, he might be less harsh on me. It always worked with Mom. Whenever she knew he was going to be upset with something that she did she would make him his favorite food. And sometimes even his favorite cookies.

I sat down quickly at the table and waited. The door screeched open, keys dropped onto the counter with a loud whap, and then he shut the door. I pursed my lips.

"Hey, kid," Dad said softly. He smelled the air and went sailing over to the big pot on the stove. Lifting the lid, he inhaled the aroma.

"Hey, Dad," I said back, waiting still. I got up, handing him a bowl, and watched as he tiredly dished the chili. He sluggishly plopped down at the table.

"Look, I feel bad for saying anything to you about what happen. I don't like what happened to you on that beach and I am not going to scold you for trying to defend yourself." He blew on the spoon at his lips. "And I told them that, too."

I swallowed, relieved. "I didn't even expect you to say that. Mom would have killed me." Dad nodded. I was right and he knew it. Mom would have probably gone after me with his belt for throwing a book at someone.

"Well, let's be glad that she's not here then." He smirked, dragging his spoon through his steaming bowl of chili.

"I'm pretty glad," I admitted, laughing. Dad shook his head, astonished with my disdain of my mother, his soon to be ex wife.

My mom's name was Ana. A beautiful woman. The kind of woman every man couldn't get enough of. She had charisma, a smile that lit up the room and she was assertive. She took control and offered no apologies for anything that she did.

At one time I think Dad liked that about her. He said she was the boss, but soon I think he found it to be more nagging than a good thing to be. Dad still adored her till this day. I knew that for a fact. He never spoke a bad word about her, even after Pete. I really believed Dad would always be truly and madly in love with Mom. Even if she gave up and found a new love.

We sat eating chili and joking about the kids in Cherry, laughing at our cheesy jokes and forgetting that I had almost taken Lydia's head off with my biology book. It was nice.

As Dad cleared the dishes, giving me a break from that chore, there was a wrapping on the front door. Not expecting anyone for the evening, I hurried off to answer it.

I gasped. "Campbell!"

Campbell gave a big wave, inviting herself inside.

"Expelled. That's just glorious." She shoved into my shoulder, a big grin on her face.

"Well, I don't know about glorious," I said. I also didn't know why she was standing before me. I had hit her friend with a textbook. I thought that qualified for shunning.

"I would do anything to be done with Ashwilder. You're lucky, I promise you. So what have you been up to?" She eyed me. I moved out of her way and let her take a seat on the couch next to Easton. Easton grew fidgety, jabbing the buttons on his controller more aggressively. Campbell gave him a smile, going right back to our conversation.

"It's only been a couple hours since it all happened, so I haven't been up to much. So, is Lydia planning on killing me now?" I took a seat on the loveseat, shoving Elliot's feet to the ground. He groaned, refusing to let me have any room, and flung his feet back into my lap.