Beating Hearts [Knight's Rest #1]

21

"Darcy, kiddo," Elijah called from the bottom of the stairs. "Are you ready yet?"

"Just about!" she called out from her room, just slipping on a pair of black heeled boots to match the skinny jeans and oversized hoodie that she had thrown on over herself in a hurry. Truth be told, she had forgotten about dinner at her dad's friend's house.

She wasn't exactly dressed for the event but it would have to do.

"Who else is going to be there?" She asked as she skipped down the stairs, slipping her phone into her back pocket. Thelonious had said that he would call her again tonight. She just hoped that she was home by then. It was already seven o'clock. And frankly, having dinner with her dad's friend's and their families wasn't exactly at the top of her favourite things to do, but her father wanted her there and she was willing to do it to make him happy.

Apart from her, Elijah Blake didn't have any family with an exception of one brother who lives in Australia and they saw every year for a week on family vacation.

Since she had started going to university and spending less time at home, her father didn't really have anyone but his friends. So it was logical that he would want to gather for dinner every now and again.

Darcy was happy that he was happy. That's all she wanted for her father. He had sacrificed a lot for her.

"Pretty much all the boys and their families."

"It's a family event thing?"

Her father nodded, locking the front door once she had stepped outside.

"Shouldn't we have brought something for the table then?" She asked, wondering if they had time to drop by the shop to grab something. Turning up empty handed would be rude and slightly embarrassing.

Her father smirked. "I made a cake earlier. It's already in the car."

"You made a cake? When?" She asked while getting into the car and closing the door. Her dad was driving today. With taking the train to uni all the time, Darcy didn't have much time to drive hence, she wasn't a great driver. But she did have a license and a car which they kept stowed away in the garage.

"You were upstairs doing some work, I think." The engine slowly hummed to life as pressed the button to turn it on. Backing out of the driveway, he joined the road and started driving in the direction of Sam's house. It would be a quick fifteen minute drive as long as there wasn't too much traffic.

"I didn't hear you." She mused aloud, mostly speaking to herself.

"I bet you had your earphones in."

"Is it chocolate fudge?" She asked, already excited at the prospect of indulging in her favourite type of cake later that evening.

He grinned. That was answer enough for her.

She loved chocolate cake and was determined to grab herself a slice for dessert. Her dad's cakes were to die for, especially the chocolate ones.

"Who were you speaking on the phone to last night?"

She turned to look at her father, her mouth agape in surprise. "You heard that?"

"Not really. Just a little."

"Just some guy from uni." Technically, she wasn't completely lying. She had met Thelonious at uni, even if he wasn't attending it.

"Anyone I should be worried about?" He half-joked, half-serious.

"No," she smiled and shook her head. "He's going through some stuff and just needed someone to listen."

"That's nice you're there for him."