I don't know what was worse.

The fact that I slept on the floor because Acker is an asshole or the fact that I can't take my eyes off him.

What was I thinking when I approved this fucking suit for him? He looks like a walking temptation and I can't do anything about it.

Why does he have to look like this? Can't Theo have bad-looking friends? Is it that hard? Or at least if he was gay. But no, I couldn't be so lucky, could I?

I was undressing him with a look when we were leaving the hotel. I tried to ignore him, but it was harder than it sounds.

We took a taxi to the address Dave had sent me after our phone call, and I stopped on the sidewalk, where Acker soon joined me.

I looked at the villa and at the crowds of people who were walking towards the entrance or straight across the path to the garden where the ceremony was to take place.

"I don't think you're going to get out of this one," Acker spoke.

"Wanna bet?" I turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

"I promised Julie I'd get you there, so sure, let's bet." He smiled.

"Asshole." I rolled my eyes and started walking down the path to the garden.

It didn't take long before he caught up with me and proposed his hand. I just snorted at that gesture and continued on my way.

I stopped when I saw a decorated garden.

Between two huge trees was a semicircle decorated with white flowers, behind which was a lake.

The wooden chairs had white cushions on them, and there were other white flowers on the edge, the same as the semicircle.

The sun shone through the branches of the trees and reflected off the lake.

Some people were already sitting and others were standing in circles talking.

I noticed that on the left side, there was a space where we would sit later, that is after the ceremony.

A large wooden area for dancing was in the middle of the long tables, on which there were already plates, cutlery, and glasses.

Overall, everything looked expensive here.

How can Dave afford this?

"Pretty brave to have everything outside. What if it starts raining?" Acker said next to me.

I won't lie, that thought always crosses my mind.

Of course, an outdoor wedding is beautiful, but if it started to rain, it would be a disaster.

Based on the age of the people I see here, half of them would end up in the hospital at best.

"Are you going to ignore me all day?" He stood in front of me which made me look at him.

"My whole body aches and not in a good way. It's because of you." I looked at him coldly.

"So it's about yesterday?" He raised an eyebrow. "I didn't kick you out of the bed, that's on you. You could have slept in it."

"With you?" I took a step towards him. "Sorry babe, you're not my type." I slipped past him and left him standing there while I headed for the chairs.

I was planning to sit in the last row when I suddenly heard a man's voice. "Maya!"

I stopped in my tracks and looked around to see who was calling me.

Dave approached me from the back entrance of the villa.

His gray hair, which suited him perfectly, was longer than ever. He grew a beard, which only added to the appearance of an older man.

He was wearing a white bow-tie shirt and a black jacket, which must have been incredibly warm since I'm sweating in backless dresses.

I don't think I've ever seen him in a suit at all.

He must have lost weight because the last time I saw him he had a tire around his stomach. Is it possible that he started working out at such an age?

"Yes...father." I felt unpleasant feeling the moment that word left my mouth.

"I'm so glad you came." I expected him to stop in front of me, but he didn't. He threw his arms around me and hugged me tightly.

I gently hugged him back, as a few people were looking at us.

"You look..." He grabbed my shoulders and pulled away so he could look at me properly.

"Different." I finished for him.

"Yes, that." He laughed. "But also beautiful."

"Thanks." I laughed nervously.

"I hope we still have time to talk today. I would like to maybe share a dance."

"I..." He's pretty sure this ceremony will go well. What if one of them says no? An optimist. "Sure." I gave him a little smile.

"Great." He smiled from ear to ear, which really surprised me, since the last years I spent with him I hardly saw him smile at all. "I have to go, the ceremony starts in a moment." He fixed hisjacket.

"Good luck." Really Maya? Good luck?

Could this conversation get any more awkward?

"See you later." He smiled once more before shouting someone's name and walking over to the men in the front seats.

I replayed these few moments in my head a few more times. He hugged me like we were normal father and daughter. As if he hadn't said in our last conversation that I was a disappointment and that I didn't deserve to be Carter.

With a heavy exhalation, I slowly walked to the back row and sat down.

I have a feeling this is going to be a pain.

As Dave moved to the very front, everyone slowly began to take their seats. Acker sat down next to me without saying a word, and when the music started, everyone fell silent.

I didn't know if we should stand up or not, but since everyone was sitting, I didn't bother.

Everyone turned their heads to see the bride coming out of the villa door.

And I have to say, wow.

I don't know what I expected. Maybe a young woman who was after money because that was Dave's type.

So you can imagine my expression when my gaze landed on a woman who must have been no more than forty-five. Short brown hair, shorter than Dave's for sure, a warm smile, and a beautiful strapless white dress that went down to her feet and a bouquet in her hand as she walked alone down the aisle looking at Dave.

"Careful, you will swallow a fly this way," Acker said quietly before placing a finger under my chin and closing my half-open mouth.

I slapped his arm and rolled my eyes before returning my attention back to the two people in front of the half circle and the priest.

I was unable to think during the entire ceremony. When they made their vows and said yes, I had the greatest desire to get up and leave.

The ceremony was followed by food. We all immediately moved just a few meters away and sat down according to our name tags on the table.

I was lucky that we weren't sitting right next to the newlyweds. I haven't met my new "stepmother" yet, but I'm not going to jump into that conversation.

We toasted the newlyweds and a few people stood in front of the main table with a microphone and started talking about what a wonderful life they have ahead of them.

When an elderly woman, who introduced herself as the bride's best friend, started telling about how they met and the stories about them, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Dave is a sweetie...I knew they were meant to be at first sight...He would never hurt a fly, but I was keeping an eye on Abby..."

He would never hurt a fly, but he would his own daughter. The bullshit these people say here is unbelievable.

No one here knows him. Not really.

"This is bullshit," I muttered under my breath and shook my head, unable to listen to this anymore.

"What is?" Acker asked next to me.

"He's an alcoholic and an abuser, that's not going to change just like that." I moved away from the table. I don't care if people see me. Let them think what they want.

I stopped by one of the trees that were far enough away so I couldn't hear the shit and hugged myself.

What was I thinking? I should never have come here.

Every time I closed my eyes, the memories that I tried to forget for so long came back to me. I tried so hard to forget them and it was for nothing.

"Don't you dare drag that son of a bitch in here! I told you to break up with him!"

"Listen to me you little..." Slap.

"You think you're so clever. You're just like your mother. You ungrateful little slut."

"Get out of my house!"

"Don't you dare come here!"

"If your mother doesn't take you, forget about living with me. You'll find a job and get out, do you understand me?"

"She's just like you." He pushed my mother. "You are both completely useless."

"You think you're better than me you little shit?" Slap. "Get out!"

"Maya." I heard a voice behind me and quickly tried to hide how lost I was. "Maya." I felt a hand on my bare shoulder and turned around only to find Acker there.

"What?"

"Are you okay?" He looked genuinely worried.

"Peachy." I shook off his hand and looked back at the lake in front of me.

"My dad used to do it too you know." After a while, he spoke.

"Congratulations, welcome to the daddy issues club." I snorted. "Do you want a medal?"

"I understand you're pissed, but..."

"No buts." I interrupted him and looked into his face. "You don't know shit about me, so don't you dare tell me you understand. Just because your father was an asshole too doesn't mean we're the same."

"You're right. I doubt your dad nearly killed your brother when he was sober. Or tried to kidnap your little sister. That he took every fucking penny we made because he couldn't hold on to a job for more than a week. So yes, we are not the same, Maya."

Theo never told me that. Now that I think about it, I never heard anything about his parents.

"I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I want you to know that I know what it's like. And what you're doing here," he gestured behind us to where we were sitting, "I would never have been able to do it. Sitting so close to him without telling him what a disgusting piece of shit he is or shooting him straight in the head." He put his finger on his temple. "But that's not you. Those people think your father is a knight in shining armor. He may have changed for all I know, but that doesn't change what he's already done." He stepped closer to me. "So go back there and scream everything in his face in front of everyone if it makes you feel better, but don't run, Maya. It won't solve anything. If he ruined your life, look around." He pointed to our surroundings. "This is his wedding." He smiled. "If you want to burn that damn villa to ashes, I'll gladly hand you a lighter. But running really doesn't suit you."

Well shit.

I blinked more than a few times as I couldn't help myself.

I didn't think our conversation would go like this. Maybe I would slap him, it would turn him on, which would annoy me more, and we would go back to the motel or straight to Seattle. I didn't expect this.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Acker is right.

"Oh wow." I still looked at him slightly surprised. "You actually said something that made sense."

"Okay..." A smile began to form on his face.

"No, no, I'm serious." I laughed. "Wow. There's something behind that pretty face."

"So you think I have a pretty face?" He tilted his head to the side with a smile.

"And that's it, you screwed up." I patted his chest and tried to slip past him, but he caught my hand and pulled me back to him.

"If you ever want me to hit him, just say so. We don't want you to break your nail or anything, do we?" He smiled and I used all my strength to keep my knees from giving out.

"How heroic of you." I laughed.

"Oh yeah, that's all me." He let go of my hand with a small laugh but put his arm out.

I shook my head and took his arm. We started walking back to the tables.

"Don't smile like that Maya. Or I'll start to think you really like me." I looked up at him and noticed that he was looking at me.

"Would it make a difference?" I frowned. "I'm not your type after all."

He stopped before he said anything. But I saw that he had something he wanted to say to that.

What did he wanted to say?

*****

After settling back and listening to all the bullshit, we ate and the newlyweds danced.

I was about to throw up when Dave whispered something in her ear and she laughed. I feel sorry for her. She doesn't know what she got herself into.

Yes, he may have changed, but that doesn't change the fact that sooner or later their fairy tale will end. He shows his true colors and she leaves him. Typical.

After a few dances, while Acker and I were still sitting, Dave and his wife started walking toward us.

"Just tell me when to hit him," Acker whispered in my ear and I couldn't help but smile.

"Maya." They stopped on the other side of the table. "This is Abby. Abby, my daughter Maya." He pointed at me.

I stood up and gave her my hand. "Nice to meet you, and congratulations." I tried to smile.

"I'm so glad you made it. You have no idea how much I wanted to meet you." She said sweetly.

I sat down while Acker stood up trying to introduce himself. "I am..."

"Christian, of course." She finished for him and my fake smile dropped as fast as ever. "Dave told me a lot about you." She gave him her hand and Acker just looked at me confused.

He cleared his throat. "Actually Sebastian." He gave her a little smile.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought..." She looked at her husband, who was carefully examining my plus one.

"Dave." Without trying to hide how much he hated him, he shook his hand. "Do you remember me?"

"How could I not?" He squeezed his hand tightly. "You spent more time at my house than I did."

"Let's sit down." Abby pulled her husband into the chairs across from us.

Acker also sat back down and I couldn't help but notice how he looked at me.

"I wanted to meet you a long time ago, but your father said you haven't been in touch much."

"That's true." Probably the only one he told her.

"So what are you doing? Or are you studying? You're twenty-one, right?" She threw questions at me.

"Yes twenty-one and no, I'm not studying. I'm working."

"Where?" Dave joined the conversation.

"In a bar." Come on Dave, say it. Say what a disappointment I am so I have a reason to tell Acker to punch you.

"Oh." Nothing else came of him. Of course, he would have said something if Abby wasn't next to him. Something along the lines of 'are you really throwing your life away like this?'.

"And you live in Seattle?" I just nodded at her question. "With your mother I guess?"

I clenched my fists on my thighs. "No. I'm not in contact with her. I haven't heard from either of them since they got divorced." I looked at Dave, who looked uncomfortable.

Oh, Dave, you have no idea what else I have in store to say. If you mind this, just let me skip to the part where you threw beer bottles at me, that'll be fun.

I'm sure he's already regretting inviting me.

"And Theo, your brother? I couldn't help but notice he hadn't come." She laughed nervously.

"He was busy," Acker spoke.

"I'm sure if he wanted to, he could find time for his father's wedding." Dave took a sip of the champagne.

I clutched the fabric of the dress tightly in my hands. I'll hit him.

I clenched my jaw, ready to explode when I felt a hand on my clenched fist.

I didn't look at it, but I knew it belonged to Acker.

I slowly released my grip and exhaled, slightly relieved.

He intertwined his fingers with me, and for a moment I forgot about the murder of my own father.

But only for a while, as he spoke again. "So Theo's in Seattle too?"

"No, in New York," Acker said for me. "He works with my brother."

"New York?" Abby looked at him in surprise. "That's a beautiful city."

"So that's it."

"And what does he do?" Dave asked again.

"Wouldn't it be easier if you asked him these questions?" I spoke. "This is your day, so let's talk about you." I faked a smile.

"Maya, can I talk to you for a second?" He said between his teeth and stood up, not waiting for my answer.

I exhaled and stood up. But Acker's grip on my hand tightened and he looked at me disapprovingly.

"It's okay. I can handle it." I quietly reassured him and followed Dave, away from the people but still in view of Acker.

"What are you trying to do?" We stopped, Dave with his back to the people.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Look Maya, I get it, I've made mistakes in the past and..."

"That's what you call it? Mistakes?" I jumped into his speech. "Are you serious right now?" I snorted.

"I know I wasn't the best father, trust me, I know."

"So what are you playing at here? Why did you invite me? What did you expect to happen?" I raised my shoulders, arms folded across my chest. "The last thing you said to me was that you regret ever having me. That I'm the biggest disappointment in your life and that I don't deserve to be called Carter."

"And I'm sorry Maya, I really am." He took a step towards me, but I stood still.

I will not be intimidated by him. That might have worked for a seventeen-year-old girl, but I'm no longer seventeen.

"Don't you think it's a little late for that?" I snorted.

"What do you want me to do?" He said in a low shout so as not to draw unnecessary attention to himself.

"First of all, don't even dare mention Christian. You have no right. You know nothing about him." I felt the fury growing inside me.

Dave and Christian only met a few times, and one of those times, Dave beat him up. Since Christian didn't want to have a problem, he left him. He ended up in the hospital with a broken nose.

"Secondly, drop that bullshit. You're not a good person, that hasn't changed. You can try as hard as you want to mask it, but I can see right through you. And lastly..." I took a step towards him, head held high, a small smile on my face lips. "Send your new wife for an ice pack."

"Ice pack?" He frowned. "Why...."

Before he could say anything else, I grabbed his shoulders and aimed my knee straight into his crotch. He screamed in pain and fell to the ground while holding his crotch with his hands.

"I hope you weren't planning on having any more kids, Dave." I stepped away from him and looked up.

That's when I noticed all the attention on us. People stood quietly looking at us while soft music played in the background.

Abby, in a long dress, was running towards us, but I was already walking away on the sidewalk.

A few meters away, I felt someone wrap their arms around my shoulders. I knew it was Acker by the cigarette smell mixed with the pungent scent.

"The nails remained intact." He laughed and handed me my small purse, which I left on the table. "And even a villa." He said as we walked past it.

"Do you have a lighter?" I looked up at him.

"Of course I do, Mimi, what do you think of me?" The corner of his mouth lifted. "But there are cameras everywhere, I wouldn't risk it."

"Boring." I rolled my eyes.

"I, on the other hand, took tonight as informative."

"Informative? How?" I laughed before Acker opened the cab door for me.

"Don't piss you off if I appreciate the nerve endings between my legs." He smiled.

"Didn't you already learn that when you saw me with a bat?" I raised an eyebrow with a smile.

We both laughed and he closed the door behind me before walking around and sitting down. He dictated the address to the driver and leaned back, his gaze straying on me. "What?" He said when he saw me looking at him.

"Thank you."

"For what? I didn't get a chance to hit Dave." He frowned.

"Everything else." I smiled and looked away from him. I looked out the window into the distance.

"Any time." He said quietly, but I heard it.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop smiling.

What are you doing to me, Acker?



I'm gonna join those two in the daddy issues club, anyone else joining? I'll bring cupcakes.