I take a sharp step forward, my voice hard."Don't you dare.Don't you even imply that.This wasn't coercion or manipulation.This is the same Gage who held me together when I felt apart after Mom died.The one you said you were glad I had to help me.I love him."
He stares at me as if I've just grown a second head."Love doesn't protect your reputation.It doesn't keep you enrolled when the Board decides to make an example out of you."
"You would know all about destroying reputations, wouldn't you?"I snap."Wasn't it stepmom number three who was my teacher and then she dragged your name through the mud so badly I had to transfer schools?Lost all my friends.Lost everything."
His face hardens."This isn't about me."
"Isn't it?You think you get to lecture me on choices when you couldn't even be bothered to raise me?When you abandoned Mom and me and didn't even send child support.Mom worked horrible jobs at the factory, which led to her getting cancer and dying!"I yell at him, letting all the anger out.
He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it.The fight seems to drain from him, leaving behind only regret.
"I paid for your mother's care," he says quietly."I did everything I could."
"And lied about it.You let me believe it was some charity, some miracle study that took care of everything.You let Gage be the one to tell me."
His shoulders slump as he sits down heavily on the edge of the couch."I didn't know how to be your father.But I didn't want you to see me failing.I thought...I thought if I gave you stability, even if it wasn't from me, it would be enough."
"You were ashamed."
He lowers his head, voice low."Yes.I was ashamed.I didn't know how to show up for you.I was grieving, angry at myself, at the world, and I didn't want to look you in the eye and see the same disappointment I saw every time I looked in the mirror."
I stare at him with my arms crossed tightly over my chest.My throat is thick, but I force myself to speak."So instead of being there, you threw money at the problem and called it love."
His eyes lift to mine, and he doesn't flinch."I know I failed you.Every single time you needed a father, I wasn't there.I thought success would make it okay.That if I gave you everything else, it would make up for the absence.But it didn't.I see that now."
My voice cracks."You didn't need to be perfect.I never asked for that.I needed to know you gave a damn.That I mattered to you as more than an obligation."
He nods, tears now pooling in his eyes."You do matter.You always have.I was just too broken and too cowardly to face it."
I pace a few steps, trying to contain the rage and sorrow bubbling up."And now, when I've finally found something real, someone real, you sit there and accuse me of doing it for grades?Do you even know who I am?"
He leans forward, elbows on his knees."No.I don't.And that's on me.But I'd like to.If you'll let me."
I stare at him, breathing hard, every part of me shaking.
"Then stop assuming the worst of me.Stop thinking that every choice I make is a disaster waiting to happen.I'm not a kid anymore, and I don't need your money.I needed your honesty."
He stands slowly, crossing to me with hesitant steps."I can't change the past, Skye.But I'm here now.And I want to fix this.I want to help you and Gage.I'll talk to the Board, and I'll do what I can to protect both of you."
I look at him, the wall between us crumbling just enough to let some light through."I'm not making promises, but I'm willing to try."
He exhales, relief softening his features."That's all I'm asking."
We stand in silence for a long moment, the air thick with everything we've never said.
Then my stepmom steps into the room, eyes wide, clearly having heard enough.But instead of snapping or laying into either of us, her voice is soft.
"I know you're both hurting.I know there's a lot of anger here, and maybe it's deserved.But I also know that you love each other, whether you admit it or not."
Walking over slowly, she places a gentle hand on my dad's shoulder and then reaches out to me.
She looks between us."Skye, your dad is flawed.God knows he's made mistakes.But he loves you.He's trying now, and you also have a chance here, for both of you to start again."
I blink, my defenses cracking under her kindness.
"I just wanted someone to fight for me," I whisper.
She pulls me into a hug, holding me close."Then let us start now.Let us fight for you.Let’s try moving forward.Together."