Road Rage by Jessi Gage Page A

wasn’t going to think about that right now.
    He didn’t justify the comment about his treatment of Haley with a response. Deidre knew better than to imply he’d taken out his anger on her. “About the sullen ,” he said. “What’s she got going on today? I’d like to see her after work, maybe have dinner with her. I need to apologize to her.”
    “Yes, you do.”
    He rolled his eyes, but half-heartedly. For once, he didn’t mind her judging him. Today, she was right.
    “She’s at softball camp until three, but I–”
    “I’ll pick her up.” He could get off early if he skipped his lunch break.
    “No. I don’t want to spring you on her.”
    Like a surprise visit to the pediatrician complete with immunizations. “Deidre.” He was trying to be good. Really, really trying. But if she thought she could pull this gatekeeper shit, he was going to let her have it. Nothing would stop him from making things better with Haley.
    “I’m not saying no to seeing her. In fact, I think it’s a good idea. Just let me talk to her first. Prepare her.”
    “Jesus.” He pulled at his hair with the hand not holding the phone. “I’m not a monster.”
    “Of course you’re not. But you do have a problem controlling your temper.”
    He wished he could deny it, but he just sat there mute.
    “Haley’s not used to seeing you get so upset. Can you blame her for being a little freaked?”
    She could have brought up his past, his high-strung, quick-to-anger father and the effect that kind of upbringing had had on him. But she didn’t. “Fine. Call me when I can see her.”
    “I’ll get in touch by four.”
    He had just made it home from work by the time Deidre called. “She doesn’t want to see you. I’m sorry.”
    He was in the kitchen, unpacking grocery bags. Two steaks to marinate, two potatoes to wrap in foil and stick in the oven. He’d gotten Haley’s favorite baked potato fixings, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, scallions and her favorite flavor of Ben and Jerry’s–strawberry cheesecake–for dessert.
    “What do you mean, she doesn’t want to see me?”
    “She’s hurt, Derek.”
    “I know. I want to apologize to her. Did you tell her that?”
    “I told her you felt bad about hurting her feelings and you wanted to see her tonight. That’s all. She said you can email her if you want. Maybe that’s a good place to start. I’m sorry. I know it’s not what you want to hear.”
    His face flushed with anger. At himself, for a change. He had hurt his little girl bad enough that she didn’t want to talk to him. He was a douche bag.
    He got off the phone with Deidre and stared at his laptop screen until it became apparent he had no idea what to say to Haley to get her to talk to him again. Frustrated with himself, he went through the motions of eating dinner. He opted for canned soup and some pre-cut veggies, hoping to save the steak for Haley. After washing up, he retreated to his basement to the heavy bag he’d bolted to the rafters. He gloved up and punished the bag until his muscles burned and his mind was clear.
    When he came upstairs, the setting sun was casting long shadows across the hardwoods in his living room. On the kitchen table, his laptop taunted him with happy screensaver photos of Haley. He still didn’t know what to say, but he couldn’t let her go to bed thinking he hadn’t even tried.
    Love you, kiddo, he typed. Dinner tomorrow?
    He cracked open a beer and stared at the screen like a hopeful puppy for several minutes. Finally, shaking his head in disgust, he scraped his chair back and headed for his bedroom to grab some underwear before he hit the shower. His house was getting dark, so he flipped on the living room and hall lights on the way. The action reminded him of his dream girl’s words to him that morning. I always show up here in your room after dark. And I always stay until five or so. He froze with his hand on the knob of his bedroom door. A chill iced his spine. He