“Hey, how’s my lil bunkin?” Rachel’s dad asked over the phone. He was away on yet another business trip.
“Fine, Dad, and you can stop calling me that,” Rachel groaned.
“You love that nickname. What’s really wrong hun?”
“Ed and Evan-urgh I hate saying their names together-moved in today,” Rachel confessed. “I don’t want them here. You’re supposed to be here.”
Rachel heard her father heave a sigh. “We’ve been over this a million times, bunkin. Your mother and I just don’t work anymore. She’s happy now. I’m happier. I miss you so much, bunkin, but this is for the best. You’ll be alright.”
Rachel wanted to argue that she wasn’t but wanted more to get off the phone now. How could he stop trying?
“I have to go now. I love you. I’ll talk to you later,” he promised.
“Sure, Daddy,” Rachel said, hanging up.
She sat on her window seat, brooding, and noticed Ana and Evan walking out of the house together. Ana was holding onto his arm, her fingers curled around his bicep. That was twice she felt betrayed in one day.