"Get up," Ethan said, throwing a pillow at Eevie. "You are the last one to wake up again."

"Because you have been throwing pillows at everyone and getting them up," I mused, watching as Eevie just kicked him in the shin, and he groaned and took a step back. "Get up. Everyone's in the dining room, getting breakfast."

"But, I don't want breakfast," Eevie groaned, tucking more underneath the covers. The only thing that was peeking out from underneath the covers. "I want to sleep."

"You can sleep at home," Ethan said, pursing his lips. Annoyance flickered through his eyes, and I could tell that he didn't like Eevie still on the floor. "You know that Chris won't sleep until everyone is out of her house if everyone is awake."

Eevie groaned and removed the blanket from her head. She scowled and glanced at the two of us. She looked rather hurt that Ethan knew something that she didn't. "You two make me feel like I am left out of everything. Are you two dating?"

"No," I said coldly. "I am not going to be dating him, which you already know. Something just happened over the night, and I need to be alone for the rest of the weekend."

Eevie frowned and looked at me. "Father?" she asked, and I set my jaw. She looked at Ethan, not needing me to confirm or disagree with what she had asked. "What'd he say this time?"

"Nothing worth mentioning," Ethan said. "And something that isn't true." He gave me a look,  and I looked down and set my jaw. "I'm serious, Chris."

"I know," I replied. I moved a hand through my hair and closed my eyes, feeling exhausted. "Can you get up for me, Eve?" I asked. "I want to get some sleep this weekend and get ready for school."

"Sure," Eevie said, nodding her head. She frowned, and I knew that she didn't like not being able to know what he had said.

"I'll show it to you later," I promised, and she nodded. I watched as she stood and walked over to me. My whole body was tense when she pulled me into a hug, but I hugged her back.

"Whatever he said is not true," she whispered. "You are wanted, and you are loved. Don't forget that."

I set my jaw and nodded my head, pulling out of the hug. I knew what she had said was true, but it took more than a few people to change my mind.

My own father thought that I was worthless, and that was the biggest betrayal because he was supposed to be my father, the man who was supposed to be proud of me and my accomplishments, not the man I had to hide everything I had done and created.

Eevie scowled, probably knowing what I was thinking. She patted my arm and forced a smile on her face, trying to act cheerful and not worried. "Come on," she said. "Let's see what food has been made and hope that no one has eaten everything."

I rolled my eyes but nodded my head. I stayed silent as we walked out of the room, me following the two of them. I knew I had people to lean on, and I was grateful for them. If they didn't help me or become my friends, then I had no idea how I would have survived.

They, my grandmother, and the workers that worked here were all that I needed, and I didn't need anyone else no matter what people told me.

***

"I hope you left some breakfast for me," Eevie said when we entered the dining room. She sat down in her normal seat and was provided with a plate of food by someone who wasn't supposed to be working. "Thank you, Trey," she said, smiling at him.

"It's no problem, Miss Eevie," he said, smiling back at her. He looked at me and noticed me scowling. A look of horror appeared on his face as he gulped. "Coffee?" he asked.

"Why are you working?" I asked, sitting down in one of the seats with Ethan following me. "They aren't here."

"I called in a few extra hands, Miss Chris," Wally said, placing food in front of me. He gave me a look, and I closed my mouth. "We'll take care of cleaning up, and you will be resting, so no coffee, Mr. Carson. She doesn't need it."

"I am ok with you asking for "help." Well, not really because I would have helped after I had woken up. But why him out of all the workers?"

"Because I had texted him to ask," Trey replied. "Mama took my daughter to the aquarium and fish... freak me out."

Marcus dropped his spoon and looked up with wide eyes. "Wait, what?" he asked. "You are afraid of fish?"

"It's not the weirdest thing that someone is afraid of," I pointed out.

"But he is so..." He gestured to Trey.

"Tall? Broad shouldered? Menacing?" I asked. "That's because he's a football player and in our class."

"And he has a daughter?" Sheamus asked. He furrowed his brows in confusion. "Since when?"

"Two years ago," Trey replied. He looked at me, still nervous. "So... can I stay?"

I huffed and nodded my head, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Yes, you can stay," I said. "I do have something for your daughter." I held my hand, stopping him from talking. "I had leftover stuff and knew her birthday was coming up. I will get it for you later."

Trey nodded his head. He knew that I was the co-founder of the Caprien brand because his mother actually worked for the company that had a location here in town. He had found out one day because he had been going into the building while I was going out, and someone had called out, "Goodbye, Ms. Caprien. Shit." as he was in earshot.

It had been an amusing ideal, but I had gotten him to promise that he wouldn't tell anyone about it. And, he never did.

"Why do you have a daughter?" Sheamus asked.

"Well, Sheamus," Eevie began, talking to him as if he was a child, "when a male and a female ha-"

"Not at the table, please," I said. "I am trying to eat. And, Sheamus, he hadn't said anything about him having a daughter because it isn't any of your business and hard to be a star quarterback as well as a father. He wanted to keep her "hidden", so he doesn't get bombarded with media, so no one talks about it outside of this room, ok?"

"But how do you know?" Drew asked.

I shrugged and took a bite of my food. "I have my ways," I replied. "I know a lot of things that could surprise you."

"Like what?" Drew asked.

"Nunya."