Under Your Scars (Under Your Scars, #1)

by Ariel N. Anderson

“Does he make you happy, Ellie?” He’s drinking because of my love life. Big shocker there. He’s been in a foul mood since Christian waltzed through the front door. “Yes,” I offer as a short response. One that doesn’t open the door for elaboration, because I’m honestly not sure I can give him that. It’s crazy that Christian makes me happy. It’s crazy that I’m with him. It’s crazy that I stayed with him after everything I’ve learned and everything I’ve been through. But here I am. I’ve made peace with it. My father should too. He sighs as if my affirmative was the last thing he wanted to hear. “Figures,” he mumbles, then he looks up in his hazy state and scowls at the ceiling as if he can see God. “Does this have something to do with Christian’s father?” His eyes snap to me, wide-eyed and shocked. “What about his father?” he asks through gritted teeth, still quiet. I furrow my brow. “Did you not get along with Thomas?” My dad chuckles and takes a drink of his scotch. “That’s one way of putting it.” I give my dad a sympathetic smile. “Dad, Christian isn’t his father. Whatever your issue is with Thomas, don’t take it out on him. I want you to like him. I love him.” “Because of his money?” He raises an accusatory eyebrow. “Because he lives in a big house and can take you on vacations and buy you jewelry?” “No!” I whisper-shout, offended. “He has done more for me than you could ever possibly know. Can you not, just for once in my life, be supportive of a decision I made for myse...