Free Diary of a Rocker's Kid (D.O.R.K #1) by Haley Allison

staring at our hands without a word.
    Finally, I break the silence. “Look, Dad…I’m sorry you lost everything for me, but…we’ve all been hurt. How would you feel if you lived your entire childhood as one person, and then you found out you were someone totally different? That there’s this great life you could have lived, places you could have seen…” My tears start up again, and my voice starts to tremble. “We could have traveled the world together, you know? I could have gone on vacations…I could have gone to school, had so many more friends…I’ve been hurt anyway. Now that people know who we are, there’s nothing stopping us from living on the outside. I know if she finds us, it could mean trouble, but…I’m sure there’s hope. I mean, I’m seventeen now. Is she really going to try to take me away now , after so much time has passed?”
    Dad blows out what feels like a gallon of air, staring at our hands in his lap. “I dunno…you may be right.”
    “Also, think about Cass. She was your best friend, and you’ve been forcing her to stay out of your life all this time. She was just hurt …you know? She just wants you back. That’s all. She misses you so much.”
    “I know. I miss her too. And I really don’t hate her, I was just angry.”
    “I think she deserves an apology, and I think she deserves it in person.”
    His gaze travels up to meet mine. “Are you suggestin’ what I think you’re suggestin’?”
    I nod quickly with a pounding heart. “Everybody knows where we are now, anyway. We need to go back to L.A., and not just for Cass. You have things there that have probably been sitting untouched for years . Why don’t we go there just for the summer? Then Cass will know how much she means to you, and you’ll get to show off your rock star past to your daughter, who is dying to see it.”
    Dad chuckles softly. “Honey, I would love to show you my ‘rock star past,’ but…your mother still lives in Los Angeles.” Dad pauses for a second in thought. “Then again, I did hear she’s gonna be on a film shoot out of town for the whole month of June, so if there was a time to go to L.A., it would be now.”
    “Well, uh…” Shit, that’s a complication I hadn’t thought of. At least I know for certain she’s an actress now. Maybe I could extend the trip somehow if I find out who she is. Either way, I’ve got to keep a straight face or he’s going to suspect I want to meet her. I give him a nonchalant shrug. “I have to agree. Now’s the time.”
    “Can you promise to behave if I take you to Los Angeles?”
    My heart rises into my throat. “Uh-huh.”
    “No drugs, no booze, no studly boys?”
    I laugh my ass off. “Dad…have you seen me?” I gesture to my skinny, boy-like body. No L.A. stud is going to want to hit this.
    “ Promise me ,” Dad says with a solemn gaze.
    “I promise.”
    “Well…then I guess we’d better start packin’. It’s gonna be one helluva summer.”
     
    ***
     
    May 19, 2015
    Mission L.A. Almost Complete
    I did it! I got Dad to agree to come to L.A. He’s probably going to stick by my side like glue and never let me do anything by myself, but at least I have him where I want him now. I also convinced Ana’s parents to let her come with us after about an hour of begging, swearing to keep her out of trouble, and promising to find a church to attend in L.A. We won’t be keeping that third promise—on the few vacations I’ve been on in my life, we’ve never done anything but pig out on junk food and laze around in the pool—but I got them to agree, and Ana couldn’t be happier. I promised her we could shop on Rodeo Drive together as long as she visits the Grammy Museum with me. Usually, I avoid clothes shopping like the plague, but this is a special occasion, so I guess I can deal.
    I know I’m taking some huge risks with this trip. I still plan to search for my mother, even though I know that finding the truth about her might