Free Super Villain Grandpa (Cape High Series Book 15) by R.J. Ross Page A

way to get from one to the other—”
    “But you could fly,” I have to point out.
    “Sure I could, and so could Angela, but our daughter couldn’t,” he says. “She wouldn’t be able to fly until she was older than you. I had plans,” he says softly. “We were going to have so many kids that we couldn’t carry all of them to the next island.”
    “Then… then… you knew you were a dad?” I ask, stunned.
    “I knew I was a dad,” he says.
    “And you STILL did something to get thrown into the Cape Cells?” I yell. “You—you! You could have had a family! You could have been there when I was born! You could have—you could have—” I take a deep, shuddering breath, wiping angrily at the tears that are falling. “You’re a terrible grandpa!” I declare, storming away. He’s going to follow me, right?
    I dare to glance over my shoulder and see him sitting next to the building, his hand on his face. He’s not going to follow me, is he?
    Hmph.
     
    ***
     
    Ten minutes. I’ve been pouting, waiting for him to come after me for TEN WHOLE MINUTES and he hasn’t budged. Okay, now I’m mad. Well, I was mad earlier, but now I’m really mad! I storm back, standing over him with my hands on my hips. When he doesn’t even look up I glare at him before sitting down next to him. “I’m not happy with you,” I say.
    “Everything,” he whispers. “Everything that could have been—”
    “You’re a super,” I say, moving so I’m in his face. “You have lots of time ahead of you! Giving up isn’t going to get anything accomplished, but you have TIME. Grandma’s still single—well, I guess technically she isn’t, but she doesn’t have a boyfriend or anything, not that I know about! Maybe—maybe if you can avoid getting captured you can… I don’t know, get back together? You still love her, right?”
    “It’s been half a lifetime,” he says.
    “True love lasts forever!” I declare. It startles a laugh out of him. To my surprise he pulls me into a hug, burying his face in my neck. “Hey! I’m mad at you right now!” I say, shoving half-heartedly at him before sighing and hugging him back. “You were supposed to chase after me,” I complain, hating the pout in my voice. “You’re the one that says we only have a couple of days! Stupid arguments need to be wrapped up quickly!”
    “You’re right,” he says. “I made a very stupid mistake all those years ago. Will you forgive me?”
    “I suppose,” I say, grudgingly. “If I have to.”
    “I’m afraid your Grandma won’t be so willing,” he says, sighing heavily. “Do you still want to go to the theme park? It’s winter—are we even sure they’re open?”
    “If we can’t run off to Antarctica, why not? And the Hall theme parks are open year-round,” I say, pulling back. “But we need to get a move on it, otherwise we’ll be sleeping in the parking lot.”
    “Antarctica is too cold for a little chicklet like you, sweetheart,” he says with a little grin. “You’d freeze to death before you came into your wings.”
    “We’ll build an igloo,” I decide.
    “You need to finish your schooling and stay with your friends.”
    “I don’t—I don’t have any friends and mom is always working,” I say. “Even Grandma practically ignored me when I showed up on the island. Nobody will miss me. Actually, I—I got suspended for punching a girl, so they’ll probably be happy when I don’t come back, and—and—” I take a deep breath, looking away from him. I shouldn’t have said that.
    “And?” he prompts.
    “Nico… um… he said he would call me once a day and he might…” I feel like an idiot. I mean, even I know he’d be forcing people to talk to me. Well, maybe other than Aubrey, which doesn’t even make sense, because I was the one that had a crush on HER boyfriend—
    “He might what?” Grandpa asks.
    “He might, um, have some of the other students talk to me,” I say, looking down. “But it’s