Gray’s Pov
Dad's voice came through calm and steady the way it always was no matter what was happening on either end of the line.
"How are you doing? How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Dad."
"Gray."
"I said I'm fine." I kept my voice level. "I'm okay. Please stop asking me like you're waiting for a different answer."
He went quiet for a second. That particular quiet he does when he has more to say but is choosing his battles. I had grown up learning the difference between his silences and that one meant he was letting it go for now, not forever.
"How is everything in the house?" he said finally. "How are things settling?"
I exhaled slowly and leaned my back against the wall of the hallway. Through the hallway I could hear movements in the kitchen.
"Everything is fine," I said. "The
