Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
“You suspected my boyfriend and sister were seeing each other and kept it to yourself? Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
“There was no proof until the day you called and said you broke up. I asked you to come over and you declined.”
“I remember, Bex and Lucas took me out.”
“That day, I followed Rylee from work. She went straight to Joseph’s. When he opened the door, there was my proof.”
“What did you do then?”
“I drove away like a coward and tried to come up with a plan to save my family.” Her appearance goes sickly with the admission. “It didn’t work.”
“I hate to interrupt, but can I get your order?” The waitress stands away from the table, regarding us with fright.
“The salad bar, please.” I hand her back the menu, knowing food is the last thing on my mind.
“Same, please.” Mom does the same.
She scurries away.
“Well, seems like we succeeded in scaring the waitress.”
“Not sure it was us.” Mom notions over my shoulder.
I turn to find Ace and Ford standing at the bar, their eyes zoned in on our table.
“Really?” I raise my hands in the air.
One side of Ford’s lips curl in a pompous way and I know my annoyance is no use.
“Ignore them.” I turn back to the table.
“Kind of hard to ignore that.”
“Talon is on shift today and wasn’t happy about my meeting you alone.”
“Does he honestly think I’d hurt you?”
“He’s aware of our history.”
She drops her gaze to her lap and sighs. “Guess I deserve that.”
My heart clenches in my chest, but I force myself to forge on. “What happened after you found out they were sleeping around?”
“I wanted to come up with a fool-proof plan. Telling your dad or Chase was one option, but I figured Joseph may not survive. It had to be me. I had to confront Rylee and still find a way not to devastate you. I was physically ill trying to work through scenarios. Then Rylee beat me to it by inviting you over that night. Joseph had arrived a few minutes before. Your dad didn’t have time to absorb the whole situation before you came through the door. You know the rest.”
“You stood by her. With each word she spewed that night, you watched me crumble.”
“I didn’t stand by her. I stood frozen in horror as my daughters’ relationship disintegrated into ash, knowing I didn’t protect you.”
“No.” I slam my fist on the table. “You didn’t protect me, then chose to stick by her.”
A large hand closes over mine, and I tip up to find Ace’s dark eyes blazing. “Lo, let’s go.”
“No, Achilles. I am fine.”
“We don’t agree.” Ford’s curtness would normally shock me. But his worry is evident.
I close my eyes and breathe a few times, finding balance. “Guys, I promise. Let me do this.”
They’re less than pleased as they back away.
“You may not believe this, but my family is everything to me, too.”
Oh, hell no, she doesn’t get to throw my words about April in my face. “Talon was across the world from his mom. I wasn’t even across town from you.”
“I know.”
“A year. You didn’t contact me for a year.”
“That’s not true. You wouldn’t take my calls.” She has a point.
“After you told me I was making you choose.”
“You were doing so well. Everything you worked to achieve was within reach. My devastation seemed selfish next to your accomplishments. That night you were in the hospital, something inside me died, knowing my first baby girl was suffering and I wasn’t able to see you.”
That night comes back to me in vivid color. Her voice, her words. “I heard you. You thought because I had Talon, things would go back to normal.”
“I was shocked, and hope sprung.”
“You supported Rylee, essentially choosing her.”
“No, I didn’t support her. But I did what I always did by letting her get her way. Sterling and I were tense. Chase was furious with me and he was pulling away with Wyatt. Lynden and Rosie were resigned. The one thing I set out to do to protect my family had backfired in the most horrendous way. Two of my children hate me because I didn’t have the courage to stand up to my overly spoiled and malicious daughter.”
“Rylee’s a bitch. But you’re wrong. I don’t hate you.”
Optimism blossoms on her face, her eyes welling. “Really?”
“Really. I don’t trust you, will never be able to erase what happened, but I also can’t measure the position you were in.”
“What?”
“Wyatt owns a piece of my heart. Jewls’ twins, Levi and Koby, are my little love bugs. Harley’s unborn baby already has me wanting to scream with excitement with each day we get closer to the due date. These aren’t even my own children. One day, when I have kids, I expect my heart may belong outside of my body.”