TKO: Total Knock Out (TKO 1)

“I’m sorry about that, Nancy.” My voice emerges broken, edged with guilt. “I-I just, I didn’t know what to say or do. And I got mad at Garrett when he told me he answered the phone. I never meant to ignore you, I know you meant well.”

She reaches out to take my hand. “Your father has started going to anger management classes. He wants to talk to you privately. In a few weeks, he can bring anyone he’s hurt to his meeting to talk to them in person. He wants you and I to go. He wants to make things right. I know it doesn’t fix anything, but it’s a start for him and a chance at healing. He told me everything.” She hangs her head, and I can see the exhaustion and the pain in her eyes. “I know about you being arrested. I know about your truck. And I know this isn’t easy.”

I clasp my hand over my mouth and run for the door. I need air. Suddenly I want to vomit. Why didn’t this happen before I left the house? Why was I getting so damn emotional? Maybe I’ve wanted this all along, and now it’s finally happening. My thoughts are gone like ash in the wind when Garrett’s velvety voice flows into my ears.

“I know it’s not easy to hear that. It’ll be all right, you hear me?”

He holds my hand, kisses my knuckles. I couldn’t have done this without him. I focus on the tree branches before me, how intricate they are and the way they flow causing the green leaves to cascade in the breeze. I’m drawn back to reality when his voice breaks through my thoughts.

“Raegan?”

I turn to face him and stare into his eyes. I never thought I would find myself here, never thought I’d be with Garrett. The fact he’s here with me means more than he could possibly imagine.

“I know. I should uh get back inside. I didn’t mean to run out like that.”

Inside, I mumbled an apology to Nancy before making plans to meet with my dad. Tomorrow. Nancy tells me she will get back to me with a time and place. My gut says I shouldn’t trust any of this but another part of me tells me this is something I shouldn’t ignore. Life is too short. I never knew my mother, but I had a father—and there was a time he was good to me. I had to believe he might change. That maybe the monster could become a man again.

I once was a young girl sitting on my father’s lap while he read to me from my favorite books. We played with baby dolls together, even after he had an exhausting day at work. I was once his pride and joy. I didn’t know why he got so bad, but he had no excuses.

I remember all the hours we spent watching football with Nancy. Could he really change? I wasn’t sure, but I had to hope.

I would never move back home, but if he did change—

We could have a relationship again. I’d do just about anything for that.

There’d been moments before I was arrested when he was nice to me, when we talked. Even now, it breaks my heart. I miss him. If this doesn’t work, I’m out of ideas. If he can’t change now, there’ll be nothing left. And I won’t care anymore.

Chapter 29

Garrett

Tomorrow. She’s meeting with her dad tomorrow. I told her, no matter what, I will be there for her. I won’t let her do that alone. I shoot a quick text to check on Whitney, and Howard lets me know she is fast asleep.

Before we leave Nancy’s, she mentions how thankful she is that I’m in Raegan’s life, and I want to tell her I feel the same wa

y—but I don’t.

As we head to the truck, my phone vibrates with a text message from Lance.

Hey, the fair is in town. Bring your ass down here.

The fair seems like a good way to distract Raegan, so I reply quickly, telling him we’ll be there.

I open the door for Raegan, not shutting it until I get a kiss. She seems frightened, probably wondering if she made the right decision. I know she did and I’m so proud of her. I climb into the driver’s seat, pulling her hand into mine.

“Now it’s my turn to ask. Will you go somewhere with me?”

“And just where are we going?” She raises her eyebrows, a suspicious expression in those beautiful blue eyes.

“Just sit back and relax. You’ll see.”

“Wait.” She laughed. “I didn’t say yes.”

“Yes, you did.” I head in the direction of the fair; I’m almost positive she’ll love it. As I pay to park, her gaze catches the brilliant lights on the horizon. She lets out a squeal. “What are you so happy about?”

“The fair? Oh. My. Gosh. Garrett, this is freaking amazing!”

“Hey, you a little excited?” She jumps out of the truck, and I catch her arm before she can run off.