“Yeah, it’s gonna be magical. If you’ll excuse us, Dad, we really want to get it right.”
My father’s gaze settles on me, trying to break me down until I give in and expose all my sins. Little does he know, the past two years have hardened me. My walls are up so high, the only thing he’ll see is my growing hatred toward him.
“Well, all right then. But please hurry. I would like to spend some time with you before you venture off again.” His message is clear: he’s not happy I took off in the middle of our argument yesterday and didn’t show until today at the party. Too bad. I have nothing to say to him. Now that I think about it, I have even less to say to Chase.
“You know what? We’re good. Think we got it. I’m gonna go back to the party. Hannah needed me.” Before either has a chance to comment, I push past them both.
Chapter 5
Chase
She just fucking left.
She didn’t even stick around for our karaoke solo. Well, fake solo. But still. I wasn’t done with her. She still had a lot of explaining to do. First off, why she lied about who she was. Or how her dead father was not dead at all. And a pastor at that.
I was so mad she blew me off, I left. My prissy friends laughed and blamed it on my jealousy. Who the hell was jealous of men who had forfeited their livelihoods?
My pussy-whipped friends were the least of my worries. The fact that she left without allowing me to get her contact information is the thorn in my side. As if she wants to talk to you. Not my problem. She has to. Lots of questions. Like if her dad hadn’t interrupted us, would she have let me steal her breath and kiss the hell out of her?
I slap myself. “You sound like a pussy.” I hit Kip’s speed dial and tap my foot on the tile of my kitchen, waiting for him to answer. Stick to the script. Act normal. Fish for answers. Don’t sound desperate.
“Yo, dude.”
“Kip, my man!”
“Whatever it is, no. You know Stacey is not down with weekend getaways anymore. Throwing my phone out of the car at the beginning of our last trip so I couldn’t call home really put the nail in the coffin for you, buddy.” Whatever. I did him a favor. No chicks on guys’ trips.
“Whatever. Not calling about that.”
“Oh, okay, what has you sounding all sketchy?” Dammit. Act cool.
“Nothing, bro. Just calling to see what’s up. Great party the other day. Man, it’s been a long time since the whole family’s been together. Remind me about your cousin again?”
It sounds innocent. No red flags. Just a simple inquiry—
“Don’t even think about it. She’s a good kid. Plus, she’s been through a lot the past couple years. She doesn’t need some playboy messing with her. Not to mention, my uncle would put a stop to it.”
Never say never. “Well, I wouldn’t dare think of it. But I mean…she seems more mature than a kid. Probably old enough to date guys of all ages. Who knows, maybe even a guy my age—”
“Chase, no. Whatever it is you’re thinking, don’t. Ain’t gonna happen. Hey, I gotta go, Stacey’s waiting for me. Was there something you wanted to—”
“Sorry, the food I ordered just got here. Gotta go.” I hang up and toss my phone across my small kitchen table.
Prick.
Why the hell is he so concerned? I don’t plan on dating her. I just want answers. Once I get the answers, I’ll leave her alone. Simple as that.
Going with plan B, I hit my next speed dial. “Hannah Banana, it’s your favorite person!”
Bridget
Once upon a time, I had a dream. Plans. A future. College. Marriage. Kids. A husband who would keep me safe and warm until we were old and gray. All that went down the drain the night Jax died. Because of my father. He took it all away. I didn’t want to go away to college and live out my plan without him. How was I supposed to continue on this path alone? I refused to believe my father when he told me there’d been an accident. He was lying to me, so I would let Jax go. It wasn’t until I saw the report in the paper. The photo splattered across the front page. Too many bent and broken pieces for anyone to walk away from.
College was a dream of the past. I found work instead, picking up shifts at the library during the days and at a local diner at night. Dead on my feet, I would trek home, only to sleep for a few hours and start all over the next day. This was my life. This was my punishment for allowing him to leave that night. Maybe if I hadn’t been such a bitch or gotten upset over something that would have otherwise been honorable, he wouldn’t have left. Or maybe I would have left with him. At least then we would have been together.