I leaned into him. “For?”
“Whatever I did yesterday. I can’t remember shit, baby. But if I hurt you, or said anything, or did anything…” He groaned. “I’m so sorry.”
My hands touched his bare back under his shirt as I wrapped my arms around his middle. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who should be saying sorry. My dad…” I swallowed the fresh lump of emotion trying to choke me and blinked back the sting of tears. My eyes ached from all the tears I’d shed the day before, and I’d thought I was all dried up, but apparently not. ?
?But we don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
He pulled back so he could look down at me. “Please tell me you didn’t kill him. I can barely see right now, babe. I don’t think I could bury a body this morning.”
Despite feeling like I was going to burst into tears at any moment, I lifted my lips in a small grin. “No,” I rasped out. “I didn’t kill him or anyone else. He was breathing the last time I saw him.”
“Then what happened?” he asked with a frown.
I shrugged. “I cut him out of my life. From this day on, he doesn’t exist to me.”
“River…” One of his hands cupped the side of my face. “Baby, I know that you’re pissed right now. Fuck, so am I. But you are going to regret this. I can’t let you—”
“Stop,” I whispered. “What he did? He basically made me choose, and I picked you. I will never regret that. The way he was acting, how he was treating you, it was becoming toxic. And I’m already tired of it all. If we’re going to get married and start our own family, I refuse to let that shit touch our kids.”
“But—”
“I still have the rest of my family. My mom, aunts, uncles, cousins. They are still very much a part of my life. But not him. He lost me the moment he paid those bitches to drug you.” My tears spilled free, and I hurriedly wiped them away when I saw his eyes darken at the sight of them.
“But he’s your dad,” he murmured. “I know you love him.”
“I love you more,” I interrupted. Forcing a smile, I lifted onto my tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “I need to get ready. I have a doctor’s appointment in an hour.”
While I got ready, I finally turned my phone back on. I’d turned it off the night before when Dad had started blowing it up on my way home. He had nothing to say I wanted to hear, and I still wasn’t interested in anything that came out of his mouth. But I figured my mom or Maverick’s would want an update on how he was feeling.
As soon as my screen lit up, it started going crazy with all the missed text and calls. The majority were, of course, from Dad, but I deleted them before I could second=guess myself. Cutting him out of my life wasn’t just a ruse to get him to do what I wanted. I’d meant it, and I wasn’t going to give in just because he was suddenly sorry for what he’d done.
I didn’t trust him any longer. My faith in his love for me had turned to ashes the day before, and I wasn’t ever going to give him a second chance to break my heart again. Maybe it was harsh, and maybe I might even feel a twinge of regret later on down the road, but I refused to let anything toxic touch my life any longer.
From now on, I was going to focus on healing. My heart was already battered and bruised from miscarrying my baby. But now, part of it was also shattered and missing, thanks to my father.
Before I got dressed, I texted both Mom and Aunt Willa to let them know Maverick was awake and out of bed. I shot Mila a quick message to remind her that I had a doctor’s appointment and that I might not get to the store until closer to dinnertime. I had graduation practice that afternoon that I really didn’t feel like going to, but I had been warned if I didn’t show up for it, I couldn’t walk with the rest of my class the next day.
Pulling on jeans and a T-shirt, I scooped my hair up into a ponytail and walked out of our bedroom to find Maverick sitting on the couch with his phone to his ear. He was leaning forward, his elbow propped on his knee while he pressed the palm of his hand into one eye socket like his head was throbbing.
“I said I’m fine,” he was muttering into the receiver. “River has a thing this morning, and then once she goes to practice, I’ll be there. Yeah…” He paused, listening to whoever was on the other end. “I know, man. Fuck. Okay. I’ll see you then.”
Lowering his hand, he glared down at his phone for a moment before lifting his head. Seeing me standing there, he quickly dropped his gaze back to the screen. “Give me ten to shower and change, and I’ll be ready to go, baby.”
I sighed. “You don’t have to keep things from me.”
“I’m not,” he denied. But we knew each other too well. I knew all his tells, so I could read him as easily as if he were an open book. The guilt that flashed momentarily in his gray eyes told me all I needed to know.
“Please don’t lie to me either.” I crossed to the couch and climbed onto his lap. Cupping his face in both of my hands, I leaned in and kissed him. “Listen to me. You don’t have to cut anyone out of your life. I’m not asking that of you. I know Dad is still your MC brother. I respect that. But I’m asking you right now, don’t start hiding shit. Don’t lie to me. And please, babe, please respect my decision to cut him out of my life.”
His groan was loaded with frustration. “I just want you to be happy.”
“Mav, my heart is one big ache right now,” I told him honestly, causing his jaw to clench. “Between the baby and now Dad? I’m going to need a little time to heal. Okay?” After a slight hesitation, he nodded, and I began to relax a little. “Thank you.”
Standing, I walked toward the kitchen. “I’ll grab us to-go cups of coffee while you get ready.”
Twenty-Two
Maverick