When Rivals Love (Bayshore Rivals 3)

“She wouldn’t…” He finally says. “Who told you it was her? Did the Bishops tell you that? I swear, I will end them for good this time.” Contempt drips from his words.

“No one told me. I remembered. She drove through the intersection right as I was crossing the street. She tried to kill me.”

“No… it-it must have been an accident.” My father sounds a bit flabbergasted, and for a moment, I try to figure out if he is really surprised or faking it. Then, as if he gathers his thoughts, he says with a stronger voice, “I don’t believe you. You either saw it wrong, or it simply was an accident.”

Now it’s my turn to be flabbergasted, I can’t believe him. “Are you serious, right now?” My voice rises with each word, my anger simmering, threatening to boil over. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you would defend her, not when she’s spreading her legs for you.”

“What proof do you have?” My jaw aches as I grind my teeth together.

“Proof? What proof do I need? I saw it with my own eyes. She drove through the stop sign… she sped up! She hit me with her fucking car. I know she saw me, how couldn’t she?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure, and if you see her, let her know the police are looking for her. I can’t even go back to classes because I’m worried she’s going to hurt me, or worse.”

Silence lingers between us, making the space heavy.

“I… I believe you, and I’m sorry. Your mother and I have been worried sick about you. Will you please just come home?”

“No, and that woman you married is not my mother. My mother was Phoebe, who you refuse to tell me anything about. But that’s okay…” I can feel the smile curving at the corner of my lips, “I went to Mr. Bishop and got all the information I need.”

“Harlow,” the desperation in his voice makes me pause. “I… I can’t do this over the phone. We need to meet in person, and I’ll tell you everything. I don’t know what George told you, but I’m positive that not all of it is true.”

“There is nothing left to say, and I’m not sure I would believe anything you have to say now anyway.” The only reason he wants to see me in person is so he can drag me back home and lock me in my room. Does he think I’m stupid?

“I know where Shelby is,” he blurts out, shocking me once again. “Would you forgive me if I tell the police where she is?”

Forgive him? I have to suppress a laugh. “How about you tell the police where she is because it’s the right thing to do?”

“I’ll do it, but know that I’m doing this for you. Everything I’ve done is for you. You’re my daughter, the only thing I have left of your mother, and I can’t lose you.”

I wish I could believe him. I wish I could love my dad like a daughter should love her father, but too much has happened, and I don’t think we can ever repair our broken relationship.

There are too many lies, too many secrets. I can’t trust that he’ll protect me, that he’ll take care of me. The thought brings tears to my eyes. My emotions are all over the place, and talking to him isn’t helping things.

“Goodbye, Dad,” I say before hanging up the phone.

6

A few days have passed since the phone call with my father… a phone call that the guys still don’t know about. I feel bad about hiding it, but I don’t want to disappoint them or hurt their feelings either. I know they just want to protect me, but I had to talk to him.

With all of that, I find myself getting cabin fever, the same four walls of this rental house close in on me a little more every day. Crawling out of bed, I strip out of Banks’ shirt and walk into the bathroom connected to the bedroom. I’ve been bed hopping since we got here, each brother getting their own time with me. Last night, I fell asleep on the couch and woke up in bed with Oliver, all while wearing his brother’s shirt. Strange, but normal for us.

Turning the shower on, I let the bathroom start to steam up before I step under the hot spray of water, letting it massage my neck and shoulders. A moan escapes my lips as my muscles relax under the spray.

“I like that sound very much, but I’d prefer you making it while I’m in there with you,” Oliver murmurs, chuckling as he does. Before I know it, he’s stripping out of his clothes and joining me in the extra-large shower stall. I’m not surprised to see his cock already hard, pointing at me angrily. The veins popping out, throbbing and begging to be touched.