“But you gave me something to fight for. That’s why I came back here. To fight for you.” Although I knew this wasn’t what he’d meant when he said as much on graduation day, his emotional outburst had never once stopped ringing in my head.
His throat bobbed as he pressed his forehead against mine. “You didn’t have to do it alone. God, Bee. I thought I’d lost you forever.”
“Yes, I did. It was me who let him turn me into a coward. I had to face him alone.” I dug my fingers into his chest, wanting to get as close as possible. “And you don’t ever have to worry about losing me again. I’d never let you. I love you.” I felt a fresh bout of tears, remembering his sorrow from this morning. “I always did. I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure my father couldn’t come between us anymore. I couldn’t break your heart again, Jamie. Please believe me.”
Jamie took a deep, shuddering breath before standing up straight and looking toward the house. “Where is he?”
“Inside.”
Meeting my gaze, the muscle in his jaw began ticking as he looked me over. “Did he hurt you?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I felt Ever and Wren press in closer, eager to hear the answer as well. I knew what it would mean for my father if he had. Lucky for him, he never got the chance.
I quickly shook my head. When his gaze narrowed, I knew he was looking for a sign that I was lying. “He’s not going to be a problem anymore.”
The steel in my tone made his mouth purse with reluctant amusement. “What did you do?”
“I beat him at his own game,” I boasted as I fiddled with the tie I’d helped him put on this morning. It felt like such a lifetime ago. “I also found evidence that he’s been stealing from his investors and ratted him out.”
“I’m sure it’s a lovely story,” Wren snapped. “Can we go now?” He was looking around as if expecting men with guns to jump out at any moment. Given his background, I suppose it was a very rational fear.
Jamie nodded at him. He then stared in my eyes for a few seconds as if trying to convince himself that I was real before kissing me deeply. When he pulled away, he pointed to his Jeep, his voice was sharp when he spoke. “Get in.”
IT WAS AMAZING THE THINGS Barbette could do to my heart.
Like how she could make it come to a complete fucking stop without ever lifting a finger.
It had been five days since her little standoff with her father, and I was still pouring and obsessing over the printed emails she’d given me. Even after seeing the proof with my own eyes, it was still impossible for me to believe that Elliot could be so vulgar and dismissive of his daughter. Her well-being had been the least of his concerns, and to think I’d left her alone with that monster for five fucking years.
I wasn’t sure what kept me from going over there and wringing his neck, but I figured if Barbette wanted him dead, she would have used that pistol I’d glimpsed in her purse. The only explanation she’d given was that it was his, and I hadn’t bothered questioning her more. I was still tempted to wring her neck, too.
She’d told me she loved me.
The most coveted words I’d ever wanted to hear spill from her lips, and I… I choked. I didn’t expect that. I’d been holding my breath, waiting for her to say it back, and when she did, I fucking choked. I knew Barbette meant it, but I also knew she loved me then, too. Yet she still broke my heart. I guess the why doesn’t matter when all you can remember is the fucking pain. She said she’d waited to tell me until she was sure she wouldn’t break it again, but I was scared as hell to believe her.
A shadow suddenly darkened the wrinkled pages I’d read so many times. Looking up, I found Uncle Thomas standing over me. The circles darkening his puffy eyes were even more pronounced than the day before. Covering up so many lies must be hard work.
“You can go home,” he announced before pushing away from my cubicle to leave.
I stood from my chair and called his name.
He faced me with a complete lack of interest. “Yes?”
“When you told me I’d be the one running the company because your blood runs through my veins, you also told me I’d have to start making decisions that were best for more than just myself. Do you remember that?”
He sighed. “Of course.”
“Well, I think I’m ready to start now.” I smiled at the wary look he was giving me now. “For my first decision as head of the family, I’ve decided not to take the job.”
“Excuse me?”
“Actually, that’s not true. I will take the job, but only if your son knows exactly why he was passed up.”
“That’s none of your business, Jameson.”
“It is when you force me to look my best friend in the eye every day and lie to him. I won’t do it a second longer. Tell him the truth, or I walk.”
“Everson doesn’t even want the job. He wants to be an architect.”
“Of course, he doesn’t want the job.” I fumed. “Who’d want to sit at a table where they’re not welcome?”
“So…” My uncle frowned, suddenly looking very disturbed. “He knows?”
“You’ve been showing me off as the future face of the company for months. He’d have to be an idiot not to. Besides, I think he’s known for a long time.”
“Does he know—” He seemed unable to speak the words.
“That his sperm donor is alive?” I finished for him. “I doubt it, but you should tell him. Sean isn’t behaving like a man content to stay in the shadows.”
My uncle was a foolish man, but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew he couldn’t keep Sean at bay for much longer. After eighteen years, he suddenly wanted to play daddy, and nothing on earth was going to stop it.
Unless we somehow found something that Sean wanted more.
“It was my fault his mother left,” my uncle announced, which sent me reeling, even though it wasn’t much of a surprise. “Ever thinks it was because of him, but it was me all along. She wanted to tell Ever the truth about his father. I didn’t. I raised Ever. I was there for his first words and his first steps. I was the one who taught him to catch.” In an explosion of anger, he slammed his fist on top of the cubicle wall. “He’s my goddamn son!” I silently watched my uncle’s chest heave as he tried to regain control of his emotions. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. His voice, though still laced with anger, was much calmer when he spoke. “We argued about it for months, and when she found out that Sean was still alive, she sought him out. I’m still not sure if it was because she thought he’d be a better father or because she still loved him.”
I decided not to point out the obvious fact that they all seemed to be making decisions that were best for themselves and not for Ever.
“What about you?” I asked, instead. “Do you still love him?”
By now, I’d lost count of how many times I’d managed to shock my uncle in a single conversation.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about this weird little sex triangle you’re in.” I waited for him to admit it, but he simply stood there… blinking at me. I sighed. “I’m going to take an educated guess and say that you and Sean found each other early in life. You were best friends until one of you realized you wanted more. Since I already know Sean is Crow, I’m also going to guess that you hit a fork in the road. Only his path was much darker than yours. Years pass before you see each other again. By now, you’ve met a nice, wholesome girl. You think you’re in love. And because fate is cruel, here comes your old flame. With your heart in one hand, he steals hers with the other. Knocks her up too before he disappears again, leaving you to pick up the pieces.”