When her fingers wrapped around his arm, her touch was soft. “Hey. Are you okay?”
His brows tugged together. “You’re askingmeifI’mokay?”
“You seem quiet.”
He forced his features to soften as he looked at her. “I hate everything about this. That he got to you today. That he was already a shit father, but now he’s trying to hurt you again.”
“Me too. But Eastern said he’s out on good behavior and what he did today is reason to lock him up again. That’s good. As soon as they find him, he’ll go back to prison.”
“Storm…nothing about what happened today is good.” He reached out and cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry I lost sight of you.”
Her brows flickered. “Nothing that happened today is your fault.”
“It is. Protecting you is my job now. And today, I failed you.”
“Cody—”
“But next time I’ll do better. I promise.” He had to do better, because losing her when they’d barely begun wasn’t an option.
CHAPTER 21
“How are you?” Tilly asked. “And I want an honest answer, because after what happened a few days ago, I know you’d have to be rattled.”
Harper wrapped her fingers around her glass. The bar wasn’t open, but they sat in a booth, quiet music playing over the speakers. “I don’t actually know. On one hand, I hate that my father attacked me. And in the quiet moments I swear I can still feel his fingers around my neck.” Feel his breath on her face…
She shuddered, and Tilly reached across the table and wrapped her fingers around Harper’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. But on the other hand, I’m so relieved that you walked past. And Cody and his brothers have been watching me so closely since it happened. It’s crazy that I haven’t been here for very long, yet I have so many people looking out for me in this town.”
“And we’ll continue looking out for you.” Tilly shook her head. “I still can’t believe that was your father.”
“He’s…not a good guy.” She looked up, the words coming easier than she thought they would. “He’s been in prison for years for assault and drug possession. The assault was against me while I was a teenager.”
Tilly gasped. “Oh, Harper…”
“I knew the time would come when he’d be released. I guess the optimistic part of me had hoped that if he ever found me, he’d be a changed man and repentant about what he did. Maybe even want to make amends.” She scoffed. “It was probably more delusional than optimistic because it definitely has not been the case. Men like him don’t change. Once evil, always evil.”
“I understand crappy people. You know what I’ve learned these last few years?”
“That dads suck?”
“Yep, that, and also that having a bad parent is no reflection on us. If anything, we should be commended for our strength in not following in their footsteps.”
Harper frowned. “Have you seen your dad since he stole from the people in this town and left?” She wanted to cringe at her wording, but she didn’t know how to say it any other way.
“Nope. My guess is he wanted all the money to himself. That, and he knew my mother and I would want no part in what he did. She was the kind of person who did the right thing just because it was the right thing to do. She was an amazing woman.”
“I wish I’d had a chance to meet her.”
“Me too.” Tilly blinked a few times. “What about your mom? At least tell me she’s better than your dad.”
“Not much. She’s a drunk who stole my life savings. And my brother’s pretty terrible too.”
Tilly’s mouth dropped open. “God. How did you turn out so well-adjusted?”
Harper laughed. “Well-adjusted? Uh, no. Insecure? Sure. Slightly dysfunctional? Definitely.”
“Hey. I’m dysfunctional too. We can bond over it.”
