“Just like always,” Parker noted, a hint of sadness in her tone. She looked at me over her shoulder, and I closed the distance. Reaching a hand around her, I shoved the door open. The burst of cold air had her wrapping her arms around herself. The sight made me remember all those times I’d picked her up at the end of her driveway: cold, hot, crying, antsy.
“Just like always,” I repeated.
I followed her to my truck after locking up the shop and held the passenger door for her while she got in.
Finding out who got her pregnant and abandoned her could wait. Kissing her could wait. All of it could wait if it meant she was here.
I was tired of missing memories.
11
PARKER
Beckham had tried to prepare me for this dinner as best he could. Growing up, the Bronsons were like a warm blanket after a long, cold day, wrapping you in their embrace and giving you sanctuary. There was never a day where I didn’t feel at home in their house. But tonight, I worried I wouldn’t have the same feelings, and I’d have no choice but to mourn the loss of it.
Back then, I fit in. Now I was walking into a house half full of people I knew, and half full of people who were complete strangers. Beckham’s siblings had formed their own relationships over the years, and my only hope going into this was that they all accepted me, and that none of the Bronsons resented me for leaving Bell Buckle.
“It’s going to be okay,” Beckham affirmed, setting a hand on my thigh to stop the bouncing. We were heading up the driveway to the main house, and thesight of it, even from this distance, had a bowling-ball-sized emotional pit dropping to the base of my stomach.
“You don’t think they’ll hate me?”
He aimed a frown at me, the look laced with concern. “They’ve been asking about you like crazy, Park. I wouldn’t take them being eager to see you as them being pissed off.”
I picked at the side of my fingernail. “I’ve missed them. And I know we have to have the hard conversations, but I just…” I dropped my head. “I could really use the good right now.”
His hold on my thigh tightened slightly. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
I looked up to find his body stiff, his grip on the wheel white-knuckled. “What do you mean?”
He shifted, but the movement seemed forced, like he was trying to loosen his muscles. “About the asshole who got you pregnant and left.”
My heart started racing at the mention of him. “You’re bringing this up now?”
He heaved a breath before shaking his head. An internal battle raged behind his eyes. “I need to know, Parker.”
“Know what?”
“Did he hurt you?”
My eyes widened. Daniel had never been abusive, but when he found out I was pregnant and I planned to keep it? Well, he hadn’t been happy, and that may have slipped into his physical reaction to the news.
“No.”
“Are you lying?”
“Beckham, now’s not the time.”
He let out an incredulous, humorless laugh. “You’re lying to me.”
The hurt behind that statement sent knives digging into my conscience as regret quickly hit me. “He didn’t hurt me before. But when he found out I was pregnant, he recommended I get an abortion, and I told him I wouldn’t get one.” I’d thought about that option for all of two minutes before I shoved the idea into a locked box. The moment I saw those two lines appear, I’d cracked. The hard facade I tried to uphold in certain situations was nowhere to be found at that moment. Iwantedthis baby, regardless of who the father was.
His hand spun on the wheel, leather creaking below his grip. “What’d he do?”
“He pushed me.”
Thankfully, we’d made it to the end of the driveway. Otherwise, I was sure Beckham would’ve hit the brakes right in the middle of the road.
“He didwhat?”
