Evander shakes his head.“I’m not buying it.I’ve known Finn my entire life, and yes, Idodeserve a medal for that, thank you for asking.But see, I suspect that the man you describe may not be Finlay MacLaine.I fear you may be sleeping with an imposter.”
“Oh, Evander.”I smile at him sweetly.“We do very little sleeping.”
Summer slaps the table and breaks out into hysterics.When she comes up for air, she fist bumps me.“Nice one.She got your ass, Evander.No army required.”
After breakfast, Summer takes me back to the ranch, and Evander follows us there in his SUV.My window’s open, and I close my eyes and enjoy the wind on my face.I’m going back to Finn’s house.To my house.
So this is what bliss is, I think.
We turn on the road and through the gate.I wonder if Finn is waiting for me at the house.I wonder if today’s the day he’ll pop the question.I wonder if we have time to cuddle and make wild love in the shower or pool or kitchen island before school’s out.I wonder what I’ll make for dinner.I’m in the mood for lamb chops, but I can make that baked ziti that Finn loves so much.
“Holy shitballs!”Summer slams on the brakes.
Behind us, Evander slams on his brakes too.In front of us, Jamie, Finn, Declan, and Special K are standing in the middle of the road, forming a semicircle around an irate bald man with fat neck rolls.He’s standing with his back to us waving his arms, like he’s having a seizure.I recognize his back.The head.The fat rolls.He doesn’t need to turn around for me to know who he is.
He decides to turn around anyway.
J.R.Perkins.
CHAPTER 84
Emma
“What the actual motherfucking fuck?”Summer peers out the windshield and flips on the wipers, as if a smudge on the window is to blame for the circus act we’re watching.
The monster is yelling so loud that I can hear every word from inside the truck.
“You fired me?”he shouts.
“They can’t fire him,” Summer says.“He’s a broker.He doesn’t work for us.”She’s riveted to the scene unfolding in front of us.
I watch in the rearview mirror as Evander gets out of his SUV and marches past us to join the semicircle of MacLaine men facing off with Perkins.
“C’mon.We can’t miss this.”She opens her door.“This is awesome!We hardly ever get crazies on the ranch!Well, you know, not counting the ones who live here.”
I get out of the car, too.I stay close to Summer, and we take a wide berth around Perkins to the MacLaine side of this confrontation.Summer stands between Jamie and Special K, but I remain on the periphery, ten feet behind the MacLaine line.
I wish this weren’t happening.I was praying I’d never have to see the monster from my past again.
In fact, I’d hoped he exited Declan’s plane and was immediately hit by a truck.Or a train.Or best yet, a steamroller that flattened him like a cartoon character.It’s a lot, I know.
He deserves it all.
Whatever is happening right now is because of me.It’s my fault they have to deal with him.I really should intervene.I need to stop this, but I can’t move.I’m rooted to the ground, too heavy to move.I’m dizzy as I watch the scene play out like a movie with bad sound, like I’m hearing everything from miles away.
It needs to end.I want J.R.Perkins to disappear, to vanish.I want him to never have existed.Why did he ever have to exist?
From deep inside me, that black hole of despair I thought was gone, I hear one word:why?
Why was I allowed to experience bliss only to have it all shot down by my miserable past?Because no matter what Finn has said, I can’t expect him to accept this invasion of his peaceful existence, his happy home.
Where his child lives.
“You bastard, you fired me!”he shouts directly at Finn.“I had that job for twenty-three years!”He waves his arm wildly.
He’s eggplant-purple from his bald head to his shirt collar.I hope he blows a gasket right here so I never have to see him again.
“You must be mistaken,” Evander says in his lawyer voice.“You’re a feed broker, an employee of a supply wholesaler based out of Las Vegas, I believe.Is that correct?”
