He stepped back. “Like who?”
“My mother.”
He scowled. “Howcould you be like her? You have a master’s degree in a sought-after field. You have a house and a retirement account, which is more than your mom does.”
My eyes widened. He was right. But I couldn’t stop the panic building within me. I stood, the barstool scraping across the wood. “I don’t want to talk about this. I want to get dressed.”
“Well, I want to handle this so you’re not flinching every time your phone rings.”
“You can’t solve everything, Cormac. This ismyissue, andI’lldeal with it my way.”
His jaw jutted as he stepped back. “Fine. But don’t keep secrets from me, Keelie.” He turned on his heel and walked toward the stairs. “I’m going to change and head to the gym. I need some time alone.”
I twisted my fingers together, my chest aching. I still stood there when Cormac came back down the stairs in athletic shorts and a T-shirt. He gave me a fiery glare that caused me to flinch before he disappeared down the hallway.
My phone chimed again, and I sucked in a breath. Raising my chin, I reminded myself I wasn’t my mother. Iwouldn’tbe her. With trembling fingers, I pulled my phone from my purse and opened the texts.
As I’d expected, the message was from my father.Stop ignoring me. It just makes you look weak and pathetic. What could a man as powerful as Cormac see in you?
I swallowed with difficulty, the words blurring on the screen. This was what I never wanted him to see. Just like I didn’t want Cormac to know how much those words hurt me—how correct my father was.
I glanced longingly down the hall. I should have just shown him. Then he would have stayed.
Chapter49
Cormac
My phone chimed, but I ignored it, focusing on my breathing as I completed another set with the weights. Arms burning, I grunted as I set them down. Then I swiped a towel across my sweaty face and neck and pulled out my phone.
My stomach burned as I noted Keelie’s name.
I opened the message, irritated that she hadn’t come in to talk to me.
Don’t contact me again. You mean nothing to me. Cormac doesn’t want to meet you or talk to you either.
Below that message were multiple others she’d copied from who I assumed was her father. I clenched my jaw as words popped out at me:pathetic, weak, stupid, not good enough. This man was scum. Who talked to a woman, his child—any person—like that?
My heart sank. Keelie’s expression and her reluctance to share this made more sense now. She’d been struggling with abuse, and I’d yelled at her.
“Fuck,” I shouted as I threw my towel across the room. I took a long breath in, released it. Again, I did that. I knew now what I was dealing with… I hoped I could fix this.
No, I would fix this. Starting now.
I sat my ass down on the weight bench and got to work.
The first thing was the easiest: I bought Keelie a new phone. I asked to have it set up on her current account, but her father wouldn’t have this contact information.
The next step was fun: I started ring shopping. But I soon realized I wanted to do that in person, so I switched gears to the last item on my list. I composed a message to my parents, informing them that I planned to ask Keelie to marry me.
Keelie wasasleep when I made my way upstairs a few hours later. The light was on in the bathroom and the door partially open so I could see. Slippers was curled up next to Keelie, who had her arm around the cat. Tear tracks streaked her cheeks.
“Oh, sweetheart.” I settled my hip next to hers. Part of me wanted to let her sleep, but we needed to talk. I left for another away game tomorrow. If I’d had the time, I would have talked to her first and implemented my plan later, but I needed to know Keelie was safe.
“Cormac?” she murmured.
“I’m here, Keelie. I’m right here with you. I’m sorry I yelled. I wasn’t mad at you.” I swallowed hard. “That was about me—my insecurities.”
“I’m scared you’re going to leave me.” She choked on a sob. “I don’t want to be like my mother. I don’t want to be weak and stupid and—”
