“I love you, baby girl. I’m sorry for not being there for you. It’s clear, you’re strong. Never stop what you want in life, even when your old-fashioned mother tries to strike you down with cruel comments to kill your passion.”
A wall in me breaks, and I sob on her shoulder. All the pain and sorrow flood out of my system. The front door opens, and Dad pauses after letting Bishop off his leash.
He joins us in our hug. “My girls,” he whispers.
I love how he has no idea what’s going on, but holds us together all the same. Mom lets me go and leans against Dad’s chest. “Thank you for coming to dinner.”
“Thanks for listening,” I say, straightening up and wiping my eyes with the back of my wrist.
Sully exits the kitchen. “Everything’s all cleaned up. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take Veronica home.”
Mom nods. “Go ahead, kids. We’ll see you at dinner next month, right honey?”
“Yes.” I nod, blowing kisses. “See you then.”
Sully holds his hand out, and I’m too tired to fight. I hand him the keys and slip into the passenger’s seat.
He starts the car and turns the radio off. “Looks like you and your mom had a moment.”
I laugh, but it gets trapped in my swollen throat. The sound comes out strangled and garbled, like a small animal dying. “You could say that.”
He flashes his cute dimples, watching me.
“Your parents weren’t bad. I liked them.”
“Of course you’d say that.” I nudge his arm.
He tightens his hold on the steering wheel and clenches his jaw like he’s battling what he wants to say next.
“Veronica, seeing you in your tail at the beach, living in your element and then coming here to see where you grew up. I’m thankful to be a part of that.” He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobs.
“Spending this time with you makes me want it to never end. I think I may be fall—”
My heart will burst if he says what I think he might be saying so I kill his words with a kiss.
“Let’s go.” I drum my fingernails on the gear shift. “I want to end tonight with something extra special.” My hand trails down to his thigh and brushes his dick.
His eyes darken as he shifts into drive. “Say no more.”
28
Wewalkupstairs,andI unlock my apartment’s front door. “Alice? Alice?” I look around the cramped apartment and poke my head into her room and find it empty.
“We’re alone,” he says darkly when I return to the living room. He watches me with his hooded eyes as he leans against the front door, turning the lock without breaking eye contact.
A thrill zips through me like being on a fast roller-coaster, dipping up and down hills at lightning speeds. “What should we do?”
He places his hands on my hips and brushes his nose against mine. “Can you put your mermaid tail back on?”
I laugh, shoving his chest, but he doesn’t move. “You really want all this tied up?” I bend my knee and stroke my thigh.
He groans. “Never mind. I want you naked.”
“So, demanding…” I kiss his mouth and wrap my arms around his neck.
He picks me up effortlessly and we enter my room. He gently sets me on my bed. “I have a gift for you.”
“Oh?” I move back to rest against the pillows. “It’s not even my birthday.”
