Her chin trembled. “I do like it.”
He tucked her against his side again. “Why is that so hard to admit?”
“I’m still…learning a lot about myself.”
“So you’ll come riding?”
She nudged him with her shoulder. “You’re relentless.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.” She giggled.
He growled and dipped his head toward hers. “I thought it was.” Skating his lips along her neck, he asked, “Who’s Gary Lewis?”
She did jump to her feet this time. Just enough sun remained for him to see her absolute fury. “I told you not to worry about him,” she said.
“No.” He stood too. “You told me not to look him up. I didn’t.” He reached for her, and she let him take one of herhands in his. But he was breaths away from losing her, and he knew it. “I just want to know who he is.”
“So do I.”
He watched her, trying to figure out what she meant. “You don’t know who he is?”
“I know who he is, but not who he was as a person.” Tears turned her eyes bright and glassy.
“Farrah,” Darren said in his gentlest voice. “I just want to help you. Know everything about you. That’s what people do, you know.”
He watched something inside her break, and he hated it. Hated the way those tears spilled out of her lovely eyes. “He was my father,” she said. “And he didn’t want me.” She collapsed into his arms, and Darren held her close to his heart while she cried.
chapter
sixteen
Farrah couldn’t believehow much liquid came out of her face. Everything felt too hot though the sun had gone behind the hills several minutes ago.
Darren kept his strong arms around her, creating an eye in the storm of her emotions. She felt safe with him, but she didn’t elaborate. She’d have to eventually, but maybe he’d be satisfied with what she’d already told him. After all, she hadn’t told anyone the story of meeting her birth father, because it pierced her deep and bit hard.
“Should we go?” he whispered.
She nodded, still sniffling, and allowed him to sweep up their trash and the blanket he’d spread on the sand before tucking her hand in his and leading her up the beach to the parking lot. She’d loved this beach growing up. It had tall trees growing right out of the sand, and she had happy memories of making sandcastles and burying her father up to his neck.
Doesn’t matter that Gary didn’t want you,she told herself.You have parents.
She needed to talk to Dr. Kenna, but her next appointment wasn’t until Tuesday. She seriously considered calling the therapist, but then Darren leaned into the truck, reaching acrossher to buckle her seatbelt. “There you go.” He gazed at her with such love, she decided right then that she didn’t need the love or acceptance of the father who had donated his sperm to her existence.
She trailed her fingers down the side of his face. “I’m scared you’re going to grow weary of me,” she said. “I came home with a lot of baggage.”
He gazed back at her evenly, not so much as a twitch or a blink. “We can unpack it one thing at a time.”
One thing at a time.
Dr. Kenna had said something similar. She’d counseled Farrah not to try to tackle everything at once. And she hadn’t. But she felt like she was juggling a lot of balls. Her job. Her new relationship with her parents. Her past. Her memories. New friends. Darren.
No matter what, she couldn’t drop Darren. His ball seemed made of glass, and she was sure she didn’t have many more chances with him. If she dropped his ball, it would shatter, and she simply couldn’t afford to lose him.
She nodded, her heart swelling with love for him. He walked around the front of the truck and got behind the wheel. “Maybe we can watch a movie at your place.”
“You’ve seen all my movies.”
