“Don’t forget she fucked Jay only a few days after meeting him,” Daisy added in snidely, and anger flooded me so fast my vision dimmed. “Your sweet daughter isn’t as innocent as you two would like to believe.”
“I said stop!” Dad’s voice shook with anger as he glowered at Daisy.
“And you are?” I shook my head in disbelief. “At least I’m not a backstabbing whore.”
“Look who’s talking. How many guys are you even having sex with right now?”
“Enough!” Mom’s hands smacked the table so hard it shook as she stood up, and her entire frame vibrated as she glared at everyone.
“Stop talking about my sex life. It’snoneof your business, Daisy,” I seethed, trying to keep my tone calm but knowing my demeanor was anything but.
Daisy snickered, getting to her feet and crossing her arms. “Funny. You never used to have one with Jay. That’s how we connected after all.”
“And you said Tori was a whore? But now she’s a prude?” Spencer snorted. “Make up your mind.”
“Shut up!” Dad’s voice boomed through the kitchen, and I jolted in my seat. “This is ridiculous!”
Micah grabbed my arm and helped me up as Nathan and Calix stood beside me as well. “This conversation is over. We’re leaving,” Micah declared, tugging me with them until we were outside.
“I can’t believe your parents actually cared about the sex in the kitchen rather than the absolute shit Daisy said.” Nathan scrunched his nose up.
“To be fair, her dad did try to shut the bitch up,” Micah growled the words out.
Tears burned my eyes as I blinked rapidly. “God! That wassuchbullshit.”
Micah pulled me into his arms and kissed my head. “It was. But it’s unacceptable, and I’ll make damn sure they know that.”
“Are you okay?” Calix ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. “I didn’t mean to leave the album out.”
“It’s not your fault, man.” Nathan shook his head. “They were clearly snooping in the room.”
“And that’s so weird,” Calix muttered.
“Maybe they just noticed it.” I sniffed and pulled back.
“Maybe.” Nathan ducked down and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Either way, that was a shit show. What the hell is up with that girl?”
“I had a hysterectomy to take out my uterus a year before I found them together,” I explained. “Endometriosis was hell for me, and I couldn’t handle it anymore so my doctor tried everything else but eventually caved and gave me the surgery. It made my sex drive non-existent, and it took me a while to heal from it. I guess that’s how she and Jay started their affair. I don’t know.”
“What a fucking dick,” Nathan hissed as the screen door screeched open, and my parents and Spencer came out, Daisy and Jay following behind them.
“Let’s gather everything up,” Micah said gruffly, and everyone did just that.
The atmosphere was tense as we stepped around the decay and death around us, gathering supplies and fixing up the animals and trailers for the horses to carry.
It was a full hour of silent packing until we’d finally finished getting what we could that trip.
The chickens were loaded in a few large cages with blankets on the trailer Dolly pulled, and with them were all of the supplies needed for them and the cows. The second trailer pulledby Trigger was loaded up with household supplies and some sentimental items.
The cows and bull were following behind the trailers and horses, and we planned to have Daisy and Jay lead them behind the trailers while the guys, Spencer, and I walked behind them to make sure they didn’t stray.
Mom stood facing the ranch with her arms wrapped around her center as tears flooded her eyes. “I’m going to miss our home.”
Swallowing did nothing to ease the tightness in my throat as I nodded. “We won’t be living there again.”
“It’s not safe anymore,” Dad added, but the worry lines creasing his forehead showed how hard it was for him to leave.
“I’m glad we have somewhere safe to go.” Spencer grabbed my hand and squeezed.
