But just then, Vale tilts her head, studying me like I’m a serial killer in a lineup, and she’s the only witness who can identify the criminal.
Tickled by Alena, who really wants to pluck my fucking eyebrows, I snap out of it. She snakes my shirt up, going for my abs, and I squeal. I fucking squeal, which only makes Alena laugh harder, grabbing the lions inked down my waist.
“Excuse me.” Vale jumps up and rushes to the deck outside, saying she needs to make a call.
“Okay.” Alena giggles back, too focused on me.
“Babygirl.” Gently, I fist Alena’s hair, yanking her smiling lips to mine. “I really love making you wet, but not like this. You’re gonna make me pee.”
“Ahem.” Mom reminds us she’s here.
“Shh.” Alena titters against my lips. “You’re insulting my grandmother’s virtue.”
“Darlin’,” my mom drawls, “the only thing virtuous about me is the Bible next to my vibrator.”
Alena laughs, I roll my eyes—Jeez, Mom, way to kill a bridegroom’s boner. But I recover. “Come here.” And tug Alena into a cuddle. With my arms squeezing her like pythons, she can’t tickle me.
She settles in my embrace, letting me hold her before I get that eternal urge to make her happy, muttering into her strands, “You can pluck my brows if you want.”
But she angles back, blinking, loving. “Changed my mind.” Cupping my cheek, she smiles. “You’re perfect.”
I kiss her palm, about to kiss my ring on her finger, when Vale storms back through the open sliding glass doors with Nash on her heels. He’s been staying in the condo next to this one, the happy father of the bride, but no one looks happy now.
Vale’s crying.
Nash is seething.
My soul implodes, knowing?—
It’s here. The moment I’ve been dreading.
“What’s wrong?” Alena slides off me, reading the pain on Vale’s face, then Nash’s. Fear fills her voice. “Dad? What happened? Why is Vale cr?—”
“We need to talk, sweetpea.” Nash’s voice breaks with pain; he’s devastated. But it doesn’t match my annihilation.
My heart screaming.
No, no, no, no! Don’t do this! Don’t hurt her! Don’t take Alena away!
I surge, trying to stop Nash, “Let me?—”
But he barks, “No!” Stopping me. “She’s my daughter. This is my doing, and it’s my fault, so let me tell her!”
“Tell me what?” Alena glances from me to her dad. “What’s going on?” She looks at Vale. “Oh, sweetie, why are you crying so much?”
Because this is going to kill you, Babygirl.
And I’d rather it be me.
Vale sobs. “I love your dad. I’ve been in love with him since I was eighteen, and I’m so sorry.” She spills the truth as I slide into its darkness. “We were going to tell you after the wedding. And I thought we were in love, and it would be okay, but then I found out he’s been lying to you and?—”
“Wearein love.” Nash fights for Vale. “Don’t youeverput us in the past tense, Poison. I won’t fucking allow it.”
“Wait.” Alena shakes her head. “What do you mean you’re lyingandin love?”
Nash rages, admitting, “I love her. I love Vale and never acted on it all these years because I never wanted to hurt you.Ever.”He swears to Alena, “I was willing to die alone, without her, to keep you happy and safe until?—”
But all I feel is the unraveling.
