I smile. He’s right—she did raise me. She saved me.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen if you do.” He presses a kiss to my forehead.
I pull back, taking his hand, leading him to the couch. It’s high time I decided he deserves to know at least part of my story. Folding my legs under me, I take a deep breath. “I don’t know where to start.”
“Wherever you want. Tell me as little or as much as you want.”
“I, um— I slept in the garage a lot. It was safer there. And there wasn’t ever any food, so I was pretty small for my age, but once I met Kacey, she always brought me extra food . . .” I give him a broad scope of what my life looked like. There are still some things I don’t want to talk about or relive, but I tell him enough that he understands what the first nine years of my life looked like. I don’t say a word about paying Daryl now or some of theproblems he’s caused in my life since college. If Trey knew, he wouldn’t be able to do anything. He would try to step in, and that would only make it worse and get him hurt.
He doesn’t interrupt, but his jaw clenches. He never stops touching me, always maintaining one point of contact. He’s visibly upset by every word out of my mouth, but he waits patiently until I’m finished to tell me how sorry he is that I had to go through that. Then how proud he is to know the person I’ve become despite it. His words are a balm on a horrible day. I scoot closer, moving onto his lap, and curl up in his arms.
“So, the day your dad showed up. Is that common?” he asks.
Shit.
I have to be careful how I answer this. I don’t want to lie to him, but he can’t know the extent to which Daryl harasses me. I shrug. “Define common. He’s shown up over the years and made it clear he keeps tabs on me.”
“Has he ever . . . hurt you? Since you moved out?”
“No. I keep my distance and anytime he’s shown up, I do what I can to placate him and he leaves.” Not a lie. By placate I mean pay him, but Trey doesn’t need to know that.
“If he ever shows up again or speaks to you that way again, I want to know. Got it?”
I only nod. I can’t promise him that. I won’t let my father anywhere near him.
Chapter 27
Trey
Knox
Requesting proof of life.
Trey
Weird way to ask for a dick pic...
Knox
I will block your number.
Knox
I haven’t heard from you in days. What are you doing?
Trey
Jessie mostly. But don’t worry, Dad. I’m fine, just leaving the gym. Ready to be back.
Knox
Good. We got places to be and bulls to ride.
Trey
I see the doc soon, then I’ll catch a flight out to you.
“Dot! I’ve got tacos and the part we need to fix your stove!” I call out as I enter the house.
