I drag a hand through my hair and finally meet his eyes. “Don’t look for something that isn’t there, Luke. You don’t want to do that.”
“What I want is the truth.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You don’t.”
“Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth, Holt.”
“I did.”
“Do it again,” he says simply. His voice doesn’t rise. It gets quieter.
That’s worse. I know him too well.
“Look me in the eyes and tell me there was nothing between you and my daughter.”
The air shifts.
For a second, I consider maintaining my lie. Telling him what he wants to hear until he believes it, because we both know he doesn’t want the truth. No matter how much he thinks he does, he doesn’t.
But I can’t get the image of some asshole surfer kid with his hand on my girl outof my head.
The idea of her letting someboytouch her after what we shared, only because I let her think I didn’t want her. That I wouldn’t fight for her. Or choose her over everything else.
Fuck that.
My jaw tightens. Luke sees it immediately.
“Did you touch her?”
I don’t answer fast enough. The truth must flash across my face, because fuck did Ievertouch her.
His hand fists in my shirt before I can react, and he’s shoving me back against the stack of wood. I don’t raise my hands in defense.
“Did you touch my daughter, you piece of shit?”
“Yes.”
The word leaves my mouth before I can reconsider, because it doesn’t matter anymore.
His fist connects with my jaw hard enough to snap my head sideways. I taste blood immediately, but I still don’t raise my hands.
I don’t swing back.
I deserve this. And more.
“You son of—” he lands another punch. “I trusted you. You were supposed to be her safe place.”
“I was,” I fire back, spitting blood from my mouth. “You think I don’t know that?”
“You think sleeping with her issafe? Taking advantage of?—”
“No. I—” I stop, breathing hard. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?” he demands, rage lining his features. But he’s not just angry. He’s hurt. And that cuts deeper than the punches did.
I wipe blood from the corner of my mouth and step toward him.
“I tried not to,” I say, my voice low. “You think I didn’t? I know what she means to you. I knew what it would mean.”
