My heart twists inside my chest as my biggest fear is exposed. I take a deep breath and force my gaze toward the window to hide the sudden swell of emotion from my father.
He sets his plate down on the coffee table, and my eyes fall closed when he scoots closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“Shit, I didn’t mean to make you cry, sweetheart. I was actually trying to give you a bit of hope,” he says with a soft laugh, rubbing my arm. “Your husband loves you. Deeply. And I’m sure he says it all the time, but sometimes when you’re in the middle of a storm, it’s hard to see more than a foot out in front of you. So, I just thought it might help to tell you what I see.”
He brings me into a hug, and I lean into him willingly. For this being so far outside our norm, I’m surprisingly comfortable in his arms.
“You kids are going to be just fine, okay?”
I nod against his shoulder, feeling tears stream down my cheeks. Scar walks in right in the middle of the moment, and she throws her hands up.
“Dad, what the hell did you do?”
A laugh slips out in the middle of my sobbing, and Mike smiles too.
“Believe it or not, nothing,” he says.
“He’s telling the truth,” I add as we separate. “We were just having a much needed talk.”
Scar grabs a box of tissue off the entertainment center and hands it to me. My makeup is shot to hell, so I don’t bother trying to keep it in place, wiping away what I can.
“Thanks.”
She nods. “Ready to go whenever you are.”
I stand and Mike does too, and when we embrace this time, I’m the one who initiates.
I’ve been hard on him over the years. Partly because I felt that’s what he deserved, and partly because I don’t always know how else to be with him. Slowly, a little at a time, he’s been chipping away at my emotional walls, and with every swing of that hammer, I weaken just a little more, letting in more light.
“I love you,” I say softly, squeezing him tighter.
“Sweetheart, there aren’t even words for how much I love you girls,” he says, then sighs when adding, “Hunter too. Even though he’s the most stubborn bastard I’ve ever met other than myself.”
Laughing, I let go, and Mike swipes my last tear with his thumb. “I’m here whenever you need me. For you, for West. Anytime.”
“I know. Thank you for being there when he needed you,” I add, because that truly is important to me.
He nods, then Scar latches onto my arm.
“Be back in a few,” she calls out over her shoulder as we leave the house, and Mike locks up behind us. “You sure he didn’t do something? I’ve been wanting to kick his ass since he polished off my cereal last week.”
I laugh despite my emotions still running high. “Not today, but I’m starting to think a little separation might do you two some good.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re preaching to the choir, but let’s deal withyourshit before we worry about mine.”
She’s right. Dealing with the guys at the center is going to be another emotional blow, but it must be done. Seth’s gone, and we have to figure out how to press forward without him.
We drive with the radio on to fill the silence. The center’s only a few blocks away, so my face is still red and puffy from crying when we pull up. I lower the visor mirror to try to touch up my eyeliner, but when Scar grips my arm, I follow her gaze through the windshield.
“No way he had the balls to come back here.”
Her words echo inside my head as we stare at the front entrance of the center, watching Seth ease down the walkway with a bag slung over his shoulder. Scar’s out of the truck beforeI can stop her, and I’ve never been happier to have security. God only knows what help this girl will need if she attacks him.
“Scar…”
She’s storming towards Seth, and all I can think about is how West went on the defensive just like this and it landed him in jail for the night.
“Seriously?” she shoots out, standing toe-to-toe with Seth.
