PROLOGUE
Finn
Watchingmy father fade away right in front of me, and being unable to do a damn thing about it, crushes me. It’s like the air being sucked from my lungs, leaving me broken, and weak.
Truthfully it makes me pissed at the world.
I’m not this man, I wasn’t raised to be this kind of person. Hateful, agitated at everyone and everything, on edge every single day, hating the unknown of tomorrow. But it’s almost like I can’t control it, like it takes me over, squeezing me, overpowering my every thought.
Everything angers me, and on most days it’s a struggle to contain that hate building inside of me.
I target all the wrong people, remain distant from those I know are here for me no matter what. I try to be strong, knowing that my mother needs me to be. But everyday ends in the disappointment I feel toward myself for failing one again.
But seeing the man I admire, a man that’s been my hero from day one, so weak, frail, confused, and fading fast, cripples me. I can barely breathe, I can’t picture my life without him, I don’t want to.
But the ugly truth is that one day, a day far too soon, I may have to learn to live in a world without my father in it.
That’s where the anger recycles, taunting me and pulling at everything inside of me.
And once again I am the man I don’t want to be.
CHAPTER ONE
Finn
I admireRory for finally facing the fact that what he felt all along for Adley wasn’t hate. I think we all saw it coming for months, watching the two of them dance around one another every single time they were near each other. Pretending to despise the other, butting heads at every turn.
It was the most clumsy dance I’d ever witnessed.
Don’t get me wrong, they still butt heads, but at least now they no longer try to hide they love one another. A love that they both deserve.
“You were lucky to find this place when you did,” Aaron says, with his hands on his hips looking around the room. “Has great bones,” he adds with a pleased nod. Spoken like a true builder. Able to always see potential in something that others can’t.
But I had to agree this time. Rory found a home just outside of town, a place that was neglected, overgrown, and needed someone to show it some love. He saw a home, one he wanted toshare with Adley and his son Jayden. A place he could envision making memories for years to come.
I envy him. The guy dealt with some shit with his ex, his son witnessed some things a child never should have to. Yet here he is, building his dreams and holding the two of them close at his sides.
Life is messy, and I can’t say I know how it feels to share the load with someone, but I see the ease in him now that he can. The two of them leaning on one another, finally accepting that they no longer have to take on their troubles alone.
“Where is the cold beer?” Brantley asks, holding up one end of the sheetrock as Aaron holds the other and Rory anchors it with screws.
Marshall looks at me, I look at Bennett and he shifts his attention around the room, no one jumping to volunteer.
“You three are waiting around for something to do.” Brant chuckles and Ben flips him off before turning around to walk out of the room. Marshall and I follow close behind, just as Jayden and Camryn go barreling past us, laughing and yelling. The two of them have quickly become best friends, always together.
Bennett tries to snatch up to Camryn but she dodges him, giggles, and keeps going. The man I never in a million years thought would settle down found his happy with Lexi, and together adopted a sweet girl that lost her parents in a horrific accident.
The closer we get to the kitchen the more the voices of the ladies become louder and more clear.
A phone chimes and then chimes again followed by three more rapid chimes as the three of us stop in the doorway and pause.
All the women look around at one another before settling on Sophie who appears annoyed. She braces her hands on the countertop, closing her eyes with her lips pursed, frustration obvious in her features.
“Someone is popular,” Adley says with a laugh.
“I swear he texts me more now than he did when we were dating. ‘Going to our favorite Italian restaurant, I saw a commercial and it reminded me of you. Hey did you ever find that book you were looking for about the missing child? Did you remember to get your oil changed?’” She throws her hands up in the air in frustration.
“We were together for close to a year and he never once showed interest in a book I liked. I’m the one that had to remind him of every single appointment he had and a commercial, really? I wonder if it was about a cheating asshole and a ridiculous girl.”
