James strode up, wrapping his arms around both of us. “Griff, that…sucks.” I could see he knew it wasn’t adequate. But if anyone understood what it felt like to lose the woman you loved, it was James. I pried an arm free and hooked it around him.
Dad arrived next and wound his arms around the three of us. “It’s gonna be okay.” But even he didn’t believe it. His shoulders shook as he tried not to cry.
Seeing my dad tear up for me? That did it. All my hurt came out in a single, gut-wrenching sob. Then, like at the hospital, Bowen, my cousins, and Maggie surrounded us.
It was right there, smashed in the middle of the second-biggest group hug of my life, that I finally understood.
I needed them.
I couldn’t imagine how I would’ve gotten through thisalone out in Phoenix. I wasn’t sure how I’d get through it now.
But with a family like this, they’d hold on until I did.
Chapter Thirty-Six
GRIFFIN
“It’s none of your business, Theo!” I yelled over my shoulder, the manila envelope slapping my thigh as I strode to the driver’s side of James’s truck. Theo had been nice enough to let me stay with him since Jules left. But his nosiness was getting on my nerves. “Please leave me alone.”
“No, I won’t!” he shouted from the back porch stairs. “I won’t let you do this. You’re going to find out the truth, and then you’ll regret it.”
I turned and shook the envelope in the air. “It’s too late, okay? You can stop giving yourself an aneurysm because they’re already signed.”
Theo’s mouth fell open like he couldn’t believe I’d actually done it.
Believe it, bro.
All I had to do was drive over to Uncle Holden’s and hand him the divorce papers. He said he’d take it from there. Two weeks from now, this nightmare would be over.
I climbed in and locked the door behind me, in case Theo got any bright ideas. From the fire in his eyes, healready had. Yup. When I revved the engine, he came off those stairs like I’d declared war, charging straight for the truck.
I threw it into reverse and gunned it, assuming he wouldn’t mess with a moving vehicle.
I assumed wrong.
As I shifted into drive and hit the gas, he dove onto the hood. Spread-eagled, his cheek smashed against the windshield, he gave me a clean shot straight up his left nostril.
“Are you stupid?” I yelled, slamming on the brakes.
Apparently, I was the stupid one. The momentum sent him flying through the air and onto the grass, where he lay face down, completely still.
I jammed the truck into park, jumped out, and sprinted over.
I dropped to a squat next to him. “Theo, are you okay?” I asked, panicked.
Sometimes, I forgot that while Theo was ninety percent computer nerd, he was ten percent Jiu-Jitsu black belt. In a flash, his legs scissored around mine, and—wham!—Iwas on the ground. He kicked up, landing on both feet, while I groaned and rolled onto my back. Which, in hindsight, was the dumbest thing I could’ve done.
He whipped his dark hair out of his eyes and looked down at me. “I apologize in advance for what I’m about to do, but it’s for your own good.” Then, for the second time in less than a month, I got kicked in my manhood.
Lucky for him, I’d learned my lesson last time and covered myself. His heel crunched the bones in my hand, and I screamed a swear word my Grandma Lisa probably heard half a mile away.
“I’m gonna kill you!” I rolled over, pushing up to my hands and knees.
Theo shrieked and bolted for the truck. Once inside, he slapped the lock down, his brown eyes wide with fear.
“Let me in!” I pounded on the window.
“No! I won’t let you do something you’ll regret.” Tongue poking out, he popped the clasp on the envelope like he was opening a birthday card instead of my only shot at freedom. Once he had the papers out, we locked eyes. Oh, I did not like that look.
