Page 130

“And what in the hell does it have to do with that man hanging around here, huh?”

“Because I don’t want to be a victim,” Dakota said quietly. “I forgave Joey because if I didn’t, I’d always be that devastated woman who woke up in that hospital room. And I don’t want you to be that devastated father anymore, either.”

Dad sank down in the armchair with a groan. “Ah hell, what am I supposed to say to that?”

Dakota wheeled over. “You’re supposed to say you understand.”

“I don’t understand,” he said with a sigh. She took his hand, and he tightened it around hers. “But for you, I’ll try.”

For Dakota, he’d try. But what about for me? Dakota didn’t want Dad to see her differently than before, but he did. He probably always would.

Sure enough, he looked up, glaring balefully at me. “That doesn’t excuse your behavior, Kit.”

“Dad,” Dakota protested.

“No,” he said firmly. “If you want to forgive the man who hurt you, I can’t stop you. But I can sure as hell put an end to your brother getting his jollies with him.”

“Jesus, Dad, did it ever occur to you that I might care about him?” I said.

My voice came out sounding more tired than angry. I was worried about Joey. I didn’t want to sit around and debate this with my dad. But if I was ever going to convince Joey this could last, I had to fight for him.

This whole situation was my fault. If I’d just told Joey when my feelings started to shift…

But then, I couldn’t say when exactly it had happened. The second time we hooked up, and he refused to tell me to go to hell, maybe? The night he fed me dinner out of his mother’s fridge?

In truth, my feelings had never changed at all. I’d been infatuated and charmed with Joey from the moment we met. I was mortified to learn the truth, of course, and for a while that obscured my true feelings. I hid behind that anger and shock.

But once it began to give way, what was left but to fall in love with him?

Dad shook his head. “This isn’t acceptable. He paralyzed your sister, for fuck’s sake!”

“I know,” I said, chest tight, stomach twisting uncomfortably. “But he was a kid. He made a mistake. We can’t define a person by one mistake.”

“It’s unforgivable!” Dad said.

“I forgave him,” Dakota said simply. “He’s really sweet. A good person. He never meant for it to happen.”

“It was a terrible accident,” I said, “and Joey lives with the regret of it every day.”

“Yeah, well, Joey’s not in a wheelchair, is he?” Dad said bitterly.

“Stop it, Dad,” Dakota said. “Joey’s in our lives. If I can make peace with what happened, then so can Kit. He doesn’t have to live in anger. Neither do you. It’s not healthy.”

“Healthy.” He chuckled. “You think it’s healthy that your brother wants to get his rocks off with the guy who ruined your life?”

“Yeah, I do,” Dakota said. She could be just as stubborn as my father when she wanted to be. “Kit has put aside everything for me. He’s made his life all about me, and that is not good for him. He’s got like one friend, and he works with her. So if he wants to be with Joey, I’m glad! I’m glad he’s finally getting his own life.”

“Thanks,” I muttered.

“We all stopped living properly that day,” she went on. “But I’m taking my life back. I’ve got a great calling with New Horizons. I’ve got a boyfriend⁠—”

“A boyfriend!” Dad exclaimed. “Since when?”

“It’s only been a couple of weeks,” she said. “But Felipe is the one. I already know.”

Dad muttered something under his breath. Something like, these kids are gonna kill me.

“I’m just saying that Kit and I are both ready to move on. To live fully. Hasn’t it been long enough, Dad? Haven’t we all grieved enough?”