A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime(130)

Our eyes connect and the thunderous look on his face fills me with worry, though I realize quickly his anger has nothing to do with me.

And everything to do with my father.

“Oh dear,” I hear mother say when she spots Crew.

My father, of course, is completely oblivious.

I break away from my parents and run to Crew, a soft cry falling from my lips when he yanks me into his arms and cradles me close. I press my face to his chest, inhaling his familiar, delicious scent, hating what’s about to happen, but knowing it has to happen just the same.

“Birdy.” He runs his hand over my hair. “We need to talk.”

Slowly, I pull away so I can look into his eyes. “I know.”

“Crew,” my mother calls as they approach. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

I turn, staying in Crew’s embrace and my father is watching us, all the color draining from his face when he sees who I’m standing with.

“Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Beaumont.” Crew releases his hold on me to go to my mother, shaking her hand.

My father doesn’t say a word, but his grim expression is telling. He has to know he’s been caught.

“Sir.” Crew nods toward him, showing respect, though he probably doesn’t deserve it. “I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Oh, he’s being way too polite.

“You didn’t buy that piece for me,” I throw at my father, unable to contain myself. “I know you didn’t.”

His expression turns indignant. “Are you calling me a liar?”

I can’t believe he’s still sticking to his story, especially in front of Crew.

“Harvey, please. Give it up. You’ve been caught.” Her tone is weary. She looks tired, and it makes me realize she’s been putting up with him for a long time.

And she might be finally over it.

Crew turns to me, his expression earnest. “I’m the one who bought it for you, Wren. I figured it would all come together, with me sending you the Chanel lipsticks all week? Since that’s what the artist used in the piece.”

“I should’ve known.” I am in complete disbelief that he did this for me. All for me. Yet it also makes complete sense. The lipsticks. The camera. How he let me kiss him and cover his skin with my lip prints, never complaining. Deep down, I always sensed he liked it.

He would do anything for me.

Everything.

“Who the hell do you think you are, buying my daughter such an expensive piece of artwork? She doesn’t even know you, and here you come along, always sending her things. Showing off and trying to buy her with extravagant gifts. It’s pathetic.” My father’s face is beet red. I think this is the maddest I’ve ever seen him.

“I’m pathetic? At least I’m not some dried up old man trying to hold onto his daughter by lying to her when controlling her no longer works,” Crew retorts.

I touch Crew’s arm, hating how cruel he sounded just now, but I guess he’s only speaking the truth.

And sometimes, the truth hurts.

“You’re really going to fall for this boy, Pumpkin? You know what the Lancasters are like. Heartless. Cruel. He will toss you aside when he grows tired of you, just watch,” Daddy says, his gaze pleading. His words are like a punch to the stomach, as if I’m not worthy to keep Crew’s attention. That my father thinks so little of me. And Crew. “I only want the best for you, Wren. I’m trying to protect you from him.”

My heart sinks, the tears leaking from the corners of my eyes. That he would say such awful things about Crew when he doesn’t even know him, just…

Hurts.

“Listen to me, Wren. You are the most important thing in my world. I would never purposely try to upset you. You know this.” Daddy takes a step forward, his gaze landing on where Crew’s hand rests on my hip when he pulls me into him, his touch possessive. A claiming, like it always is.

It has more meaning now, though. He’s sending an unspoken message to my father. I don’t belong to him anymore.

“You lied,” I tell my father. “You claimed a gift that you never actually gave me. You tried to take credit for something you had nothing to do with.”

“I was losing you!” The words explode from my father’s lips, shocking me. “You were slipping right out of my fingers and there was nothing I could do about it. I don’t want to lose you to—him.”

“You lied. To. Me.” I shake my head once when he takes a step toward me and he goes still. If he touches me, I don’t know what I might do. Scream? Push him away? Kick him in the shins? “After all this time, you were supposedly worrying about me. Tracking me. Spying on me via my phone. Telling me what I can and cannot do. Claiming you can’t trust me over something I did almost six years ago, when all along, I’m the one who shouldn’t trust you!”

My breaths are coming fast and I’m dizzy, the anger consuming me so strongly I can barely think straight. I know we’re most likely making a scene out in front of our apartment building, but I don’t care. The truth needs to be told.

My father needs to know how I really feel.

“You’re right.”

I gape at him, shocked he would admit his fault so quickly.

“It was wrong, and I’m sorry,” he continues, and at least he’s owning up to his lie.