Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(13)

“I think that’s amazing, Lila. And I’m sure glad you’re back home for a while. I’ve missed that sweet face of yours,” Alana said, her eyes wet with emotion. “And who knows, maybe you’ll end up wanting to stay.”

Hugh shot his mother a look, and I knew what he was saying without even speaking the words. Travis didn’t want anyone giving me any reason to stay. He thought my dad would bring me down, and he was so determined that I deserved more than this place that we all called home. My brother had spent his entire life protecting me, and I didn’t need protecting anymore.

He’d been in battle so long that he didn’t know how to stop.

“Well, all I know is that it feels good to be here now. And thank you for having me tonight. I don’t think there’s anyone that has a better Sunday dinner than the Reynolds family,” I said, and everyone chuckled.

“We’d be so pleased if you’d join us every Sunday while you’re home,” Alana said, and Hugh chuckled.

“I hope you keep coming and that you aren’t running for the hills after the infamous black lace bra strap showing,” Georgia said with a dramatic gasp. “And my big brother trying to boss me around.”

“Daddy is a boss!” Gracie shouted over her giggles.

“You got that right, baby girl,” Cage said.

“But remember who the real boss is,” Hugh whispered, loud enough for us all to hear.

“Uncle Hughey is the real boss, Daddy,” Gracie sang out as Hugh blew a raspberry on her neck, and she fell back in laughter.

“Damn straight!” Hugh shouted.

“Hey, I thought I was the boss.” Finn feigned offense, being the natural actor that he was.

“I’ve gots me a lot of bosses.” Gracie shrugged.

The rest of the night was more banter and laughter and way too much food.

I said my goodbyes to everyone, and Hugh insisted on driving me home. I offered to walk as I’d left my car at home this morning. I preferred to walk most places, and I enjoyed it, but he was never going to agree to that, and I didn’t fight it.

“Thanks for inviting me tonight. Your family is just as amazing as I remembered. I can’t imagine how much fun it must have been growing up with all of your siblings.”

Hugh turned down the street and headed toward my father’s house.

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun, but we all have our moments. Both good and bad, just like everyone else. You know Trav just wants what’s best for you, right? He always has.”

“I know. But it doesn’t mean that I can’t come home and be happy, too. I grew up here, just like he did. We have the same father. I think I’m capable of handling myself. He’s so hell-bent on keeping me away, and I just wish he realized I’m not a little kid anymore.”

My eyes narrowed as I saw a tall man standing on our front porch with his hands flailing around, and I could hear the shouting from inside the truck. His left hand reared back and made contact with the person he was blocking with his big body, and I saw my father fall forward. I reached for the handle just as Hugh pulled to the curb, not even certain the car had come to a full stop. I was out and running toward my father.

“Hey! Leave him alone!” I shouted as I approached him. His arm was lifted again, and I knew he was going to hit my father who was sprawled out on the ground and not fighting back. I reached for his hand, but it swung back too quickly and nailed me right in the cheek with a force I hadn’t been prepared for. Everything was a blur when I stumbled to the ground, and Hugh came out of nowhere, diving through the air and tackling the guy who’d just hit me. I crawled over to my father to see if he was okay, and he just sat up, laughing as blood poured from his nose. Two men stood in the doorway, holding beers in their hands and watching Hugh punch the guy in the face as he shouted at him.

“Don’t you ever fucking put your hands on her again, do you hear me?” I jumped up and raced over to him, reaching for his arm that he held above the man who was bleeding and begging him to stop.

“That’s enough,” I said, and my voice broke on a sob.

Flashbacks of a childhood filled with ups and downs flooded my head.

Reminders of why running had always been such an escape for me.

What was happening? My father had been fine when I’d left earlier.

“Damn, Lila girl. I’d have knocked him out myself if I would have known he put his hands on you,” my father’s words slurred.

He was drunk or high; I wasn’t quite sure which.

In my lifetime, I was more familiar with this version of my dad than the sober one. But I hadn’t seen him drunk or high since I’d returned home, and I’d hoped that him having all these health issues would mean he was trying to get better.

It wasn’t my first time being wrong, nor would it most likely be my last.

But I’d never stop trying.

Because beneath all that sickness and addiction was a great man. I may be the only one that still knew it, but that didn’t matter to me.

If you had one person in your corner, there was still hope. And everyone deserved that, didn’t they?

“Lila James. Look at you,” Bradley purred from our doorway, looking like the creep he’d always been. He was the friend dad used to get into the most trouble with. I couldn’t stand the man.