More Than Lies (More Than #1)(116)

“Holy shit, are you serious?”

“Oh, yeah. That was sprung on me last night on top of everything else that happened.”

“Why would he choose last night to tell you that? Shit, Tara, I’m so sorry.” His head falls against the top of my forehead.

“I don’t see there being a good time to tell me something like that, Shawn. Waiting . . . prolonging it would only serve to make me even madder at him than I already am.”

“I didn’t tell him everything last night, so he probably didn’t know how bad last night was for you.”

“I can’t deal with that right now, Shawn. I need to get down there and see what’s going on.” I toss the covers off my legs and push away from Shawn. There’s something in the back of my head that doesn’t like it when I do that. Deep down, I want to stay in his arms and never leave them. That’s not the real world, though, and doing so would not fix any of my problems.

I’m still dressed in my pajamas that I put on when I got to Pam and Bill’s house. This will have to do; I don’t have any clothes here.

Shawn follows me down the stairs. The voices are coming from the kitchen, so I head in that direction.

“You need to back off, Katherine.” My father’s tone is full of venom. “I’ve had a bad night. I thought I lost her.”

“I wish you would have. Then you’d know what it feels like.”

“You don’t think I know what it feels like? Trent was my son, too. I lost him the same as you did. I loved our son. And last night I thought I lost the only other person in this God-awful world that means a damn to me, so you need to walk away and leave me alone.”

“It should have been Taralynn, not Trent. Not my son. He didn’t deserve to die, but that useless garbage taking up other people’s air shouldn’t exist. You should have never brought her into this family.”

Wow. That stings.

I stop at the entrance to the kitchen. Shawn grabs me before I realize what’s happening. He pushes forward, entering the kitchen. That’s when I see the look in my dad’s eyes.

Hatred. It’s directed at his wife. The moment he goes for her is the moment shock takes hold of me. He intends to hurt her. Shawn reaches him before he’s able to lay a hand on her, thank God.

“Jacob, no.” Shawn shoves his shoulder into his chest and locks his arms around him as he pushes forward, forcing my dad’s body backwards. “She isn’t worth it, man.”

She turns, her face screwed up as she eyes me from head to toe.

“You ruined my family. You ruined my life. I hope you’re happy.”

“Do not talk to my daughter like that. Shawn, release me.” He tries to shove him away, but Shawn’s hold tightens. “I’m not going to touch her.”

With those words, Shawn lets go. My dad straightens his suit. The same one I’m pretty sure he was wearing early this morning before I went to my bedroom.

“I want a divorce.”

She turns so quick her hair whips around hitting herself in her face. Then I see her expression harden into the evil visage she usually holds for only me.

“You think it’ll be that easy to walk away from me, darling husband? I don’t think so. You want out of this marriage? It’s going to cost you every dime you have.”

Then she walks away.

“Daddy, are you okay?” He doesn’t look okay.

“I’ve been better, sweetheart, come here.” I hesitate for a second. I’m not over what he’s done to me. By keeping the knowledge of my real mother hidden from me, he’s caused more pain and confusion than I know what to do with. He’s lied to me all of my life. He’s made me a lie. It makes me feel like I’ve been nothing more than a lie all these years.

“I can’t.” I shake my head. I can’t walk into his arms as if this never happened. I can’t say that I’m not mad. I don’t know what I’m feeling. I have so many emotions that I can’t decipher between them.

His eyes close. It pains him that I won’t walk toward him. When he opens his eyes, he nods his understanding, then directs his attention toward Shawn. “Take her home, please.”

“I’d like to, but I don’t exactly have transportation.”

“Taralynn’s car is parked outside.” He digs into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys “Your parents brought it over a few hours ago.” My dad looks back at me. “You still look tired, sweetheart. Go home and get some rest.”

Without saying another word, I turn and follow Shawn outside to my car, toward the passenger side. I’m too exhausted, mentally and physically, to drive home. When I get inside, I buckle and recline the seat. I don’t want to talk. I want sleep. I’ll deal with him later—much later.

Not being able to help himself, Shawn slips his hand into mine, entwining our fingers. I look down at them for a second. I can’t deny that his touch feels good. It feels right, but he shut me out, so I’ll shut him out too. I pull my hand out of his and close my eyes without looking at him. I want to shut out the rest of the world, too.





The sound of a car door slamming wakes me. When I open my eyes, I see my car is parked in the driveway at Shawn’s house, and I’m alone—or so I thought. The passenger side door opens, and when I turn, Shawn is leaning down and reaching for me. I allow him to pull me out of the car, but once I’m on solid ground, I push him back.