Out of Love(43)

I didn’t need to see his face well to know displeasure marred it.

“Because I’m twenty-minutes late? Because you haven’t met him? Because I think he’s you in your twenties?” I plugged my phone in to charge and plopped down onto my bed. “Only less slutty, I hope.”

“Watch it.”

I giggled. “I like him. A lot.”

“He’ll break your heart.”

Scooting onto my side and bunching up the pillow to rest my head, I gazed at him while he swiveled his head toward me.

“Did you ever break Mom’s heart?”

Drawing in a slow breath, he released it in a deep whoosh of air.

“And for the record … I already know that you did. So don’t lie.” I didn’t know any more than just the fact that he did break her heart on more than one occasion.

“I kept some things from her. Told her half-truths. Stupid on my part.”

“But she forgave you. She found something good and redeemable in you.”

He grunted, shaking his head. “I’m not sure what. But … yes. She did.”

“So if she wouldn’t have put her heart out there for you to break, you wouldn’t have ended up together. I wouldn’t exist. And …” I bit my lips together.

And you wouldn’t be a lonely widower.

Sitting up, I moved over to his bed. Lifting his arm, I wedged myself under it. The safest place in the world. “I know you don’t regret it, but do you ever wonder why? Why did you fight so hard for something only to have it taken from you? Does the fragility of life ever scare you?”

“Only one thing scares me.”

I rested my cheek on his chest, snaking my arms around his torso as far as they would reach. “What’s that?”

“You.”

“Dad …” I whispered, feeling melancholy from our conversation.

He kissed my head. “I know you think I’m overprotective, but there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you.”

“I know. And I love you for it.”





Chapter Eighteen





“It’s fine.” I shrugged as we walked around the house Aubrey’s parents bought to replace the one destroyed in the fire. “And it’s cheap rent.”

Aubrey’s jaw dropped. “Fine? Uh … it’s bigger than the last house and it has an infinity pool. What’s not to love?” She unpacked the new dishes. New everything.

And yes, there was a beautiful infinity pool.

My bedroom was twice the size, and I didn’t have to share a bathroom.

And it was so close to campus, I wouldn’t need to take a scooter or worry about parking my Jeep.

It just wasn’t on the same street as Wylder and Jericho. They were in walking distance if I wanted to walk five miles each way.

“It’s fine. Nice. Totally acceptable.” I loaded the new bowls she handed to me and arranged them in the dishwasher.

“Slade’s dick won’t reach quite so easily.” Missy snickered, lugging the last box into the kitchen.

“A guy? You don’t like the house because of a guy?” Aubrey’s scolding tone rose a notch.

“Dude …” I shook my head while frowning at Missy. Not because she was wrong—because she called me out on it. “I said it’s fine. That doesn’t mean I don’t like it. And for the record … his dick is pretty fucking amazing. It just might reach.”

We fell into a giggling fit. The girls drank wine. And I kept checking my phone for a message from Mr. Five-Mile-Long Dick. He’d been out of town on “business” again. Dad left earlier that morning, content with our new place and rather gleeful about the five-mile distance to the firehouse.

“You have to just ask him,” Kara grabbed my phone and started typing.

“No!” I reached for it, but she turned in circles twice before running out the back door and around the pool like a racetrack.

“Give. It. I’m not chasing you.” With my hands planted on my hips, I waited for her to do whatever destruction she felt she needed to do.

“What are you doing?” I huffed as she taunted me from the opposite side of the pool, eyes glued to my phone screen. “I don’t care if he’s home or not.”

“You do. And I want him to reply before I give it back, so you don’t send off a take-back message.”

“What did you type?”

“Wait …” She held up a finger. “He’s typing.”

“You’re a terrible person. You know that, right?”

“Oh my god! Total asshole!” She covered her mouth with her hand. Wide, blue eyes pinned me with a look of complete horror.

“WHAT. Did. You. Say?” I stomped my bare feet toward her.

“I … uh … said he needed to disclose his location so I … uh … you … could decide if he would be dicking you tonight or if someone else needed to fill in until he returned.”

Snatching the phone from her, I rolled my eyes. “Nice. Really nice.” My brow furrowed as I read his reply.

Do what you need to do.

“Wow. Okay. That’s …”

Kara cringed, lips pressed together. “Does that mean he’s doing what he needs to do? Are you two not exclusive?”