Picking Up the Pieces (Pieces, #2)(25)

From my protective perch a few feet away from the office door, I’d been too busy sending threatening glares to the nosy CrossFitters to thoroughly eavesdrop. But what I did hear made me cringe. She denied all feelings for him. Denied all connection. He put himself out there for her, and she trounced all over every ounce of his ego. It was . . . terrible.

And as I watched her storm out of his office, I knew I was looking at a facade—a protective mask that she’d adorned to aid in her escape from Shane. But the thing about a mask is, it doesn’t cover the eyes. And that’s where I saw it: regret. Her eyes swam with it. So I followed her silently back out to my car, knowing that I was in for one hell of a ride home.

It wasn’t until we pulled away from CrossFit that Amanda finally let go of all the tears she’d been holding back for the last week. As much as I wanted to talk to her, I couldn’t bring myself to try. What could I say that would make her feel better? That she was an idiot for running? That she should accept her feelings for what they were instead of pretending she felt nothing?

Over the past few months, she’d been hanging out with Shane more frequently. I could see their relationship slowly progressing from a friendship to something more intimate, especially over the past few weeks. I knew they had kissed after the pool hall, but I didn’t know anything more had happened until she had called me from his house the morning after the wedding they’d gone to together. Though she would never admit it, Shane was perfect for her. He was witty, playful, kind, and smoking hot. Ultimately, he was a male version of Amanda, minus the intense fear of commitment.

Why did she have to be so dense; so blind to what the rest of us could see? She could claim they were just friends all she wanted—that theirs was nothing more than a platonic relationship that had gone a step too far. I knew all about taking a friendship where it should never go. And while I would never make that mistake again, Amanda's situation wasn't the same.

Because I realized what Amanda didn’t. She loved him. She had to. Because your heart doesn’t break like that for someone you don’t love. I knew what it was like to lose someone you loved when it could have been prevented. It was the kind of pain that could even reduce a ball buster like Amanda to tears. And my heart hurt with a familiar ache just watching her experience it.

***

I tried to leave Amanda alone most of the weekend in the hopes that by getting a little space she would come to her senses and talk to Shane. But by Tuesday afternoon she’d already joined a new gym. So much for coming to her senses.

I’d been so preoccupied with making sure she didn’t hang herself with the cord of her hair straightener that I hadn’t even thought about my “encounter” with Adam.

Until Wednesday morning, that is.





Chapter 12: Adam


“Eva, you ready?” I walked toward the front door, not waiting for her to reply. I stood there, trying to force patience into my countenance. It was nearly friggin’ impossible.

Finally, she bounded down the stairs and eyed me suspiciously. “Why are you standing there like that?”

“Like what? I’m just waiting for you.” My eyes narrowed in confusion. Why am I answering to my thirteen-year-old daughter?

“Waiting for me, why?”

“So I can have you help me drag a body from my trunk,” I said with an eye roll. “So I can take you to school. Why else?”

Eva checked her phone and then looked back at me as if trying to fit pieces of a puzzle together, but no matter how she spun them, they just didn’t fit. “I haven’t missed the bus. Why are you driving me?”

“I thought I’d be nice and drop you off. Am I not allowed to do something nice for you?” The look on her face let me know she wasn’t buying it. The truth was, I didn’t offer her the ride to be nice. I did it in the off chance that I’d get to see Lily. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to do when I did see her, but I’d figure all that out when the time came. “Fine,” I sighed. “I read a story in the newspaper about a bus driver who kidnapped one of the students on his route and held her hostage for three weeks before they found her. She’s so traumatized that she hasn’t spoken in four months. I guess the story makes me a little nervous about you riding the bus.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you going to pick me up in the afternoon too?”

Shit. “No.”

“Why not?” She put a hand to her hip and awaited my response. When had she become so skeptical?

“Because I don’t view sixty-year-old Doris Callahan as much of a threat to your safety. Can we go now, please?” Thank the Lord her afternoon driver was a female. Otherwise I would've been totally f*cked.

Eva’s face softened and she dropped her hand from her hip. She started toward the door, but stopped in front of me, suddenly wrapping her arms around my torso.

“Thanks, Daddy.”

I hugged her back firmly and dropped my cheek to the top of her head. “Anytime, baby. It’s my job to keep you safe.” I am really going to burn in hell for this one.

Eva pulled away, bounced out the door, and got in the car. As I locked the house, I hoped that, however things played out with Lily, it was worth lying my ass off to my daughter.

***

Eva had actually kissed me on the cheek before exiting the car and making her way into the school building. I should’ve felt disappointed in myself for getting her affection in such a devious manner, but I was eating it up. The way I saw it, this was retroactive payment for all the things I had done for her over the past thirteen years that I hadn’t gotten a shred of appreciation for. Like talking to her about her period. I was definitely owed for that one.