Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“What happened?” Rhett asks again, in that accusatory tone Dad would use. Does Rhett even realize he’s doing the same?
East shrugs. “I attacked someone. That’s what they told you, right?”
“We’re not asking what they told us,” Dusty replies. “We’re asking you what happened because we trust and believe in you.”
No matter how hard this moment is, my heart swells at what my man said. He’s so fucking perfect, with a big-ass heart, and I’ll spend every moment of every day being thankful I have him.
East, however, doesn’t reply.
Rhett huffs. “Easton, you have to give me something to work with here. Tell me step by step what happened.”
“Him,” Dad pushes out before East has a chance to even consider replying. My spine stiffens. “He happened. He always happens.”
“Dad,” I warn.
“Not…babying him…anymore. He’s a disgrace.”
“Dad!” Rhett adds, his voice louder than mine.
“He’ll ruin us, ruin you. You’re running for mayor. Distance yourself from him. He’s not a Swift.”
I shove to my feet. As soon as I make a move to go for my father, Dusty wraps an arm around me, holding me in place. “Fuck you, Dad. I’m done with you, not him. You’re the disgrace. Jesus, why did you ever fucking have us!”
“Lower your voice,” Dad says tensely. I’d been yelling, but I don’t care.
“Dad, that’s enough,” Rhett tries again, much calmer than me. East just looks down at the table, knee bouncing, not making eye contact with any of us.
“Get out,” I tell Dad. “Get the fuck out. We don’t need you. We don’t want you.” As true as the words are, part of me feels like it’s ripping apart at saying them. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. This isn’t what family is supposed to be, but then, real family is the people you choose, like Dusty. The ones who are always there for you.
“You couldn’t even…get in without Rhett and me.” No, no I couldn’t, but that doesn’t mean he belongs here now. His venom turns back to Easton again. “She wanted you…gave her life for you…and this…is how you thank her? You weren’t worth it. Wish it had been you…not Ella.”
Anger explodes inside me, vision going blurry as I lunge at my father. Dusty holds me back, won’t let me out of his grip, but then it’s Rhett’s fiery stare pinning our father down. “That. Is. Enough!” Rhett grabs Dad’s arm, pulling him toward the door. “My whole fucking life I’ve tried with you, tried to be who you want, and I’m fucking done. Don’t ever talk to my brother that way again.”
Dusty’s hold on me loosens, and I’m struck dumb for a moment, unable to believe Rhett just said that, but I push myself forward, stand beside my big brother, blocking Easton from Dad. “We’re all done with you. The only person here Mom would have been ashamed of is you.”
“Rhett,” Dad pleads, not even acknowledging me, knowing he won’t get anywhere with me, but playing on Rhett’s lifelong love of him.
“If you don’t get out,” Rhett tells him, “I’ll have you thrown out.”
Dad’s hateful stare shoots between Rhett and me for a moment before settling on me. “You turned my son against me.”
“No, Dad. You did that.”
Rhett opens the door. Dad stalls a moment, then walks out. My brother closes the door behind him.
“Rhett,” I say, but he shakes me off.
“Not now.” He steps around me and goes back to Easton, who is looking up at both of us, blue eyes so similar to Mom’s, and they’re totally lost and confused, as if he can’t understand why we would do that for him.
“What happened tonight, East?” Rhett asks, his voice gentler than I’ve ever heard it, but East only shakes his head and looks away.
“I know you,” I tell him. “If you attacked that man, there’s a reason. Don’t sacrifice yourself because you don’t think you deserve it,” I plead.
East doesn’t reply.
There’s a knock at the door, and Dusty curses.
“The two of you might have to leave, but I’ll stay and help East,” Rhett says, but when Dusty opens the door, it’s not the local officer standing there; it’s Archer Thorn.
“Thank fuck,” Dusty says, letting him in.
“I had to pull some strings to get in here.” He walks right over to East, grabs his chin to look at his face, but my brother pulls out of his hold.
“Why are you here?” East grits out. “Why are all of you here?”
“Give me a minute with him.” The demand in Archer’s voice leaves little room for any of us to argue.
“Let’s go,” Dusty says softly. “We’ll be right outside. We can come back in when Archer is done.”
I don’t move for a moment, looking at Rhett, whose brows are drawn together in obvious confusion. That makes two of us. I don’t think anything is going on between East and Archer because of what Cass said the night we went out, but clearly, there’s a connection.