Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I give him a stink eye. “Of course not.”
“I’m joking, asswipe. Damn.”
“It was kind of a mutual decision,” Carly says, maybe to keep us from bickering. “I have to work things out with my dad.”
Chance nods. “That reminds me. Miles and I were talking earlier, and I’m sure Austin will agree. We’d like to quitclaim your land back to your mom and dad.”
“What’s that?” Carly asks.
“A change of name on a property deed. In this case, giving your land back to your parents. A legal handoff.”
“Can we do that?” I ask. I don’t know much about the logistics and legalities of property.
Chance nods. “Yeah. I got on the horn with Shankle and he says it’s an easy transaction, though he did try to talk me out of it.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because he was our father’s attorney long before he was ours, and that bastard never would have transferred a damned piece of lint without some kind of consideration. Proof of him being shady by taking the Vance’s land in the first place. But I made it clear that we’d be doing this one way or another. I figured we’d have to wait a year until the money’s ours to give the portion that was shafted, but Shankle says we can do the paperwork portion now if we want to.”
“You just want to give it to my dad?” Carly’s eyes are wide.
“Yeah,” Miles says with a decisive nod. “We don’t need it. Have you seen the size of this place?” He waves his hand around the huge kitchen. “Besides, we don’t want something that shouldn’t be ours.”
Carly shakes her head, but not in answer to Miles’ question. “My dad won’t take it. He’ll think it’s charity.”
“We’re just trying to make things right,” Chance says. “The three of us aren’t our father.”
“I know that,” she says. “I’ve always known that. It’s why I’m going home. He’ll understand eventually, and this gesture may help.”
“I’ll have the papers by tomorrow,” Chance says, “if Austin here agrees.”
“Of course, I agree.” I trail my finger over Carly’s forearm.
“It’s settled, then.” Chance shoves a forkful of food into his mouth.
Carly smiles at me.
And for that single moment, all is right in this fucked-up world, if I don’t think of the mysterious dead body that was uncovered, my mom in the hospital, my woman’s dad hating my guts, the EPA after us, and…
Yeah, never mind.
27
CARLY
* * *
Austin stands at the door of my parents’ house with me, holding both my hands in his. “You sure you don’t want me to come in with you?” he asks.
“Yes and no,” I reply. It’s not the first time I’ve ever felt nervous walking into my own home. But in the past few days, I’m not who I used to be. It’s laughable since I was gone for over three years. That changed me, definitely, but this time, it’s my choice.
My decisions that are changing the course of my life. They aren’t what my parents want, but what I do.
He lowers his head, presses his lips against mine. “I understand.”
“I need to do this alone.” I hold his hand, clinging to him in contrast to my words. “Although I would love it if you could come in with me. I mean, how else will he find out how awesome you are except by giving you a chance?”
“Yeah, well, he’s not really interested in giving me a chance. At least not yet. How about you go solo tonight with them tonight? Baby steps.”
He’s probably right, but dad also has to give me a chance.
“He’ll come around. My father is a good man, Austin. Unfortunately, you haven’t seen the best side of him.”
My mind wanders to what my father told me—that Jonathan Bridger may have had a hand in my abduction. That’s huge. Crazy serious and will impact Austin and his brothers.
Except that’s not something I can burden Austin with, at least not yet. Not until I find out whether it’s true or not, and maybe not even then. Austin is not his father, and he shouldn’t have to live with what his father may have done. Same goes for Miles and Chance.
That’s what I need to get my own father to understand, even if I have to hit him over the head with it.
“Call me,” he says. “Just let me know you’re okay tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll try to come find you during lunch. Do you know where you’ll be?”
“I’ll check in at the vet’s office around noon,” I say. “Unless they call me back into town for more questioning about that body.”
“I doubt they will” His mouth thins into a line. “You’ve told them everything.”
Over dinner, I shared with all three Bridger men what Lexie and I were asked, what we answered.
“True enough.” I stand on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you. For everything.”