Series: Peach State Stepbros Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
He stares at me, clearly in shock, then says, “I didn’t come here to mess anything up for your mother.”
There it is again.
“And just like that, you show your hand yet again,” I say, which earns a narrowed gaze. “Because after everything I just shared, a dad who gave a fuck wouldn’t have jumped in to save his own ass. He would have asked about Bren. He would have been hurt that he couldn’t be a part of my life. But you don’t care any more than you did back then.”
Again, I see that shift in his expression. Like he’s been caught.
“You know how much you hurt Mom, but I don’t think you realize how much you hurt me. You robbed me of a dad who could have been good to me and her. You robbed me of a dad who I could have jumped on the phone to tell about a project or a test I’d done well on. When I got the job I wanted or even just beat a level on a game. You could’ve been one of the first people I told about Bren. To tell you how he makes me feel, and how I can’t imagine a life without him. And to have that feeling of sharing my happiness with a dad who maybe even would have teared up knowing I found someone who can be as good to me as he was.”
The emotions coming up about Bren are surprising even me, but also speak to just how close we’ve become since we started seeing each other as more than friends.
I battle back tears. I don’t want the Piece of Shit to see me lose it, though I can feel them trying to break loose.
“You weren’t there for me as a kid,” I force out, “and you sure as hell can’t be here for me now.”
I sniffle, managing to keep in the tears before finding the anger within me once again, harnessing it to get to what must be done.
“And since I know you better than anyone, I know that even after everything I’ve said, you’re still thinking you could find a way to smooth this over and get me to make nice so you can attend the wedding. I want you to know that if you try to so much as show your face near the hotel, I will tell every single guest what you did to us. Every comment you made to Mom, particularly the one about Aria when Mom was grieving the loss of a child. I didn’t talk back when I was a kid because it was clear you and everyone from the courts didn’t give a damn about what I had to say, but today, I will not be satisfied until I have convinced each and every person there what a piece of shit you really are. And if you think this is a bluff, I dare you to try me.”
I don’t think I’ve ever said so much or been more serious than I am in this moment.
Honestly, it’s hard to be sure if it’s a bluff or if I just know the Piece of Shit well enough to anticipate his response, because I can see it all over his face now.
I’ve won.
Finally, after all these years, he’s the one who can’t say anything to get himself out of this.
“So,” I say, catching my breath. “Let me tell you how this is gonna go down…”
28
Brenner
My cell rings, and I tug it out of my pocket, exhaling a sigh of relief when I see Taylor’s name on the screen. He must be back in the room. “It’s him,” I call out to Dad, with whom I’m making a second trip around the property. My fingers are trembling when I answer the call.
“Are you okay? Did that motherfucker do something to you? I swear to God, I’ll kill him if he hurt you.”
“He didn’t hurt me, Bren. I’m fine. How did you know I was with him?”
“Mila saw you with a man, and when she described him, I knew who he was.” Dad rushes over, watching me as I talk to Taylor. “Are you okay?” I ask again.
“Yeah, I just…need you.”
My heart stumbles at hearing him say that. I don’t want Taylor to ever be hurt, but I want to be the person he knows will always have his back, the one who soothes the aches of the world for him. “I’m coming. We’ll be right there.” We’re already heading back toward the resort. Luckily, it will only take us a couple of minutes to get there. “Your mom. She knows too, and she’s worried. Do you want Dad to message her and let her know you’re okay?”
“Shit,” he replies. “No, I’ll do it.”
“Okay. See you in a minute.” There’s a slight sting in my thighs from how fast I’m walking. I know how much everything with the Piece of Shit hurts him, and the last thing I want is for him to have had to deal with that today of all days.