Benji stares at me from across the table, slightly mystified, but a smile tugs at his lips and he gives me a small nod.
For the first time since I got here, I let myself hope that everything might work out. At the back of my mind, though, I remind myself I’ll have to go back down to Houston and face my parents. I’ll have to quit the job they gave me, hoping they’ll still love me and want to have me in their lives.
My family is starting to repair itself and I’ve found a man I think is special, but my parents are a whole other issue I haven’t even begun to tackle.
21
Benji
I almost can’t believe my life right now. Rae and I spend all day together, alternating between eating and getting tangled in each other’s arms.
As dusk settles over the town, Rae lays her head on my lap as we watch television. I trail my fingers up and down her arm, feeling calmer and more at peace than I have in a long time.
Rae shifts to lie on her back, staring up at me. I rest my arm across her chest, smiling.
“What?” I ask.
“I was just wondering about your family. I think I saw your father at Sarah’s house yesterday. Do both your parents live in Woodvale?”
I grimace, my chest squeezing. Shaking my head, I let out a sigh. “My mom left when I was seventeen. She was an addict. My dad didn’t realize—or pretended not to know. He’d already moved on from her.”
Rae’s eyes widen as she sucks her lip between her teeth. “Oh. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
I smile, letting my fingers drift over her cheek. “It’s fine. I was angry for a long time. I blamed my father for leaving us. For choosing his career and his new family. When my mom left, Sarah and I were on our own.”
“Where’s your mom now?”
I snort. “Probably dead in a ditch somewhere.”
Rae winces, and I regret my words.
I sigh. “I don’t know. She wasn’t much of a mother. And he wasn’t much of a father, either.”
“Makes my parents sound like saints.”
I smile sadly, running my fingers over and back across her scalp. Shaking my head, I let out a sigh. “Sawyer told me about your parents. They weren’t there for you, either, even if they were there physically. They basically abandoned Lucy, Roman, and Sawyer, and left you to pick up the pieces.”
“Yeah, but they still provided for us when we were younger. It would be much harder to be on your own when you’re just a kid. Didn’t social services come around?”
“We fell through the cracks, I guess,” I say. The sadness in Rae’s eyes makes my chest constrict. I try to smile again, shaking my head. “It wasn’t that bad. Sarah and I had each other. Just like Lucy had you.”
Rae closes her eyes and leans into my touch, and I wonder if that’s why we get along so well. Sure, we come from opposite sides of the tracks—but our experiences have been remarkably similar. We’ve been forgotten by the people who were supposed to take care of us. Forced to take on more responsibility at a young age. Made to sacrifice for the ones we loved.
It wears you down.
Rae lets out a sigh, her eyes still closed. “I often wish my parents would reconcile with Lucy and Sawyer. I wish they’d see how hurtful it was when they pushed Sawyer away and disowned Lucy.” She opens her eyes. “You’ve reconciled with your dad now?”
I gulp, my throat tightening. “I don’t know if we’ve reconciled, but we’re speaking again.”
Rae nods, a wistful look on her face. My heart aches, and I don’t want to talk about broken families anymore. I scoop her up and bring my lips to hers, if only to remind myself that she’s real, and she’s here.
Yes, we both come from broken families. We might be working on bringing them together—but what about what’s right in front of us? What about stoking this flame and seeing how high it can get?
Rae hears my thoughts and wraps her arms around my neck. I carry her to the bedroom and make love to her more softly than we did before. I kiss her skin. Inhale her scent. Worship her presence.
I try my best to let her feel the strength of my emotion and to show her I see her. The real her. She doesn’t need to be on her own as she tries to stitch her family back together.
We come apart in each other’s arms, and then bring each other back together again.
The next day, I’m scheduled to take the skydiving plane up. Rae juts her bottom lip out in a pout when I tell her.
“I was hoping to see you in the office again.” Her eyes flash, and I groan.
“You’re going to get me in trouble.”
“I’m the boss, remember?”
I kiss her as my heart thumps and my cock throbs. With one look, she brings me to my knees.
How did I ever think I’d be able to resist her? Why did I even try?
I tear myself away from her embrace so I can go to work.
On my way to the airfield, I drum my fingers on the steering while and let a smile drift over my lips. I’m happy—really, truly happy—for the first time in a long time. The day drags on, because I keep thinking about coming home to Rae.
After a few flights and half a dozen people jumping out of my plane, I finish cleaning the aircraft and I start making my way home.
To Rae.
As I drive down Main Street, though, I think about our conversation last night. Something tugs at my chest, and I find myself turning in the opposite direction. I’m heading west, to the wealthy side of town.
To my father’s house.
When I pull up outside his huge home, my palms are sweaty. My heart thumps uncomfortably, and I’m not even sure what I’m
