Eli’s nostrils flare as he clenches his lips. Sarah pats the hand on her thigh and smiles at me. “That’d be great, Alina. I have no problem giving her a call and setting something up.”
I grin back at her but watch Eli grimace from the corner of my eye.
I let it go, for now, not wanting to delve into that conversation with an audience. “How’d y’all get here, anyway?”
“Pops picked us up a couple hours ago,” Eli says.
My head turns sharply toward Daddy. “You drove to the airport to get them?”
“Why wouldn’t I? He’s my boy, if he needs me then I’ll be there.”
My teeth grind. Of course, he’d be there for Eli. Even though I’m the only one who’s been here for him. “So you knew they were comin’ in today and didn’t tell me?”
He shrugs and necks his beer. I wonder how many he had before he left to pick them up. Too many to be on the road, that’s for sure.
I glance at my lap, trying to stem the tears that want to bubble up. Eli’s eyes bounce between us, the wrinkle between his brows deepening.
Daddy doesn’t put his best foot forward for company. Try as he might, the drink always wins the battle. By the time we’re having coffee and dessert, he’s switched to whiskey and is well on his way past coherent.
“You want to come with us tomorrow, Lee? Help me show Sarah the town?” Eli asks.
I choke on my coffee, surprised he’s inviting me. Irritated he thinks we can just hang out like no time has passed.
“I can’t. I have to work.”
He smacks his forehead. “Right. It’s so strange to see you grown. Sometimes I forget.”
“Maybe it wouldn’t be so strange if you’d been around for all the years in between.” My face muscles burn from the effort of keeping my smile in place.
“Alina. Mind your manners. We got… we got company.” Daddy’s voice is loud but slurred. The whiskey makes his tongue thick and his mind sluggish.
I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m just speakin’ truth, Daddy.”
Eli speaks through clenched teeth. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Alina.”
My eyebrows raise. “Oh no? Why don’t you enlighten me then, big brother?”
“I would have, if you had ever taken the time to ask,” he snaps.
My mouth parts, surprise rendering me speechless at his words. I ask... Don’t I?
“Your mama. She would be… disappointed in you, girl.” Daddy points his finger at me, the usual sneer on his face.
The table falls silent. Chase’s chair scratches against the floor as he comes around to stand behind me, squeezing my shoulders. “Mr. Carson, with all due respect, it’s not Alina that Mrs. Carson would be disappointed in right now.”
Daddy’s eyes flare and he slams his coffee cup on the table. “You think you can speak to me that way just ‘cause I been lettin’ you…you’ve been... playin’ house here with my girl?”
Chase doesn’t back down. “I think I’ve made it clear that you disrespecting your daughter won’t ever be something I’ll tolerate. Regardless of where we are.”
Daddy raises out of his chair, pointing at Chase. He wobbles, unsteady on his feet and has to catch himself on the edge of the table.
“Pops, you okay?” Eli is half-standing, his eyes volleying between the three of us. Sarah sits next to him, her mouth gaping open. Welcome to the family.
“Of course he’s not fine. He’s never fine,” I hiss. “You would know that if you had spent more than ten minutes here in the past eight years.”
“Sis—”
“Don’t you ‘sis,’ me, Eli.”
“I’m fine, damnit!” Daddy’s voice roars, cutting off the argument and blanketing the room. “And I’m a goddamn adult. I’m the parent, and this—this is my house.” He points to Chase and me. “You two, go on… get. I don’t want you here.”
“Pops,” Eli whooshes out.
Tears fill my eyes, but I straighten my shoulders and raise my chin. “Fine. I don’t need this anyway.” I look at Eli. “Have fun catchin’ up on your missed years with Daddy. I’m sure he and this town will be thrilled to have you back. Sarah, it was nice to meet you. I’m so sorry you had to see this.” I stand up and face Chase. “Come on, let’s go for a drive.”
“Anywhere you want to go, baby.” He slides his hand down my arm, tangling our fingers, leading me out the door. Away from my dysfunctional family.
I’ll deal with them tomorrow.
Tonight, I think I’d like to lay under the stars and give my heart back to the man it’s always belonged to.
37
Chase
Between Sunday night’s almost kiss and Wednesday morning, I’ve had a lot of time to think. About Goldi. About me. Our past. Our future. How fucking perfect she is and how I’d spend the rest of my life loving the hell out of her if only she’d let me.
I used to think I didn’t deserve her. That I couldn’t be who she needed me to be. Hell, I still don’t think I was wrong—that boy was in no shape to handle Goldi. But I’m a man now. I’ve weathered the storms and forged through the rubble of living a life without her. I don’t want to know that type of emptiness anymore.
She may be with Jax, but she was mine first.
I’m not surprised when she doesn’t show up for work, even though I know she isn’t sick. I figured she’d be scared off by what almost happened between us. What keeps almost happening between us. She better buckle up, because if she thought I was hard to handle before I decided to fight for her, she has no clue how difficult I’ll be now.
She lets me touch her in the office. Lets me call her Goldi. Baby. The sudden change in her demeanor makes me dizzy, but it’s not unwelcome. I’m fucking giddy over it.
I show up to her dad’s house eager for our “talk.” When I
