Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“So, what is this meeting about? It’s clear you’re already forgiving and forgetting every fucking thing Jake has done to you over the years. Why are you even bothering to talk to me?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” I huff, resenting the fact that my brother and I are in agreement for once.
“We need to come together to make things better for Lennon. He’s what is important now, not us and not your wounded pride—and I’m talking to both of you,” Katie says before I can argue.
Jeff and I both look at one another like we could kill each other. There’s more to it than wounded pride, but I’m not about to explain that to her right now. I grunt under my breath. Jeff shakes his head.
“Why would I want to make anything better for him?” he asks Katie while looking at me. “He’s just going to hurt you and Lennon again.”
“You’re going to help because I know you love Lennon and want him to have a relationship with his father.”
“Katie, you’re wrong,” Jeff denies, drowning out my snort of laughter because I know that’s the last thing Jeff wants. He doesn’t want me anywhere near Katie or Lennon.
“I’m not. Jeff, if you didn’t want that you never would have told Jake the truth. You would have put that ring on my finger, and no one would have ever found out. You let things play out like this for a reason.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I’m not. I know you. You have this overwhelming need to do what’s right and to protect people. It is who you’ve always been, and I love that part of you. I couldn’t have made it through everything without you.”
“You love that part about me. You used to say you loved me. It hasn’t been that long ago, either, and yet, here we are.”
“Jeff, I don’t want to hurt you. I really don’t. The truth is, Jake claimed my heart years ago and there’s just not enough of it left to make room for anyone but him and Lennon. I tried to tell you that four years ago. I love you…”
I hiss out a breath. No man wants to hear the woman they love admit she loves someone else—especially if that someone else is his brother.
Katie squeezes my hand, but she doesn’t take her eyes off Jeff.
“I remember what you told me. You love me. You just can’t love me like a woman ought to love the man she wants to marry. I told you it didn’t matter. We could be happy together. You just need to put the past behind you.”
“That’s just it, Jeff. The past is never going to be behind me. Jake and Lennon are my future—they’re all I’ve ever wanted and if you’re honest, you’ve always known that. I haven’t exactly made a secret of it.”
“Whatever you say. It’s not like any of this matters. My brother will fuck up again. He’ll hurt you again, Katie. When he does this time, though, I’m not going to be here to pick up the pieces again.”
“You bastard!” I snap, having heard enough.
I lunge at Jeff, only to see him laugh. The asshole wanted this. He’s dying to lay into me as much as I am him.
“Jake, stop!” Katie cries, as my fist connects with Jeff. Jeff delivers one in my stomach that doubles me over. I deliver an uppercut to knock that satisfied look off Jeff’s face and he stumbles back against the cabinets.
My blood runs cold as Lennon screams. “Stop!”
He’s staring at me with tears falling from his beautiful blue eyes. I freeze, all my attention going to my son. I feel tears sting my own eyes. Fuck, I can’t believe this is happening again.
“Shit, the bus was early,” Katie whispers.
“Lennon,” I start, my voice hoarse.
“I hate you! I hate you! You’re ruining everything. I want you to go away and never come back!”
“Lennon! Stop that right now. You can’t talk to Jake like that.”
“I can! I want him out of the house. He made Jeff go away. He’s ruining everything.”
“He’s not. Jake loves us and he’s going to be living here now. He wants you to love him.”
“Well, I don’t! I don’t love him. I hate him. I hate you all!”
He runs to his room, and I feel the tears sliding from my eyes. I can’t stop them. Katie may be optimistic, but I can’t be. My son hates me. This is the second time he’s told me so. I can’t ignore it.
Katie reaches for her walker. “I’ll go talk to him.”
“No. I’ll talk to him,” Jeff responds, instantly putting me on edge.
“No fucking way,” I deny him.
“I’m not doing this for you, Jake. Hell, I’m not even doing this for Katie.” Jeff shakes his head and I see something I’ve never once seen on his face before. Resignation.