Page 80 of The Law of Deceit

“Dempsey,” Dad rumbles. “We’re not done discussing this.”

I stop in front of him and sneer. “Yeah, Dad, we are. Everyone always assumes the worst of me anyway, so what’s the big deal, huh? I’m the worst. Yay me. I’m just an afterthought anyway. Gemma’s your real prize. Forget I even exist. Should be pretty easy for you.”

Shoving past him into the garage, I hit the button to open the overhead door. I dig out the motorcycle key and stalk over to the bike. Dad calls after me, but I drown him out with the roar of the motorcycle engine when it flares to life.

I hate this stupid bike and what was at stake for me before I won it. Right now, though, it’s my saving grace. I back out of the garage and then turn it around before zipping off down the road. The farther I get away from my house and family, the more I can breathe. I suck the cool evening air into my lungs and exhale all the shittiness I feel.

Within fifteen minutes, I’m pulling into Sloane’s driveway. I turn off the engine, put the kickstand out, and climb off the bike just as she opens the front door. Needing her in my arms more than anything right now, I race over to her and yank her to me. As soon as she hugs me tight, everything wrong in my world is righted.

“God, I missed you, babe.”

“Missed you too.”

I kiss the top of her head. “Can we stay like this forever?”

“Mmm. Tempting, yes.”

And we do stay like this forever. Or maybe it’s just five minutes. Regardless, it does wonders for my aching heart.

“I think I just fucked up everything with my family. For me. For you. Jesus, I’m sorry. I just got so pissed.”

Sloane tenses at my words and then gently pulls back so she can look up at me with her big blue eyes. “What happened?”

“Us,” I say sadly. “We happened. My family thinks there’s something wrong with me for getting you involved.”

She frowns and shakes her head. “There is nothing wrong with you, Dempsey Park. Nothing.”

“I didn’t corrupt you?”

“Well, maybe a little bit,” she teases. “You didn’t do this all on your own. We’re in this together, no matter the consequences.”

I straighten at her fierce admission. Friends. Lovers. Partners. Sloane Thurman is a helluva lot more than just my mom’s best friend. She’s everything to me.

“Everything around us is falling apart,” she whispers, sliding her palms up my chest to cradle my face. “Us, though? We’re falling into place.”

Dropping my head down, I rest my forehead to hers. “Falling in love.”

“Yeah,” she admits with a sexy grin. “That too.”

The time for words is over. Now I just need to taste her sweetness and bury myself in her scent. I capture her mouth with mine and greedily kiss her.

Being with her is like living in a dream of my own design. Reality is fuzzy around the edges and easy to ignore as long as I have her to distract me. Fuck reality. I’m living the dream.

Maybe we can kiss like this all night.

Maybe we can kiss like this forever.

Sloane

“Where’s Kaden?” Dempsey asks once we break from our kiss and head inside. “Usually, his ass is planted right there.” He gestures for the floor in front of the TV before turning a questioning look my way.

I sigh heavily. “A lot happened today while you were gone.”

His expression darkens. “Is he okay? Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I say, forcing a smile. “We’re fine. I just had to break the news to Rhiannon about Lenny. Kaden went with me.”

He takes my hand, eyes darting back and forth. “How did that go? Your mom give you any more shit?”

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