Page 127 of Save Me

She pushes out a breath. “I’ve never said it out loud because it sounds like such a bratty thing to say or like I’m not grateful.” She rolls her eyes skyward.

“The poor little rich girl, complaining about everything she’s been given,” she says mockingly. “It’s a thing some people say.”

“Give me their names.” My voice comes out dark and heavy.

She slaps my arm.

“Stop it. I’m just saying … Anyway, I didn’t want anyone thinking I only got my position or any position because I received special treatment because I’m a Townsend.”

“What made you go back to using Townsend professionally?” I always wondered that. I knew she used her mother’s maiden name for the first few years of her career.

“A couple of years after I graduated college, I was having dinner with all my siblings at my parents’ home. One of my articles had just come out, and my mom was so proud she couldn’t stop talking about it at the table. My dad, too.”

She shakes her head like a person who knows they’re loved but is slightly embarrassed by the bragging of their parents.

A part of me envies that. Even from my mother, I never had that.

“My mom printed it out and showed it around the table. My little sister suddenly pointed to the name and asked, ‘Who’s Kennedy Thiers?’” Kennedy turns to me.

“I don’t think my dad even paid attention at first because he took the article from Stasi and read it over.”

She shakes her head.

“He never said anything, but I could tell by the way his face changed. He was still so proud of me. He still gloated, but a little bit of the light in his eyes went out when he saw the name I chose to go by. I started using Townsend after that.”

She looks me in the eyes, and I know she’s looking to see if I understand.

I bring her hand to my lips, kissing it. “I don’t know your father, but I know anyone who raised you would be proud of you, no matter what name you choose to use professionally.”

Smiling, she nods. “I know, I just hate that I hurt him or anyone else in my family because I cared too much about what other people thought.”

“You were young. It’s natural to want to form your own identity,” I reassure. I know all about the need to be your own person. To establish who and what you are apart from your past.

“At least a part of me always knew that,” she adds. “It’s why I never made the move to New York. The job opportunities were amazing, but Williamsport has always been and will always be my home. My family is my anchor.”

She squeezes my hand, and I squeeze it back. I’m glad she’s always had that anchor. She deserves to know she’s loved, supported, and, most importantly, taken care of.

An emotion passes through her eyes. Concern?

“Are you nervous about tonight?” I ask.

I think she might try to hide the truth and tell me no, but instead, she says, “You’re going to meet my parents tonight. You’ve briefly met Kyle Diego and Uncle Brutus, but this is different. This time …” She trails off.

“You’re mine,” I say because what else needs to be said? Tonight I’m meeting her family as her future husband because that’s what the fuck I am.

“You’re the first man I’ve introduced my family to in a few years. I’ve only introduced them to one of my exes back in college.”

The thought of any other man in her past burns in the pit of my stomach. “He didn’t deserve you,” I growl.

She laughs. “You don’t even know him.”

“I don’t need to,” I quickly reply. “No one is good enough for you.” Even me.

But I’ll be damned if I let anyone else get near her. The truth is, I do know her ex and the last bastard she dated. I was the one who made them go away. Like I said, they weren’t good enough for her.

“My father can be a little overprotective. He doesn’t mean anything by it. You know, he’s just used to protecting all of us.”

I press a kiss to her lips, silencing her. “I respect any parent who protects their children. Especially since I never had that from the person who fathered me.”

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