Page 132 of Save Me

Kennedy’s father’s eyes visibly darken as he glares at me.

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” His voice claps through the air like a weight.

Despite his intimidating presence, I mean every word. Kennedy is mine. She has been ever since that day and I’m not letting anyone get in the way.

“All due respect, Mr. Townsend, I’m in love with your daughter. She’s my world and my future. I don’t have any ulterior motive other than to love her the way she deserves for the rest of her life.”

“Shit,” Joshua Townsend curses under his breath. “I think this one’s serious.”

“Love,” her father snorts disbelievingly.

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how special your daughter is.”

He looks me up and down. “Special. You’ve only been seeing her for a few months. What do you even know about her?”

“Are you asking what I love about your daughter, sir?” I ask him.

He gives a curt nod.

“The list is a mile long.”

He looks as if he’s about to say something.

“But for starters, she brings light to every corner she touches. She’s ambitious and a go-getter without being hard or unapproachable. Her phenomenal way with words pulls any reader into the articles she writes.

“I don’t doubt that one day, the book she writes will be on the bestseller list because her passion shines through in her work. And I’ll be there, rooting for her and buying every copy out of every bookstore in the state when she does.”

Her father looks unimpressed when he asks, “Just the state?”

It doesn’t bother me because I’m not looking to impress him or anyone else in her family. I respect them because I know how deeply Kennedy loves them. It’s evident her father and the rest of her family love her just as deeply.

“I have to leave a few for her family to buy,” I reply, looking between both men.

He nods slowly.

“I still don’t trust you,” he finally says.

“With time, you will,” I tell him.

He grunts. “Cocky son of a bitch.”

“Reminds me of someone,” Kennedy’s uncle says as he tips his head sideways and stares at me. “Or someones,” he amends.

“I’ll get rid of you eventually,” her father adds.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I tell him as I look him in the eyes.

Before he can answer, an announcement comes from the front of the room.

“It’s time to get started on our presentations to our honorees,” one of the hosts for tonight’s events begins.

CHAPTER 37

Kennedy

“Maybe we shouldn’t have left them alone,” I say as I peer over my shoulder at where I left Dae with my father and uncle.

“Baby, he’ll be all right,” my mother says, smiling. “Besides, any man who can’t stand up to your father isn’t worth keeping around.”

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