Page 44 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

Dandelion

I struggle with the finality of drawing that line in the sand, you know? My brother is the best man I know (of course, you’re right there with him ). I love him so much, but he has to let me figure things out for myself. I’m not a kid anymore. I need to navigate my own relationship with my mother.

I scrubbed a hand over my jaw.

I think walking in on that horrible scene all those years ago really traumatized Hayes, you know? Seeing you fall the way you did. You were unconscious, Saylor.

We’d never talked about what happened since she’d left my house all those years ago. Hayes went silent after that, too, aside from sharing his anger toward his stepfather. She’d shared more with me than he probably knew she had during the months she lived at my house. And I’d never repeated anything that she’d told me.

Dandelion

I know. I remember it like it was yesterday. I still have nightmares sometimes about coming to and seeing Hayes on top of Barry. About being taken out of our home. All of it. But I lived it, too. And I should be allowed to deal with the aftermath the way I best see fit.

I understand that. He just loves you so damn much. In his mind, you’re his only family, Saylor. Aside from all of us, of course. But you know what I mean.

Dandelion

And I love him so much it hurts. But he’s not my father. He’s my brother. It’s just so messy, and I hate that things are so complicated.

It doesn’t have to be. At the end of the day, you both love one another, and that’s all that matters. That man would walk through fire for you.

Dandelion

That’s why I want to prove myself to him. I know how much Hayes has sacrificed for me. It kills me when I think about it. All the things he’s given up for me.

When they’d been allowed to go back to their parents’ home after more than six months of living apart, things had been rocky. Hayes had ended up turning down a college football scholarship, and he’d started training to be a firefighter, working two jobs at the time, to get an apartment so that Saylor could live with him until she graduated from high school. He’d become her legal guardian at the time, with no argument from their mother, and he’d sacrificed a lot—and he had zero regrets.

He wouldn’t want you feeling bad about any of that. That’s what you do for family.

Dandelion

Well, you did the same thing for me, King. I don’t know that I ever thanked you enough for that.

It was nothing. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Dandelion

I wouldn’t have survived back then without you. And now you worked your ass off to get my bookstore up and going. What would I do without you?

You’ll never have to find out. Remember, you saved me back then, too. Teaching me how to wish on dandelions was a game changer.

Dandelion

Yeah? Well, River seems happier than I’ve ever seen him, which I know is what you always wanted for your brother. And now you got my bookstore up quicker than expected. How about you close your eyes and wish for something for yourself?

So, your theory is that if I close my eyes, I’m going to see what I want?

I reached for my whiskey that I’d set on the nightstand beside the bed and took a long pull.

Dandelion

Just trust me. It works every time.

I already have everything I want.

Dandelion

Stop being so stubborn. Close your damn eyes and tell me what you see.

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