Page 35 of Finally

“Hey! There’s our future governor,” Dad boasted as he walked in the room. He tousled my hair just like he always did, and I swallowed around the lump in my throat. How could they both act like everything was normal when they’d turned my world completely upside down?

A hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing gently and I turned to see Carlos standing there with a friendly smile. He winked at me as if he’d sensed my discomfort, or maybe Greg had told him a little about what was going on. Either way, I was grateful to have him there.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. I’m Carlos Armandarez. I work at Hamilton Security and I’m helping out with Christopher’s case.” He stretched his hand out to them and they each shook it.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you. We’ve heard wonderful things about your security team,” Dad praised.

“Come on in. I was just setting dinner on the table,” Mom said. “I made your favorite, Christopher.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, shoving my hands in my pockets. Mom gave me a scrutinizing look then turned and walked into the kitchen, followed by my dad.

Carlos grabbed my arm as I started to walk away. “I can feel the tension coming off you in waves. If you want to leave, I’ll take you back home right now,” he offered kindly.

I managed a small smile. “Thanks, but I’ve never run away from anything in my life and I don’t plan on starting now.”

Carlos gave me an approving nod. “Okay then. I’ll be in here if you need me.”

“Thank you.”

“Hey, remember what I told you. Ayuda, mi familia esta loca,” he said, twirling one finger around his temple in the universal sign for crazy.

I laughed harder that time and it eased some of the tension flowing through my veins. “I’ll remember that.” As I walked toward the kitchen, I thought how glad I was that Greg had managed to surround himself with such amazing, caring people. He may not have been born to a good family, but he had certainly made one of his own.

I sat down at the table with my parents and we made small talk while we dished up our food. “So, how’s the campaign going? I heard you were able to reschedule most of the events that were cancelled,” Dad said, taking a large bite of lasagna.

“Yes, thankfully. Jared wasn’t happy that I’d needed to reschedule, but Maddie worked his magic and smoothed things over with the event coordinators. No one has ever been able to tell him no,” I said.

“How is Maddie, by the way? I still can’t believe someone broke into your house and ended up hurting him. When I even think about what could’ve happened if you’d been home at the time…” Mom shuddered as her words trailed off, leaving the thought hanging in the air.

“He was shaken up a bit, but fortunately he wasn’t seriously injured. I was so scared when I first saw him, but luckily, Greg was there and he knew exactly what to do,” I admitted.

“Greg? Who’s Greg?” Mom asked.

“He’s my bodyguard.” And so much more.

“I thought his name was Carlos,” Dad said, looking confused.

“Carlos is just watching over me while I’m here. I asked Greg to stay home tonight so I could talk to you guys,” I explained.

Instantly concerned, Mom set her fork down and covered my hand with hers. “We’re always here to listen, sweetie. Tell us what’s wrong.”

I set my fork down too and rubbed my free hand over my face with a sigh. Opening my eyes again, I focused on the refrigerator across the room. It was the spot where Greg and I had shared our first kiss, and it calmed something inside me. “Do you guys remember the boy I used to tutor in high school?”

“Yes. Tall, good-looking. We never really got a chance to meet him though since he took off after we caught you two making out in the kitchen,” Mom chuckled. I felt my face flush at the memory. “What made you think of him after all these years?”

“Greg Wright is his name and it turns out that he’s the man you hired to be my bodyguard.”

I searched her face for signs of guilt, but only saw mild surprise. I turned to my dad next and that’s when I noticed how pale he’d become. He had trouble meeting my eyes as he reached for his glass of water and took a long drink. My shoulders slumped as I watched him, and a sick feeling landed in my gut. When I spoke again, I was only talking to my father.

“Did you know that I’d had a crush on him for years and that after getting to know him, I discovered what an amazing, kind, and compassionate person he was? Did you know that he was my best friend? Did you know that his parents never showed him any attention unless it was to scream at him or have him cleaning up their messes? Did you know that he’d never been loved by anyone in the world until me and that I loved him with all my heart? Did you know any of that when you left the note that would ruin it all?” I asked, choking back a sob.

“What’s he talking about, James?” Mom asked. Dad’s mouth opened and shut several times, but no words came out. “Someone tell me what’s going on,” she demanded in a tone that brooked no argument.

“Tell her,” I whispered, not taking my eyes off my father.

His shoulders slumped as he stared back at me and my heart squeezed painfully at the horror and guilt in his eyes. He swallowed hard. “I left a note on Greg’s door and explained that the two of you were moving in different directions and that you shouldn’t see each other anymore. Then I signed it, using your name.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. Until that moment, I’d been able to hang on to a small shred of hope that I was wrong, that it was someone else who had ruined the best thing to ever happen to me. But that hope disappeared with his words. It had really been my dad.

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