Page 120 of A Forever Love

“The only silver lining in all this is that the Hawthornes can finally return to their normal lives. Charlie is no longer in danger,” Uncle Gavin drawls.

Fuck! I called him while I was at the hospital, promising to meet him when I’m back in the hotel. I’m failing people left and right today, on astronomical levels. I snatch my phone from the counter to check the time, only to find it’s turned off.

“I need to check on Charlie and charge my phone.” I start to rise, but a palm lands on my back.

“Did someone ask for my son?”

I turn to find Charlie standing behind me with his dad.

“Oscar,” I greet him. “When did you get here?”

“Just an hour ago. I went straight to the hospital, met with Merida, and then we came to the hotel.” He pats my back and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “Thank you so much, Carter. If you and Merida hadn’t been there today, I don’t know—”

“Believe me, I didn’t do anything. Mere saved us all this morning.”

“Can I see her?” Charlie asks.

“You will, Ace,” Oscar says. “But once she’s back and a bit settled. Right now, she needs to rest. She’s not feeling well.”

“Did something happen? Why didn’t anyone call me?” The words escape my lips, and my gaze falls upon my dead phone.

“She’s okay, just a bit restless in the hospital,” Oscar reassures me. “But Keith came here to get some of her personal stuff, books, pillows, socks, that sort of thing.”

“Keith is in her room?” Unease courses through my limbs as I try to recall the state in which I left the space this morning. My belongings are scattered all over Merida’s room, including my toothbrush in her bathroom, my shoes next to hers, and my clothes in her closet. My adjoining room just has an empty bag to make it look like I live there, in case someone dropped in unannounced.

Fuck! My eyes squeeze tight remembering the condom box on the nightstand.

It’ll take Keith less than two seconds to put everything together. I can’t even begin to imagine the look on his face. But as if the universe doesn’t want me to waste time conjuring those imaginations, he appears at the door of the dining area. His fists are clenched tightly, and his whole body shakes with fury.

Finally, his searing gaze locks on me. He knows.

Keith is one of the sanest, most level-headed people in our company, so I’m completely surprised when he’s on me in two seconds, slamming my head against the bar.

Holy shit! That fucking hurt.

But I can’t bring myself to be angry at him.

“What the heck, Keith?” Uncle Gavin rises, and the other people at the bar follow suit. The collective sound of barstools scraping the floor fills the air, accompanied by loud gasps.

“Do you know what this jerk has been up to?” Keith’s words are breathless, tense, his eyes ablaze with a desire to kill me.

“Keith.” I extend my hands forward. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”

“So you had a plan to tell me you were fucking my daughter?”

“Fuck!” Uncle Gavin mutters.

“Holy shit!” Oscar says. “Charlie, go upstairs to your mom.”

I hear their voices, but Keith’s words remain at the forefront of my attention.

“Be careful what you say about her!” I roar.

“She’s my daughter, asshole.”

Before Keith can lunge at me again, Uncle Gavin situates himself between us. “Let’s take this outside.” He doesn’t wait for Keith’s reply, immediately grabbing my collar and pulling me toward the door, where hotel security guards are filing in. “It’s under control, guys,” he hollers at them before gritting his teeth. “What the heck were you thinking, Carter?”

Once more, I remind myself to let these men have their moment. I know their fists need to talk before they can hear me out.

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