Page 64 of The Broken Beginning: Part One

“It won’t. Now, hush and listen.” Fury burned inside me as he said that, but then the bastard continued talking despite seeing the flush of frustration on my skin. “I want you to stay in this house until you have the baby. It’ll give you time to make sure the new place is painted and set up the way you want without having to deal with toxic fumes or anything else. It will also give your dad and I the chance to be close by in case anything happens so we can be there for Deck and for you.”

“You and my dad?”

He nodded. “Had a feeling you weren’t going to let me in the house anymore, so I’ll be rooming with your dad across the street until you move or change your mind.” I was about to interrupt, but he stopped me once more. “It will also give me access to Declan in an environment you feel is safe and whore-free. Plus, there’s the added benefit that you’ll be able to see I’m serious about wanting only you now!”

“What kind of games are you playing? Like I’m going to believe you now?”

“No games.”

“You tried this when we were in Savannah and come to find out you had a girlfriend who you were serious enough about to not cheat on her.”

“I did though.”

“Did what?”

“Cheated on her.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

It was his turn to shrug. “I was with you. I finally got who I really wanted, and I cut her loose that same day.” I rolled my eyes, but the asshole persisted.

“I know that I fucked it up all along the way and should have never had to worry about cutting anyone loose if I was serious about you. I am man enough to admit that I fucking swallowed stupid pills thinking that was any kind of a plan of action. I’m sorry, because I know it caused you pain and I don’t want to keep doing that to you, Lily. I know you won’t believe me now, but maybe in time you’ll see that I mean it this time.”

“I can’t stop you from living where you want, but it won’t be here. I don’t want you coming over whenever you want either. That is a hard limit for me and if you test it, I will pack bags and Declan and I will be long gone before you ever even know it.”

“I will respect your boundaries, Lily.”

“And if I want to date, you will not interfere,” she tacked on.

“No fuckin’ way! You’re carrying my child. No other man’s cum is going to be shot up in there.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“I’m fucking honest.”

I rolled my eyes again. Stupid idiot. “Take it or leave it, I’m not changing my mind.”

“How am I supposed to prove to you that I only want you, that we should be a family, when your plan is to go out and date other people?”

“What you have to prove isn’t my problem. It’s yours. You already blew a thousand chances with me. If I find someone who loves me without having to fuck every woman in Charleston before he realizes it, then sorry for your bad luck, I’m going to take the guy who saw my worth from the beginning.”

“We’ll see.” Merc stood then and moved to leave. “What were you working on over there anyway?”

“None of your business, Merc.”

“For now,” he bit back and then he walked away, just like always. Only, unlike all the rest of the times, he stayed true to what he promised. He lived at my dad’s house across the street, was respectful about not just showing up, and he sent flowers every Wednesday just to ‘brighten up my week’.

A month later, he brought me a cell phone that already had four numbers programmed in: his, my father’s, Boone’s, and the number to the clubhouse. It was a Nokia 9110i, and the damn thing flipped open on its side to reveal a full keyboard and a screen that could be used to access the internet, which was just insane. I had no clue what in the world I was supposed to do with all of that, but I was probably going to have fun figuring it out.

20 – The Push and Pull

Tiger Lily

I didn’t think I would ever get used to receiving messages on my own personal phone that I could carry anywhere with me.

Merc: When is your next appointment?

Lily: Tuesday at 10. Why?

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