Page 68 of Misguided Vows

I only have a few memories of my father, but I recall the way he would twirl her around every day when he got home from work, then he would dip her and kiss her. After he said hello to her, that’s when I would get my hello.

He always said that she came first. She was the most important person in his life because she created his love, and me, but most of all, that love came from them. So why wouldn’t he treasure the most important person in his life?

I never felt less than. I just loved my father, and I loved watching him love my mother.

When I was a child, I thought I’d be like some princess and one day I would have a love like that.

But the day my dad passed, and with everything that happened afterward, I learned that love can also break a woman and leave many pieces behind. I ended up seeking validation from men who didn’t deserve me, and at the time, I was too naïve to realize it. For some reason, I was always attracted to the bad boys, until I snapped out of it and fled the last guy I’d been seeing.

I have kissed so many frogs that I’m unsure if I will ever get my prince. I don’t even know if I believe in them anymore. Some people might think Will is prince-like, but he’s anything but. He’s an utter asshole. The only charming thing about him is his accent, and even then, when he speaks, he grates on my nerves. But that mouth can do so many other magical things.

“It’s not that I haven’t tried, Alina. I have gone on a few dates. But none compare to your father, so why even bother?” She shrugs and goes back to cooking her soup. “Tell me about Will.”

I sigh, exasperated, knowing better than to try and change a topic with my mother. “There’s not much to tell.”

“There’s always something to tell. Now, open up, missy, or you won’t be getting any of this soup.”

I roll my eyes because she knows I want that soup, and I haven’t eaten since… Well, since I had two bites of my toast and Will ate the rest.

“He used to be a detective,” I tell her. She looks over her shoulder at me.

“Used to be?”

“Yes. Apparently, he now gets paid a lot to track people down.”

“Like a bounty hunter?” Her brows raise in surprise.

I smile wickedly, wishing he were here to hear it. “Exactly like a bounty hunter.”

“What an unusual job. How do you know he gets paid a lot?”

“He told me. And if you ever saw him prim and proper in his immaculate suits and expensive cologne, you would know the guy isn’t any pennies short.” I don’t want to go into the fact that he’s so loaded he can so easily bet away a plane and how my bank account is flush with cash right now, thanks to him.

I’m not complaining.

“I’m confused,” she says. “He sounds like he has his life together. A businessman with ambition in his career is willing to meet your mother, dresses nicely, and has an accent. Where is he falling short?” Her mouth goes wide. “Oh. Is he… not well endowed?”

I throw my head back and laugh. He’s the complete opposite, but I put on a serious face. “Yes, his penis is very small. Micro even. And he has a tendency to play video games and watches a lot of porn.”

My mother rolls her eyes. “Not a gamer,” she says sarcastically, and I laugh. I love my mother. She is, after all, from whom I got my dry sense of humor.

She scoops soup into two bowls. “Okay, well, let’s eat. And tell me all about this job. I’ve been watching your videos on that app you showed me, and I love it,” she gushes. “You are my favorite thing to watch, though you should show your face. You’re so pretty and intelligent. You should be proud of your work.”

I smile as she places the soup in front of me, and it reminds me of countless years living with her. It had always been just us two. Sitting here, even now, reminds me of that. Because I don’t want her to be alone anymore, and part of me isn’t sure if I want to be alone anymore, either.

That is a terrifying thought because I have no idea why all of a sudden I’m considering something outside of the bubble I’ve chosen to keep myself in for so long. Only recently have I realized I want marriage with the right person and potentially children. But that doesn’t make it any less terrifying.

CHAPTER 37

Will

I’m shouting at Albert through the door. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but my shoulders are aching.

It suddenly goes eerily quiet, and then I hear a click, and River and Alek waltz in. River’s eyes go wide as he looks at my sorry state, stretched out across the bed, and he throws his head back, laughing.

Alek, however, narrows his eyes. “Why the fuck did you put us down as an emergency contact with your driver? What are you, twelve?”

Albert stands behind them but averts his gaze.

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