Page 157 of GAF Factor

I felt the box in my pocket and squeezed it tightly before releasing it. “It’s fine. Good, actually. Better to know ahead of time, right?” I tried too hard to smile for it to be real.

“You okay?”

“Of course. I mean…it’s already been a couple of months. She asked for space and I gave it to her. This is what she wanted.”

“I know, but?—”

“But nothing,” I interrupted.

“Are you still going over there?”

“Yeah, I have to know.”

He nodded. “Do you want me to go over there with you?”

And witness my humiliation? No, thank you. But I needed to go, even if the answer was a resounding no. I had to see with my own eyes and hear for myself that it was truly over. And if that was her choice, I would walk away. I would fucking hate it, but I only had myself to blame for the way things turned out.

I shook my head, clapping him on the shoulder. “Thanks for looking out for me.”

“Always.”

I turned and walked out with my head held high, but my heart was racing. How had I fucked things up so badly that she’d moved on already? I thought all those check-ins were a way to keep me connected to her, but really, she was just tolerating me, if Red was right. Fuck, I couldn’t get ahead of myself. I had to talk to her first. Only then would I really know how she felt.

“Buck up, Kavanaugh. You’re no pussy,” I muttered to myself.

40

ISLA

The doorbell rangand I rushed forward to answer it, disappointed that it wasn’t IKE. Logically speaking, I knew it wasn’t him. He wouldn’t ring the doorbell. He’d just sneak in the back or walk through the front door. No, it was my parents. I tried to get them to come at another time, but that wasn’t going to happen, not after they heard about all the shit Shawn pulled. I couldn’t hide it from them any longer.

I swung the door open and practically fell into my dad’s arms, embracing the warm hug he wrapped me in. Whenever he held me in his arms, I felt like a little kid again when he would promise to take care of me forever.

“Dad,” I whispered.

“Hey, Isles. It’s good to see you.”

“Alright, well, don’t make the rest of us stand in the cold,” my mother griped. “I have to pee like a racehorse.”

She shoved her way inside and followed the direction Riley pointed to the downstairs bathroom while Dad brought in the suitcases.

“So, where do you want us to put our stuff?”

“You’ll be staying downstairs. There’s a room at the back of the house. It’s not much, but?—”

“Nonsense. We’ll be fine.”

I really hoped so. Riley and I had to throw together the room at the last minute, and the only thing that helped motivate me was when Knox called and said he was coming home. My stomach still swirled with nausea since I had to find a way to tell my parents that he was basically living with me, although we hadn’t worked out the details yet.

“I can’t believe you didn’t call me when your husband tried to blow you up. You would think that’s something a daughter would tell her mother.”

“I was going to, but other things happened.”

“Other things?” she asked, giving me that mother look. “Other things more important than telling me your husband wanted you dead? I would love to hear this.” She sat down and crossed her arms, waiting to hear what I had to say.

“Well…I saw Kavanaugh. And…we had to go grocery shopping…” I looked at Riley pleadingly.

“There was that winter craft fair.”

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