Page 74 of Even if It Hurts

“Dad—”

“I’ll deal with you in a minute,” he said over Lainey, holding a hand up to silence her in a move that had the muscle in my jaw twitching.

I knew how I was. I knew I talked over people the way he’d just done. I knew I’d hurt Lainey more times than I could count, even without meaning to, because of the way I spoke to people. But I’d never spoken to her like that.

Like she was nothing.

“No, I think we should go somewhere and talk,” I said in a tone that left no room for argument. “Get to know each other. Understand where the other’s coming from.”

Mr. Pearson studied me, seeming more irate than wary, before jerking his head past me. “Office building’s back there.”

“What are you doing?” Lainey practically begged when I turned and reached for Kaia.

“He can’t do a lot if I’m holding a baby. Probably better for me to be holding onto something too,” I whispered, trying to force a tease into the words that I in no way felt.

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“I know,” I assured her as I switched the basket of berries for my sleeping niece. “Don’t wait for us.”

“Asher . . .”

“Trust me?”

She wavered, her stare bouncing between me and where her dad was waiting a few times before those stormy eyes locked on me as she confessed, “I’ve trusted you since that very first day.”

The corner of my mouth twitched as I reached out, trailing my fingers along her free hand and earning a shaky gasp from her. “We’ll see you in a few hours.” Turning, I met Mr. Pearson’s murderous glare head on and cradled Kaia closer against my chest. “After you.”

I’d waited.

Partly because I knew just how angry my dad was with the entire situation—knew what kind of cutting remarks he’d been making—and it was all I could do to make myself wait outside the office where I was unable to hear any part of their conversation. Partly because...well,Asher.

“I looked for you every time I set foot in that shop until, suddenly, you were standing right in front of me. In my apartment.”

I hadn’t been able to get his unexpected words out of my head. I couldn’t make them fit with the words he’d unintentionally left on my voicemail nearly a week ago. But even if Asher wasn’t the kind of person who was—sometimes offensively—honest, I would’ve heard the truth in his voice then. Just as I’d heard the deeper meaning.

He’d been right. Itdidcomplicate things. But I was fairly sure I’d been waiting to hear something to that effect since long before I’d started working for him.

So, I’d waited. For as long as I’d been able to, anyway.

But after a quick trip to help my sister carry baskets back to their designated spot for the next round of pickers, I hurriedback, only to find my dad waiting on the porch of the office. Arms folded and head dipping when he noticed me as if he’d expected me.

The strain on my lungs intensified and my body seemed to protest each step as I continued toward him. All that earlier eagerness was fully overwhelmed by my anxiety because the times I’d seen my dad since moving out hadn’t gone well.

I’d tried talking to him about his cancer—he’d echoed my mom’s blame for not being able to rest.

I’d tried telling him Jackson and I were done—he’d told me that wasn’t an option.

I’d tried explaining how great Wren would be at running this place—he’d looked at me as if I’d lost my mind before reminding me of my place.

“Are they still here?” I asked as I made it to where he stood, my stare drifting to the front office door before snapping back to my dad at his unexpected response.

“Shoulda told you and Wren.”

“What?”

His head bobbed a few times before he cleared his throat and looked out over the fields. “I shouldn’t have tried keeping what was happening to me from you girls. That wasn’t—that wasn’t fair.”

I stared at him as shock wove through me.

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