Page 56 of All Along

“I would never betray your confidence, Bunny.” He kisses my nose. “You’re mine to protect.”

Those words fill me with warmth. His to protect? I can protect myself, but knowing I’m not alone is everything.

But will he feel the same way when he knows everything? I refuse to witness the disgust in his eyes when I reveal my secrets. I slam my eyes closed.

“Dad hit Mom,” I rush out.

“Open your eyes, Bunny. Let me look into those gorgeous brown eyes of yours. They remind me of the finest whiskeyBuccaneer’s Whiskey and Distilleryproduces.”

I never thought my eyes were pretty before. Brown isn’t exactly exciting. Especially not considering I have my dad’s eyes.

He brushes a finger over my cheek and I force my eyes open.

“Did your dad ever hit you?”

I shake my head. “No. Not after…”

“Not after what?” A muscle ticks in his jaw but his voice is devoid of anger.

“I promised I’d never tell.”

“It’s honorable to want to keep your promises, but keeping this secret is hurting you. And I refuse to let anything hurt you anymore.”

Those words mean the world to me. This is why I love this man. He doesn’t want me to hurt anymore. How could I not love him?

“I called the police on my dad. He broke Mom’s arm when he pushed her down and stomped on her arm. She lied and said she fell when she went to the emergency room. I thought…” I trail off with a shake of my head.

“What did you think?”

“I was so naïve. I thought if I called the police, Mom would leave Dad and we could start over. Mom was scared of Dad. She still is. I recognize the fear in her eyes. But she wouldn’t leave him. I’m the traitor for telling the police what happened. I’m the one who was kicked out of the family for daring to tell the truth. I’m the bad guy.”

Caleb brushes a tear from my cheek. I didn’t even realize I was crying. You’d think I’d cried enough tears for my family over the years. Apparently not.

“You are not naïve. You’re brave. You’re the bravest person I know.”

I roll my eyes. “You faced down armed enemies. I’m not the brave one here.”

“Those enemies were faceless. They meant nothing to me. It’s much harder to confront a person you love. To call them out on their behavior. To call the police on a parent. Damn, Bunny. You are strong.”

Goosebumps erupt all over my body. I study his eyes for any signs of deception but those blue eyes, I hope my children inherit one day, are full of honesty. “You mean it.”

“Hell yeah, I mean it. You impress the hell out of me.”

“But I lost my family because of what I did.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Mom and Dad refuse to have anything to do with me. They waited to kick me out until I was eighteen because they knew I’d tell the police if they kicked me out any earlier.”

He squeezes my neck. “That egg and sperm donor are not your family. I’m your family. My family is your family. Yourfriends are your family. You, Maya Jenkins, are not alone in the world.”

I want Caleb to be my family forever. I want to give him dozens of children. Maybe not an actual dozen but at least two. Maybe three. Probably four.

“I understand why you didn’t tell me back in high school but I wish you had.”

I duck my chin. “I was afraid. Dad promised he would never hit me after I told him I’d go to the police if he did. But it didn’t stop him from hitting my mom or being an asshole to me. Whoever said sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me was a lying idiot.”

“I hate this,” Caleb grumbles. “I hate how you were suffering at home during high school and I never knew. I hate how I didn’t protect you.”

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