Page 63 of All Along

“Your dad.”

“My dad? What does my dad have to do with us?”

Caleb squeezes my neck. “Hear me out.”

I blow out a breath. “Okay.”

“After one of our study sessions at the library, I was walking home and ran into your dad. It wasn’t an accident. He was looking for me.”

My dad sought Caleb out? What in the world? I bite my tongue before I interrupt.

“He forbade me from dating you. He said you were meant for greater things than this small town on this little island. Hetold me I was not man enough for you. And, in case I wasn’t convinced, he said he wouldn’t give you your college fund money if I dated you.”

I gasp. “My college fund money? My parents never gave me any money for college. I got scholarships and worked as a waitress. They didn’t give me a dime.”

He growls. “They didn’t?”

“Nope. This doesn’t make any sense. Mom and Dad thought I was too big for my britches. They never said a nice word to me. And then, all of sudden, Dad’s telling you I’m meant for greater things? What a lying piece of smuggler’s reject whiskey.”

I jump to my feet and begin pacing the room. “How dare he say you weren’t man enough for me! You’re the best man I’ve ever known.” I stop pacing to stare down at him. “Please tell me you didn’t join the Army to become a better man.”

He shrugs and I explode.

“No! I lost over a decade with you because of my dad. All that time. All those years. All those lonely Christmas days. New Year’s Eves spent alone. And for what?”

I don’t bother to try and stop my tears. There’s no chance of stopping them considering the destruction my father caused.

“I knew my dad was an asshole but to ruin my life?”

Caleb wraps his arms around me and sways me from side to side. “I hate to say it, Maya, but I think ruining your life was the purpose of his little talk with me.”

I shove him away. “What? My own father tried to ruin my life?”

“He is not your father. Or your dad. He’s nothing to you. He’s your past. One you are not going to dwell on.”

“I’m not going to dwell on?” I slap my hand over my heart. “What do you expect me to do?”

He grasps my hands and hauls me near. “I expect you to live your life with me. I expect you to let me protect you from any further bullshit they try to pull from now on. I expect you to be my family.”

It sounds nice but, “It’s not going to be easy.”

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Nothing worth having is easy, Bunny. Will you at least try?”

“You want me to give up on my parents.”

“Bunny, they’re not worthy of being your parents.”

“It hurts.” I feel as if my heart is tearing into little pieces and will never be whole again. “The people who should love me unconditionally don’t love me at all.”

“That’s on them. Not you.”

“Easy for you to say. Your family is awesome.”

“They’re your family now, too.”

Wow. He’s giving me everything I’ve ever wanted. “You’re making it hard for me to say no.”

He waggles his eyebrows. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

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