Page 31 of Fool Me Once

I should say,I am ashamed.

Maybe this feeling will pass one day. I hope, someday, I’ll be able to look at myself in the mirror and not feel like the weakest woman on the planet.

I feel Storm’s nose nudge my hand, and I pick my head up and smile sadly at him. A creature I didn’t even know existed before a few days ago, one I didn’t know I needed in my life, is now the only one who truly gets me, it seems.

“It’s okay, boy. I’m all right.”

His brown eyes stare at me, and it’s like he’s saying,That isn’t true.

When I leave Smith’s, once I get my life figured out, I’m going to hate leaving this dog.

My dad breaks the moment, attempting to make his normally stern voice a little softer. “Richie isn’t going to hurt you here, Gemma. If he comes through that door, he’ll be met with a round of bullets. It would be the dumbest thing he’d ever done.” His eyes are dark, and I know he means every word.

As a cop, my father has seen and been forced to do some pretty heavy things. But right now, he isn’t himself. He’s sick, and the last thing he needs to be worried about is protecting me.

“Sir, with all due respect … my house has enough security shit in it and around it to keep a mall safe. I’m high profile enough that anyone who fucked with me would be a complete fool. And I’ll make it my mission to keep your daughter safe.” He stops, holding my dad’s gaze. “I promise you that.”

My dad’s eyes narrow, and it’s obvious he doesn’t like anything Smith has to say. He’s always had some problem with Smith, and I’ve never understood it because, until the day he left me behind, he was always a great friend to me.

“When did the two of you reunite?” Dad mumbles. “And I take it, Gemma is, what, living with you?”

“Yes, sir. She was staying with my sister for a short time, but Saylor had to leave the state for work. After a lot of thought, we all knew that my house would be the safest place for her.”

Dad’s eyes cut to mine, and even after all I’ve told him, I can still see a bit of judgment in them. My dad is a good man, but right now, he’s looking at me like I’m someone else.

“Are you and Smith—”

“No,” I utter before he can get the question out. “His house is very spacious. I have my own bedroom, and we’re just”—I side-eye Smith—“friends. We’re friends.”

My mom releases her hold on me, bringing my attention to her.

“Will, you have so much on your plate right now. You’re still recovering from chemo treatments, and you have a ton more follow-ups to monitor your cancer.”

She looks from him to me. “I don’t think Richie is stupid enough toever come after you now that the police are involved.” She stops, her eyes staring off. “But I didn’t think he would ever be the monster he is either. Gemma, where would you feel safest? Because this is about you and getting your life back.” Her lips quiver. “Your life that was stolen from you and no one even noticed.”

I know she feels a lot of guilt right now, but I wish she wouldn’t. I hid it well. I hid the pain and the secrets. I got good at telling everyone that my life was great.

Including myself.

“I miss you guys so much, and I want to be here to be helpful with Dad while he’s not feeling well.” I swallow. “But I think Smith’s house is where I should be right now.”

I feel his eyes on me, so I glance at him. Smith left me because he’s not in love with me, I’m sure. So, what is the harm in staying at his house when he’s not interested in me romantically? As long as he doesn’t start playing games, there’s no way he can hurt me again.

I’ll be fine.

Out of all the fucking awkward experiences I’ve had, this moment might be in the top three. And that’s saying a lot because I’ve been through some uncomfortable shit.

I mean, one time, when I was on a morning jog a few years ago, an old man pulled his pants down and told me that the New England Bay Sharks were shit and could suck his dick. And all I’m going to say is, his dick was uncut and wrinkly, and his balls weren’t any better. I still see that shit in my nightmares. Only, in my nightmares, for some reason, sometimes, there are googly eyes involved too.

Gross.

I also had an older woman pull her tits out and ask me to sign her nipple. The nipple was hairy, and that was pretty fucking weird as well.

But, yeah, sitting in a room, alone with the man who told me to stay away from his daughter, that’s awkward as shit. But Lori needed time to talk with her daughter in private, and so here we sit. Just me and Will.

The guy who single-handedly fucked up my and his daughter’s lives royally.

“I take it, you didn’t tell her the truth,” he utters, his hand on Storm, who I’m surprised actually let Gemma out of his sight for the first time since she moved in.

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