Page 136 of Down & Dirty

“What’s it say?” I asked, trying to get him back on track.

“It says that no matter when or why, if you terminate the agreement, you get a settlement.”

My eyes drifted closed. I’d asked Cory if there was anything in the prenup that would hurt me and he’d answered so quickly, so confidently.

“And it’s not a small amount.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, a chill sweeping over me even in the warmth of the sun I was standing in. “Okay.”

“Okay? Sky this is real money. Do you know how much?”

Shaking my head I turned back to him. “No. But it’s probably too much.”

He laughed, “If Cory were my client, I’d agree with you. But since you’re my daughter, I think it’s a good start.”

With a heavy sigh, he shoved up from the table and came to stand beside me. It was just the two of us in my quiet apartment. Tommy had agreed to keep Micah for an extra couple of days so I could move my stuff back into my place. I hadn’t told him why I needed the time. Whatever his reaction was, I didn’t need it. If my father hadn’t shown up, I’d probably still be in sweats on the couch, staring at the wall and wondering how things had unraveled so fast.

“Talk to me, Skylar.”

My throat throbbed painfully, words refusing to push past the ache.

“Sweetheart, you’re making big decisions. And maybe they’re the right ones, but are you sure?”

A watery laugh burst out of me. Was I sure? I wasn’t sure about anything. Everything felt so broken, so ruined.

“I just wanted to do something for me.”

His big hand wrapped around my shoulder, tugging me against his chest. “I get that. You’ve been in the position to support others for a long time. Ronnie, Micah, your mom and me. I don’t think any of us gave enough thought to whatyouwant.”

He paused, his chest rising and falling on a deep breath before he went on. “But there was one person who seemed to want to focus on you. Just you.”

His tone was cautious, as if he expected an outburst in response. But I was too tired. Instead of getting angry at him for bringing up Cory, I melted into his arms. Because he was right. Or at least that’s what I’d thought two days ago. Now, I wasn’t so sure.

“But then why did he do that? Why couldn’t he just let me have one thing?”

“Why do you think?”

I’d wracked my brain for forty-eight hours thinking about this, so I had some ideas. But I wasn’t sure I was ready to admit to any of them.

“Because, Skylar, no matter how wrong it might be to meddle in someone else’s business, I have a hunch he didn’t do it to hurt you.”

“But he did hurt me.” I pulled out of his grasp, walking to the other side of the room to grab a tissue.

My dad took a seat on the arm of the sofa, lacing his fingers together in his lap. It was the way he always sat when he was patiently waiting for Ronnie or I to see something he thought we were missing. I rolled my eyes, walking into the kitchen to toss my tissue in the trash.

“Okay. So, hurt him back. Take him for all the money in that agreement,” he tipped his chin at the kitchen table, the papers spread out across it like a storm had blown through and left them in disarray. Just like my life.

Sickness returned, rising hot and thick in my throat. I didn’t want to hurt Cory. I knew how hard he’d worked for his money. The lengths he was willing to go to win so he’d never be without it.

“I don’t want his money.”

My father’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. “No? I thought that was why you took that modeling job. So you could earn more money. On your own.”

Eyeing the contract I shook my head. “I don’t want it like this.”

“He wants you to have it. The language is clear.”

The logical thing would be for me to take it. It would set me and Micah up for whatever came next. But it felt like declaring defeat. Like, this really was the end. And more tears came as that idea broke my heart.

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