Page 127 of Runaway Bride and Prejudice

I didn’t think the ache in my chest could be any worse. Turns out—it can. A heavy dose of guilt will do that to a person.

“Daddy—”

“Don’tDaddyme.”

It’s like he physically reached across the desk and slapped me. I swallow hard, then stand up and take a wobbly step back.

“You made a foolish decision while you were hyped up in an emotional state. Or maybe it was about revenge—getting back at Drew and Becky.” He shakes his head. “And you chose the one player who is the epitome of the reason I wanted to keep you away from hockey players. A man who?—”

“That’s enough.”

Maybe I’m still upset with Van for making the deal with dad. For marrying me without telling me the reason he came to Florida in the first place. And maybe I do feel bad about getting married without Dad being there.

But I won’t stand by while Dad eviscerates Van’s character. Or mine.

“We’re done here,” I say. “I’m not going to talk to you when you’re just lashing out. Maybe later, when you’ve had time to cool off, we can discuss this rationally.”

Dad laughs, a dark chuckle that has absolutely zero humor in it. “You want to talk about being rational? You married a man who must have messed up so quickly that you came home pretending the wedding never even happened.”

Tears prick my eyes but I will not let him see me cry. “I left because I saw your text. The one where you thanked him forbabysittingme.”

Dad should flinch at this. He should be bothered by his actions. By the way he went behind my back and tried to manipulate the situation. Even if he did so because he was trying to protect me.

But he only shakes his head, then waves a hand. “Then, go. Sounds like you and your newhusbandhave some issues to work out.”

He’s not wrong about that. Yesterday, the issue I wanted to work out was an annulment.

Now … now I don’t even know where to start. I just know I need to get out of this office.

As I walk out, just before the door slams, I hear dad say, “Your mother would be so disappointed.”

And I guess I need to find a place to stay because I amnotgoing home.

CHAPTER 26

Van

I’ve saidit many times before—Parker is a genius.

But … having my sisters come surprise me?

This falls under the accidental evil genius category.

Parker couldn’t have known why this is the absolutely worst possible timing. And the worst idea—to invite my sisters and to leave them in a room alone with Amelia. I’m honestly surprised they all walked out of the room.

My sisters are brutal. Callie and Alex, anyway. Actually, Greyson is the one I’d worry about the most, but it would take a LOT to get her mad enough to exact revenge. And then she’d find a way to ruin your life with a sweet smile on her face.

Knowing what I’m personally in for with my sisters is why I took my sweet time getting home. Now that they know what I didn’t tell them—the tiny little detail about my marriage—they will have words for me. A lot of them.

Probably not unlike whatever words Coach had for Amelia. I hope she’s okay.

It’s why I’m standing on my own porch, hesitating with my forehead against the door of the little craftsman bungalow I started leasing a few months ago.

Because they’re in there. Waiting.

I swear, I can hear them breathing.

“No sense just standing there, baby brother.” Alex’s voice through the Ring doorbell makes me jump.

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