Page 13 of Long Road Home

There were four hotels in town. I owned the best one. It wasn’t hard to figure out. Besides, where else would she go? I ignored her question and stepped toward her. Trying as hard as I fucking could to keep my anger in check.

Destiny Jane Matsen was in front of me again. Beautiful. So damn pretty with her blonde hair piled high on her head, the dredges of yesterday’s mascara smeared beneath her eyes. That tiny freckle above her lip I used to kiss.

She stared at me like I was a ghost. Someone to be afraid of. Who could blame her after I’d been such a complete ass yesterday.

“I came to apologize for yesterday. I was a dick.”

She shrugged. “You were honest. Always were.” Bacon sizzled, and she cursed. “Shit. Hold on. Or…wait. Come in. I need to talk to you.”

We didn’t have shit to say to one another. I’d apologized. Done what I came for.

Somehow, my feet took me to the kitchen island where she flipped off the burner and plated the bacon.

“Listen, Destiny…”

Her shoulders jerked, and she shook her head. “I go by Jane now.”

I flinched. Couldn’t hide it. Jesus. Wouldn’t take an idiot to know why. Still, I hated she was using her middle name. Destined to be like her mama, the folks in town always said, my mom included. Destined for great, better things, Tillie had tried to teach her. When we were in love, I’d always told her she was destined to be mine.

“Listen, Jordan. I appreciate you stopping by. Your apologizing isn’t necessary. But, well, there’s something you need to know.”

She had turned to me and her ass was to the counter by the stove. She hadn’t stepped toward me and even though she was talking to me, her head was turned in the direction of the front of the house.

She cursed again and wiped her hands across her cheeks. “You’re going to hate me,” she muttered. “Hell, you already do, and I don’t blame you. But you’re going to hate me, Jordan. But don’t…whatever you do, please, hate me all you want but don’t take it out on him.”

What the fuck? I stepped toward her, but her hands flew up. “Des…Jane…whatever. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She looked at me. Tears in her green-blue eyes and it was the eyes. Something clicked as tears rolled down her cheeks and she sniffed.

Eyes.

The way Rebecca’s face had drained of color when she saw that photo and then disappeared.

Why I couldn’t take my eyes off that kid.

My body shook with the force of tornado strength winds as something foreign rolled through me. Something hot. Something heavy that made it difficult to breathe.

The way that kid looked at me and scowled.I know who you are.

“You are fucking shitting me, right now,” I finally choked out. “Tell me. Tell me that boy out there isn’t mine?” It came out as a yell, fiercer and harsher than I could ever remember screaming at anyone in my life.

That hot, heavy pulsing inside me raged like a wildfire through me and suddenly, something was in my hand. I flung it and pale green sea glass flew through the air and shattered.

She jumped and screeched, her eyes wild and chest rapidly rising and falling. She stared at the hole in the drywall, the glass on the floor.

I slammed my hand to the countertop. “Tell me, damn it!”

Her hands went to the side of her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Holy shit.” Rage flew through my veins and my hands went to my face. I scrubbed down to wash away the searing, aching pain constricting my chest and pounding against my skull. Madness. I was going mad. “You’re fucking kidding me. Right?”

She wasn’t. It was evident by the tortured expression twisting her features and in the tears streaming down her cheeks.

It all made sense. Every fucking thing.

And even in my fury, I still hated seeing her cry.

Jesus.

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