Page 152 of Zero Chance

He turned back to eye me curiously.

I shrugged, admitting, “I don’t know why.I’m a hell of a likable guy.”

“He’s a mouthy, philandering lecher who preys on young women, going through them like tissue paper,” Ms.Breeker snapped irritably.“And now, he’s apparently got our daughter in his sights.So please excuse me if I don’t feel like standing aside and just letting him hurt Waverly next.”

“Hurt?”I cried in insult.“Hold the fuck up.Who did I everhurt?”Crossing my arms over my chest, I demanded, “Name one girl; I’ll wait.”

When she didn’t say anything within two seconds, I scoffed.“You can’t, can you?Because I don’thurtgirls.”Ticking up my index finger to start a list, I went on, “I never ruined anyone’s reputation.I never left one in tears or heartbroken.And I sure as hell never knocked any of them up or abandoned them.Because I’mnotthat guy, contrary to what you think of me.”

“You’re not doing anything alone with my daughter,” Ms.Breeker maintained with a glare.

“And that’s really not your decision to make,” I said, shaking my head, unable to believe this.“Seriously, how in the hell are you the same woman who preached responsibility and independence to me all the way through high school?Now you’re standing there, trying to make decisions for a grown-ass woman?”

“Waverly’s only?—”

“Twenty,” I snapped.“She’s twenty.Why the hell does she have a curfew at all?Why do you track her phone and every move she makes?Why can’t you just let her live her fucking life?”

“Keene,” Waverly warned in a quiet, worried voice.

I glanced at her and immediately felt like hell for making her look as afraid as she did.

Grabbing my head with both hands, I gushed, “Shit.Sorry.”But it still couldn’t shut me up.“But this is bullshit,” I claimed, pissed offforher as I motioned toward her mother.“It’s a parent’s job to raise their child so they’re able to go off one day and no longerneedthem.And they’re not doing that.They’re stunting your social development.”

Whirling back to Ms.Breeker, I demanded, “How is she supposed to engage with her peers with the kinds of restrictions you’re putting on her?At this rate, she’s going to have no friends, no connections, no one to reach out to after you’re gone.She’s going to fucking flounder and turn into a depressed mess who can’t function in society.Believe it or not, her coming out here to sit on this porch with me right now—just to talk—is ahealthystep in her development, and you need tolether make these kinds of decisions for herself.For her own good.”

While Waverly’s mom scowled at me, her father quietly murmured, “He’s right.”

34

KEENE

Spinning toward Waverly’s dad, I gaped at him, frankly startled to hear him side with me after the total ass I was being to his wife.

But he even held his ground as Ms.B sent him a warning glare.“We helicopter parent her, Katherine.”

I snorted in agreement.“Damn straight you do.”

Ms.Breeker swerved her glare my way.“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.You don’t know what she’s been through.”

“Mom,” Waverly warned, her voice shaking.

And that pissed me off more than anything.

We were upsetting my girl.

“You know what,” I said, grabbing Waverly’s hand.“Ninety-nine percent of the people she encounters in her life won’t know her history.They won’t even give a shit.But she’s going to have to leave your safety net atsomepoint and interact with them, anyway.With me, I promise every new life experience will be whatshewants, it’ll be done atherpace, and I’ll always keep her as safe as possible.”

I could tell from the flicker in Ms.B’s eyes that she appreciated my promise.I was so sure I was finally getting through to her until she shook her head and muttered, “I still don’t like you.”

I sighed, knowing this was a losing battle.“That’s too bad,” I muttered, deflating.“But I guess you don’t have to like me.”And I turned to Waverly, hoping I hadn’t just lost her for good.“Are you willing to sit on those stairs with me for five minutes so we can talk?”I asked, begging her with my eyes not to dump my ass then and there.

She looked scared to death, and when she glanced hesitantly toward her parents, I knew she was expecting them to step in and forbid it.Mr.Frank laid a staying hand on his wife’s arm, and Ms.B clamped her mouth shut, saying nothing.

Waverly turned back to me and nodded.“Yes.”

My eyes closed briefly.“Thank God.”

It was her father who nodded his assent and reached out to shut the door, giving us some privacy on the porch.

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