Page 31 of Wish I Didn't Want You Back

Brooks stepped closer to my side. “She’s not going anywhere.”

It was rare for anyone to challenge my father like this. In fact, it was a big no-no. The whole situation made me uneasy.

“This is none of your business. She is my daughter.”

Brooks let out a bitter laugh. “I think it’s funny how you try to act like that title gives you some type of claim on her.”

“You know, you’ve always been nothing more than a?—”

“Dad, please stop,” I said, cutting him off from finishing that sentence.

Brooks has always been protective, maybe a little too protective, at times. But the thing with my dad was that if you pushed him, he only pushed back harder. He wasn’t going to give in, and Brooks wasn’t known to back down from a confrontation. This was an absolute nightmare.

“Stay out of this.” He yanked on his tie and turned to me. “You need to come home with me. We can sit down and negotiate some new terms if that’s what it takes, but this wedding needs to happen.”

“It’s too late for that.” Brooks reached for my hand, lacing our fingers together. “Because Harlow and I are already engaged.”

My head snapped to his so fast I almost gave myself whiplash.

Was he out of his mind?

My dad’s eyebrows popped up. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me. I asked Harlow to be my wife, and she said yes.”

I blinked, thinking maybe I had misheard him and was waiting for the punch line until I saw the murderous look on my dad’s face.

His sharp gaze darted back and forth between us, not looking very convinced. Why would he be? I haven’t spoken to Brooks inyears. Yet he was trying to sell my dad a lie like it was something he did every day. As if it was no big fucking deal.

My dad’s eyes narrowed. “Bullshit.”

Brooks looked perfectly at ease, while it felt like my world had just tilted sideways. “It’s no secret that I’ve been in love with your daughter for years.”

My heart pounded in my chest.

It was a lie. He didn’t still love me, did he?

His gaze was sharp and assessing. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I don’t believe it.”

Brooks brushed his thumb across my knuckles. “Believe it, because it’s the truth.”

I had no idea what he was doing or how he could keep a straight face.I don’t remember him being such a damn good actor before.

He could feel me freaking out, so he squeezed my hand, trying to get me to relax.

He was too good at this. So good that I was almost convinced that this was real.

“Is he telling the truth?”

Hell no, he wasn’t.

Nothing about this was true. There was a time when I wanted it to be, but that was a long time ago.

Brooks’ warm hand folded along mine. It was strong and comforting, but it did nothing to quiet the noise in my head.

I should say something, but what was I supposed to say?

My lips parted for a second before I hesitated, and then the words, by some small miracle, came from my mouth. “Yes.”

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