Page 155 of Mountain Daddy

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Stop this.

But he keeps going.

“Joe’s my best friend.” Luther’s voice finally hitches. “He’s my best friend, and he deserves better from me.”

I close my mouth.

There it is.

The tears finally fall, streaming down my cheeks.

I can’t stop them.

Can’t stop the sliced pieces of my heart from slipping between my ribs.

If it was just about kids…

If that was the only thing holding him back…

But it’s not.

“I won’t tell him. But if you want to, I won’t stop you.” His features twist as he watches me cry. “I’m sorry.”

I lift my shaking hands and press my fingers to my lips.

They’re trembling.

Everything is trembling.

“I’m sorry,” Luther says quieter this time. “Please say something.”

I part my lips to pull in a shaky breath.

Locking eyes at the bar.

His hand on my thigh.

Luther walking through my motel room door.

The first kiss.

The first caress.

My Daddy.

The man sleeping at my side.

Running into Luther in the hallway.

His hand on my throat.

Luther giving me his number.

The first text.

The first phone call.

My Calm.

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