Page 164 of Mountain Daddy

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I knewhe wanted a family.

I knewI was doing him a kindness by not making him choose between me and something he wanted.

AndI knewI didn’t love him.

I didn’t love him, and I wasn’t sure I ever would, so I cut him loose.

Unlike then, Luther doesn’t know what I want.

He doesn’t know what I can and can’t have.

He doesn’t know how I feel about him.

But maybe he knows something more important than all that.

Maybe he knows that he doesn’t love me.

And maybe he knows he never will.

Chapter 98

Luther

The sun is settingby the time I get out of my truck.

I’ve been sitting here, truck backed into the dark garage, engine off, staring at nothing for… hours.

Her tears.

The way she cried.

Her voice as she saidyou promised.

I press my hand to my chest.

I did promise.

And I meant it. When I said it, when I told her this wouldn’t end badly, I meant it.

But I was wrong.

My boots are loud in the silent garage.

I was so fucking wrong.

Opening the door, I step into my house.

My empty house.

I keep walking.

I walk down the hall, through the main room, and out the back door onto the deck.

I can’t be in there.

Not yet.

Not with Kendra’s energy lingering in the corners.

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