Page 208 of Mountain Daddy

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Except there’s the smallest smile on her lips.

And when I continue to watch her, she dips her chin.

The rope around my throat tightens.

She can’t…

Kendra holds her arm out too.

And I don’t care if it’s a hug of friendship and nothing more.

I’ll take it.

I’ll take any scrap of acceptance Kendra is willing to give me.

I stand so fast my chair tips over.

They both chuckle at the loud noise, but I don’t pause as I circle around the table in three steps and wrap them both in a bear hug.

Their bodies shake with humor, so I squeeze them tighter.

Joe shoves at my side, and I smack my hand firmly against his back.

He grunts, and I know it must’ve stung, but he stops trying to push me away.

And then I feel it.

Kendra’s hand at the small of my back. Her fingers tangling in the fabric of my shirt.

It’s more than I dared to wish for.

I tighten the arm I have around her, my hand curling around her shoulder, pulling her into me.

I want to tell Joe to get lost.

I need to hug Kendra for longer.

Need to hold her for-fucking-ever.

But this isn’t about me.

It never was.

But I still managed to ruin it.

Chapter 126

Kendra

“I’m glad you’re okay.”Luther’s whisper is spoken into my hair as his fingers flex around my shoulder.

I want to turn into him. I want both his arms around me.

Even if it’s a mirage, I want him to hold me against his chest and wrap me in his warmth.

But we can’t do that when we’re sharing this hug with my dad.

And we can’t do that because we aren’t aweanymore.

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