Page 73 of Twisted Bonds
"You promise?" my friend asks, her voice sounding small and childlike.
"I do. I may miss a day while in India, but I will try hard not to," I tell her.
Liv pulls away from me. "So, you're going?"
I nod. "Yeah. I think it's best to get away for just a few days. I need to take my mind off everything at the moment."
Liv raises her hands and cups each side of my face. "Can you promise me one more thing?"
Smiling, I nod. "I think so."
"Can you not get married again while I'm gone?"
I laugh, and she joins in. "I doubt I'll be marrying anyone for a while. I need to figure out which one I want first."
"Well, just remember, in this day and age, it isn't uncommon to have more than one partner… Just saying." She steps back.
"Don't be ridiculous, Liv." I wave her away. "You should probably pack and maybe get some fresh air. It seems like your brain may need it. Otherwise, you need to stop hanging around with Heather."
"Whatever. I'd pay anything to be in your shoes, Ry. Two hot guys vying for my love?" Her brow raises.
"No, Liv—two hot men who are father and son. Do you know how taboo that is? We would be the talk of the town!"
My friend only shrugs. "This town needs to be shaken up a little anyway, but that's the whole point, my friend. Taboo is hot. Forbidden is hot, and that father/son duo embodies the words forbiddenandhot."
"Get out, Liv," I chuckle. "I think your pregnancy hormones are in overdrive, or you need to stay off Booktok and lay off the dark, spicy romance novels I see you reading all the time."
Liv heads toward the door. "You don't know what a good book is if you're not reading a spicy novel. Unless it's making you blush and squeeze your thighs together while reading it, it's not worth your time, honey." She looks over her shoulder and blows me a kiss before disappearing.
I shake my head and snicker. I always knew she would grow up to be one of those women who reads raunchy novels and calls them good books. I like romance, what woman doesn't? I'm just not sure reading about a stalker wearing a mask and demanding I call him Daddy will get me off…
My thoughts trail off with that word,Daddy. I used to call Bain Daddy every once in a while. Now,thatmakes me squeeze my thighs together because it gets my lady juices running. Thinking about Bain, I dread telling him I'm going on this mission. I should leave a note for them, or better yet, send both Beau and Bain a text telling them of my plans, but only once I'm on the plane, flying over the Atlantic.
Forty-one
Beau
What do I do?After my amazing time with Ryan a few days ago, she's pretty much ghosted me. I thought we had a breakthrough, but I'm unsure now. I don't want to push her; I know she has a lot on her plate and a lot of baggage she still needs to unpack. I just wish she'd let me help her unpack it and put it all in its rightful place.
I'm sitting in the quietness of the library, trying to work through the chaotic mess of these thoughts running through my head. The biggest obstacle is my father. I hate that they had athingtogether, and even though I understand why it all took place, it doesn't make it easier to swallow. I still want her, though. I don't know what it is about Ryan fucking Hendricks, but she's my life and has been since the moment I saw her walking down that hall at school.
I can't ever give up on her, but what it all comes down to is, can I really live with the fact that she also wants my father in her life? Will she give him up for me, or will I always have to share her heart and her body with him?It's so fucked up, but not improbable.I can't believe I'm toying around with these thoughts, but this is where we are.Am I willing to do anything to keep Ryan? Fuck yes.
"There you are," my mother says, her voice breaking through my thoughts. "Cal just called me and said they're ten minutes out. I've prepared your grandfather's room for him. I thought it would be best to keep himclose to me and Cayley, you know, since I'll take care of him when Cal is off the clock."
I smile as I stand and meet her in the middle of the room. "Thank you, Mom. Are you sure you're okay with Grandpa being here?" I ask, wanting to make sure she's truly comfortable.
"I'm fine, Beau. I hold no grudge against Baxter; he didn't know. Cal didn't know my real identity either. To be honest, I liked spending time with him; it wasn't always about pleasing him sexually."
I wince, listening to her, but I get it. Liam was an asshole and only wanted to humiliate my mother every chance he got. I can't believe he did what he did and got away with it for so long. My mother will never get her life back fully; I've already seen it with her refusing to eventryto be with my father as a wife would a husband.
"Okay, well, as long as you're sure. I appreciate everything you're doing for Grandpa," I tell her. "I honestly can't wait to see him and have long conversations with him, something Liam would never let me have. There was always a time limit on my visits with him."
"Yeah, well, Liam had his own agenda, and I could never figure it out in all the years I was there. I don't know why he did what he did; why did he hate me so much?"
"Because you have D'Angelo blood in you. It doesn't matter whether you grew up with them; you're their blood—we're their blood." My stomach churns slightly at that thought.
I don't overthink it because, to me, the D'Angelos arenotmy family. Blood doesn't always make you family, and those motherfuckers will never be mine. They took the love of my life away from me, and I will never forgive them for that. Like my mother, Ryan will never be the same, but I'm okay with that. I want to be there for her in every way possible. At least, I want to try to be.
