Page 41 of If You Could Only Feel
I had thought he just meant that a girl never forgets her first. But I can see how he meant that I was never going to forget my first because he would also be my last.
I covered my face with my hands and just started crying. I felt Michael’s arms, and I leaned into him as he held me, letting me cry it all out. After a few minutes, I sobbed, “I’ve been so horrible to him, Michael.”
He let out an exaggerated scoff. “Well, let’s not get carried away here,” he joked. “The man still owes you a movie night, for Christ’s sake.”
And just like that, I started laughing into his arms.
We sat in silence for a while as he let me get my emotions under control. When he was certain I wasn’t going to lose it again, he said, “My brother loves you, Justice. Make him pay for being an insensitive jerk, but don’t pay him for not loving you, because that’s not a price that belongs on his head.”
He was right. “Thank you, Michael,” I whispered, meaning it with every fiber of my broken heart.
Before he could comment, another knock at the door sounded. I jerked in Michael’s arms, a little startled by who it could be. I stood up and looked down at Michael. “How bad do I look?”
He grinned. “Pretty bad.”
I rolled my eyes, wiped off my face, and headed to the door. I was such a wreck; I didn’t bother to look through the peephole.
I really, really, really should have looked through the peephole.
On the other side of the thresh hold stood my parents, Buck and Leah Hillman.
“What in the hell are you two doing here?” I gasped, stunned. I mean, I hadn’t seen my parents since I moved out of our trailer, the day I turned 18 years old.
Buck’s eyes narrowed, while Leah plastered on a fake as fuck smile. “Oh, don’t be like that, Justice, honey,” Leah cooed. “We heard you got married and well, we’re here to congratulate you.”
And just like that, I knew why there were here.
They heard I had gotten married, but more importantly, they heardwhoI had gotten marriedto.
Chapter 24
Gabriel~
It was a miracle I hadn’t killed anyone on my drive over.
The second Michael had called me to tell me Justice’s parents had shown up at her doorstep, I was calling Mason and flying out of my office.
Justice’s parents were pieces of shit and them bothering her now could only mean one thing. They must have heard she got married and that she married me. I knew they’d be gone by the time I got there, but it still didn’t lessen my urgency. I trusted Michael, and I knew he’d protect her and put her parents in their place, but that was supposed to be my role and I needed her, and them, to know what exactly it means that Justice is a Buchanan now.
I made it to her apartment in record time, barely putting my car in park, before I was taking the stairs two at a time to get to her.
When I opened the door, I walked in to see Justice sleeping on the couch, her head in Michael’s lap. He was sitting up, his head hanging over the back of the couch, eyes closed, his right hand caressing Justice’s hair.
My heart lurched at the sight. I didn’t think it was ever going to be possible for me to ever stop appreciating my brothers.
I slowed my pace, but as I approached the couch, Michael’s eyes opened, and he turned his head to face me. I was about to ask him what happened, but he put his finger up to his lips to silence me. I nodded, showing him I understood, and then I watched as he, gently, lifted Justice’s head, maneuver around her and place her head back onto one of the throw pillows.
Michael jerked his head towards the hallway that led to the bedrooms and I followed. Once we were in Justice’s bedroom, I couldn’t control myself any longer. “What happened?”
Mike lifted a brow, indicating that he got a real, unfortunate dose of Buck and Leah Hillman. “Jesus, Gabe,” he breathed out. “It’s a wonder how she grew up to be such a good girl. Her parents are fucking horrible.”
I grimaced. “I know,” I agreed. “They’ve always been horrible. Hell, they never once ever tried to put a stop to me climbing into Justice’s window when we were in high school. As long as she didn’t ask them for anything and stayed out of trouble, they didn’t bother with her.”
Michael shook his head. “They showed up and said they had heard that Justice had gotten married and her mother tried to play it off as if their feelings had been hurt because they hadn’t been invited to the wedding.” I scoffed. “Right? I kind of just stood there standing behind her and watched as she refused to let them in the apartment.” Mike grinned. “Your girl has balls, Gabe.”
My chest filled with pride. Justice did have balls when they were warranted. “Yeah, she does.”
“Anyway, when her mom’s fake concern didn’t work, her dad started in all how she owed them and some other bullshit.” He shrugged a shoulder. “They wanted money.”
