Page 46 of Relentles
“Whether or not we move to LA not your decision and it’s not about you. The world don’t fucking revolve aroundyou.”
“Of course it doesn’t. It’s only CJ and Molly and Mommie and Aunt Meggie andeveryoneexcept me.” Fisting her hands on her hips, she faced him, adorable in green pajamas imprinted with kittens and a sleep mask with cat ears resting on her forehead. “I’m an afterthought. You heard how CJ talked to me.”
“And Isawhow you put your fucking hands on him,” he countered. “Another boy might’ve knocked the fuck out of you.”
Guilt entered her eyes and she glanced away.
Mort frowned. “Has Nardo—”
“No! He’s a sweet, kind gentleman. Unlike your precious CJ. He threw me over for Molly.”
“You know fucking well that’s not true. Molly not the threat. Jaleena is.”
The moment he said the words, he regretted them. But when tears rushed to Harley’s eyes and slipped down her cheeks, he called himself a stupid motherfucker.
He took a step toward her.
She stumbled back.
“Baby,” he said, halting, unsure if she knew about the dinner he’d attended in honor of the Davises.
“I don’t want to hear it. Rebel told me all about it.” She sniffled. “She couldn’t wait to throw it in my face. Bitch.”
“Stop with your fucking cursing! Digger was right about that. Don’t let motherfuckers change your kindness. It don’t make a difference. Motherfuckers will still be motherfuckers.”
“It does matter, Daddy. They won’t see me as a pushover!”
“Nobody saw you as a pushover. They saw you as the voice of reason.”
“That isn’t true! You’re required to say that as my father.”
“I’m required to give you the tools you need to be a contributing adult. That doesn’t involve lying to you.”
“Apparently, it doesn’t involve allegiance either. You went to the dinner.”
“Meggie invited me. It felt good being welcomed bysomepart of my family.”
“She isn’t your family. None of the Caldwells are.”
“You wrong. They are. You, your momma, and your brothers, my immediate family and come first—”
“That isn’t true—”
“It is. Just because I went there don’t mean I’m lying. It just mean I was amongst members of my family that remembered I got fucking feelings too. You want to be a goddamn adult? Take the fucking responsibility that come with it. Any relationship a give and take. You give bullshit, you got to be willing to take it.”
“I’ll bet Mommie doesn’t know you gave your blessing for CJ to betray me when I love him so much.”
Bailey knew. Revealing that to Harley wouldn’t help matters and it might strain their tight mother-daughter bond. Mort refused to do that to either one of them.
“Responsibility come with love, baby,” he told her quietly. “Real love not easy. When that first rush wear off and reality set in, you in deep trouble if you not willing to overlook a lot and forgive even more.”
“That sounds like obligation.”
“It is.”
“Then it isn’t love. Responsibility kills romance and obligation turns to resentment.”
He smiled. “I thought I had the world figured out at your age, too.”
