Page 61 of Hit the Ground
I’m over you.
I shoved my hands through my hair as my stomach twisted. “If she already has?”
Her spine straightened as she stared me down in the way only my mother could. “Then hopefully you’ve learned a valuable lesson.”
For the second time, I felt like my ass had hit the ground, knocking the wind out of me. There was every chance Alice would not give two damns about me coming around. She’d told me as much, and last night, I saw for myself howover meshe was.
“How’d I miss her?” I asked, more to myself than either of them.
My father answered anyway. “One of your best attributes is how focused you are. It’s also one of your worst. You’re single-minded to the point of being stubborn.”
“I can’t deny that.”
My mom dropped her hand on top of mine. “I’ve spoken to Alice every day since she was attacked. She’s been through a lot—possibly more than you know. She’s doing really well, but I don’t know if she’s ready to begin anything with you.”
I shook my head. “My timing couldn’t be worse.”
Her fingers squeezed around mine. “You came for advice, so here’s mine: be clear. If you would like a relationship with her, don’t pussyfoot around the topic. She put herself out there once. Now it’s your turn. Give her the knowledge and power and let her decide what she wants to do with it.”
As oblivious as I could be, I wasn’t a coward. Now that I knew what I wanted, I would have no trouble saying it. But I didn’t want to do the wrong thing and hurt Alice any more than I had.
I glanced between my parents. “Like you said, she’s been through a lot. Is it even right for me to add to that?”
“I’d like to think she’d view it as a good thing,” my mother said. “Besides needing a haircut and beard trim, you’re quite a catch, Caleb Kelly.”
I chuffed. “Isn’t it your job as my mom to say that?”
She lifted a shoulder. “It was my job to raise you into the man you are. Now I get to be proud of my creation.”
My dad tugged on her braid. “I married a mad scientist.”
“Just a mom.” She leaned into him. “You know your father dumped me in college.”
It’d been decades since he’d made that mistake, but his eyes flared with panic, and he clutched her even tighter against him.
“And I quickly realized the grievous error of my ways,” he stated firmly.
She patted his cheek. “Maybe the Kelly men have to be stupid before they wise up. Fortunately for us all, you’ve been perfect ever since.” Then she turned her gaze back to me. “My point in dredging up ancient history is, once your dad realized what he’d given up, he worked hard to win me back. He showed me I could trust him and he would be steady for me. It was what I needed.”
I understood what she was telling me. “I’ve got to be that steady presence for Alice.”
“Always,” my father agreed. “I’ve seen you weather storms. I know you’re a good man. You have what it takes to be the kind of partner a woman like Alice needs. Show her that.”
“But don’t push,” my mother added. “Don’t pressure her.”
“I would never,” I replied with vehemence.
She patted my hand. “I know you wouldn’t, sweetheart. But I feel it’s imperative to remind you to allow her to take the lead.”
“That’s what I’ll do,” I said firmly. “I’ll be there for her, as long as it takes.”
My dad’s mouth curved into the faintest smile. “I have a good feeling about this.”
I wasn’t quite so optimistic, but I was determined. And if I became doubtful, I’d think back to last night, at the feeling of Alice shining her light on everyone but me. I wanted that light, and dammit, I wanted her to lean on me the way my mother did my father. How had I not seen that? How had I never wanted all that goodness for myself?
Maybe it was Alice I’d been waiting for all along.
I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again. This time, she’d set the pace, and I’d match every step.
