Page 117 of Honeymoon Phase
“’Cause she’s all I fucking got left!” he roars, his face twisting in pain. He coughs loudly and turns away, agitated and trembling as he props his hands on his hips and stares out into the trees. He runs his fingers through his thinning hair and sighs as if in pain. “Until you know the horror of losing a child, don’t you tell me you’d know what you’d do in my situation.”
I stare at the man standing before me and, weirdly, I see a lot of Addison in him. Both of them scared and pushing away the good things in their life because they’re too afraid of what might happen if it all goes away. It’s a coward’s game and they’re playing to win.
But my dad taught me different.
“I may not have lost a child, but I lost my dad,” I state, my voice tight and showing more emotion than I want to in front of this old bear. “I literally had him die in my fucking arms, so I’m no stranger to pain.” I inhale a breath, steeling myself to continue. “But one thing my dad would never do... is not believe in me with something I was passionate about. And your daughter is passionate about that yard and the people who work there. Hell, they gave her a bread pan as a wedding present, and she spent weeks making fresh loaves every night until she was able to give one to every single employee. Did you ever do anything like that? Has anyone on this earth ever done anything like that?” I lift my shoulders and feel my chest ache with love and adoration. “Most people would just write a fucking thank-you card.”
John stares back at me with a scowl as he crosses his arms over his chest, clearly not as impressed by that story as I thought he should be.
Damn him.
Damn him for not seeing her.
She’s all I see.
I realize with grave disappointment that this was a fool’s errand. Guys like John don’t change their minds. They’re too old and too set in their ways. My dad had his stubborn streaks too.
But my dad wouldn’t do this. He’s one of the good ones.
The jury is still out on John.
I zip my coat up because I’ve said all that I need to say. Today wasn’t just about informing him of Robyn and Matt. It was about informing him of his daughter. And if he doesn’t see how wonderful Addison is by now, he never will. But I’ll make it my life’s mission to make sure she knows for as long as she’ll have me.
“Anyways, I came here to warn you about the Whitakers. They aren’t good people. It would be a huge mistake to sell to them. Robyn has made it very clear how she feels about yourdaughter, so if you do sell to them, you’ll be dropping Roe in the middle of an impossible situation that will destroy her because the lumberyard is her life. No amount of money will change that fact or buy back the respect you’ll lose from your only child. I’ll see you at the rehearsal.”
I turn to leave and then pause to add one more thing. “The marriage is real for me, by the way. I don’t want out. It’s real and it always has been for me.” I turn on my heel to look him in the eyes. “I don’t think it’s the same for your daughter, but I’ll be whatever she needs me to be because that’s how much I love her... for whatever that’s worth to you.”
He nods as his eyes move up and down my body, assessing me like he’s seeing me for the first time. “You know it was Aaron who started the whole fact-or-fiction thing.”
A chill runs down my spine and I forget the second part of the sentence and because I’m so focused on the first part. Addison said her father never talks about Aaron. Doesn’t even speak his name, so I’m shocked at him uttering it so casually just now.
“I’ve heard you and Addison say that phrase to each other before and I didn’t know if you ever knew it came from Aaron.” John’s cheeks stretch into something resembling a smirk. “He was learning the definition of nonfiction books in school just before he died, and he got real obsessed with it. He’d constantly ask Addie if stuff was fact or fiction on the television. It was their thing.”
My chest aches with that information and who I learned it from. “I’m really grateful you told me that.”
He coughs loudly and loses all affection on his face. “She loves you back.” John nods, his jaw taut. “Even if she don’t say it. It’s still a fact.”
Chapter 38
Fact or Fiction?
Hot girls wear their guys’ hats.
Addison
I have one thing on my mind as I make the drive from Boulder to Fletcher Mountain, following closely behind Dakota and Trista in the vehicle ahead.
I’m excited to get home.
I’m practically giddy as I wind my SUV up the dark, snowy lane, feeling my ears pop as the elevation climbs. A grin spreads across my face as I drive by Wyatt’s and Calder’s cabins, both lit up and showing signs of life inside as smoke plumes out the chimneys. I wave to the girls as I park in front of Luke’s and look up to see he left the front step light on, clearly waiting for me to come home. It’s crazy how much that tiny act warms me up inside.
“You’re home late,” Luke says as I walk in the front door and shuck my coat. The fire is crackling, and his computer is open on the coffee table like he’s been working but as I walk around the sofa, I find him cuddling his cock.
Rufus that is.
“Hey, babe.” Luke hits me with a soft smile that makes me feel drunk on something nonalcoholic. He frowns curiously as I bend to pick up his cock... rooster. Without a word, I take Rufus to the front door and set him outside, not feeling the least bit bad. It’s my turn to cuddle the cock daddy.
“What’s going on?” Luke asks as I return, kicking my shoes off and crawling onto his lap to straddle him. “You good?”
