Page 84 of All's Fair in Love and Blood - A Romantic Comedy Novel

“You did?” I didn’t remember that. But oh, how I wanted to.

He picked up the book that had fallen onto my lap and absentmindedly flipped through it. “You wanted to read the big books, as you used to call them. Always wanting to learn.”

Why couldn’t I remember that? Remember him?

“How old was I?”

“Four or five.” He set the book on the side table.

That made sense. It was probably right after he and Naomi divorced. No wonder I couldn’t remember. I didn’t want to. I guessed I was always good at running away from my feelings, from life.

“So, how was your dinner?”

“You’re not going to let that go, are you?” he said with a smile in his voice.

I let my hair out of its messy bun and ran my fingers through my curls. “No.” Not this time.

Auggie sat in the matching chintz chair on the other side of the small table. He ran a hand through his hair, just like me. It dawned on me how similar we were, right down to running away. He had run away from my mother’s death and Naomi’s love. He’d even run away from me. I was no better. I had a string of men who’d all loved me that I could never fully love back. I hadn’t even given myself fully to Ethan. I think he’d known. His excuse for leaving me had been his career and moving; but in my heart, I knew it was because I hadn’t fought for him. His eyes had pleaded for me to tell him he was making a mistake. I hadn’t been able to. And even now, when I was faced with the kind of love that Naomi had offered my father, I was shunning it at every turn. Sure, Kane bore some of the blame, but even if I was willing to forgive him, I would probably run. No one can hurt you while you’re running.

I sat stunned by these revelations. Auggie and I belonged to the same runners’ club. I always swore I would never be like my father, yet I’d turned out to be exactly like him.

Auggie shook me out of my thoughts by saying, “It was like old times tonight. Naomi was on a mission.” He gave me a pointed look. “I believe on your orders this time.”

I wanted to shake him and yell at him. Blame him for teaching me how to run. But I couldn’t. He may have given me the running shoes, but I’m the one who’d put them on and laced them up tight. I even bought new ones when the old pair wore out. Tonight, though, I decided to retire at least one pair and confront my father. Force him to tell me the truth. “I know something is wrong. You aren’t acting like you.”

“And how is that?”

“Well,”—I bit my lip—“you’re normally standoffish and cold.” I didn’t sugarcoat it. “And you would never step down as CEO. Not like this.”

His brow furrowed while he scrubbed a hand over his salt-and-pepper five-o’clock shadow. “This is what you think of your father.” Regret laced his words.

“I wish I didn’t,” I whispered, on the verge of tears.

“Your assessment is well deserved.”

“Why? What did I do?” I begged to know.

He whipped his head my way. “What do you mean, what did you do? You think this is your fault?”

I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around my bare legs. Tears dripped down them as they fell off my cheeks. “I was a disappointment.”

“No,” he said angrily.

“How could I believe otherwise? You never once said you were proud of me. I can’t even remember you ever saying you loved me.” I sobbed, even though I knew Auggie hated the tears.

Auggie flew out of his chair and dropped to his knees in front of me. His expression was bewildered. He obviously didn’t know what he should do. He raised his hand as if he wanted to touch me but wasn’t sure how or if he should. He eventually patted my arm. “Scarlett,” his voice cracked, “I love you.” He stumbled on those words, as if he hadn’t said them to anyone in years. He noticeably inhaled and exhaled before saying with more conviction, “I love you.”

I lifted my head. “You do?”

Without hesitation, he stroked my hair. “From the moment I held your tiny body in the delivery room. I’m sorry, I’ve done a poor job over the years of showing you.”

It was the sweetest thing he had ever said to me. I felt a tiny piece of my heart mend.

“Scarlett, I’m proud of you. It’s why I’m stepping down. I want time to see my daughter at the helm of Armstrong Labs.”

I had wanted to hear the P word for as long as I could remember, but I couldn’t enjoy it. Instead, I was struck with fear. “Time? Are you running out of time?”

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