Page 88 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

Daddy’s eyes flare and he slams his coffee cup on the table. “You think you can speak to me that way just ‘cause I been lettin’ you…you’ve been... playin’ house here with my girl?”

Chase doesn’t back down. “I think I’ve made it clear that you disrespecting your daughter won’t ever be something I’ll tolerate. Regardless of where we are.”

Daddy raises out of his chair, pointing at Chase. He wobbles, unsteady on his feet and has to catch himself on the edge of the table.

“Pops, you okay?” Eli is half-standing, his eyes volleying between the three of us. Sarah sits next to him, her mouth gaping open. Welcome to the family.

“Of course he’s not fine. He’s never fine,” I hiss. “You would know that if you had spent more than ten minutes here in the past eight years.”

“Sis—”

“Don’t you ‘sis,’ me, Eli.”

“I’m fine, damnit!” Daddy’s voice roars, cutting off the argument and blanketing the room. “And I’m a goddamn adult. I’m the parent, and this—this is my house.” He points to Chase and me. “You two, go on… get. I don’t want you here.”

“Pops,” Eli whooshes out.

Tears fill my eyes, but I straighten my shoulders and raise my chin. “Fine. I don’t need this anyway.” I look at Eli. “Have fun catchin’ up on your missed years with Daddy. I’m sure he and this town will be thrilled to have you back. Sarah, it was nice to meet you. I’m so sorry you had to see this.” I stand up and face Chase. “Come on, let’s go for a drive.”

“Anywhere you want to go, baby.” He slides his hand down my arm, tangling our fingers, leading me out the door. Away from my dysfunctional family.

I’ll deal with them tomorrow.

Tonight, I think I’d like to lay under the stars and give my heart back to the man it’s always belonged to.

37

Chase

Between Sunday night’s almost kiss and Wednesday morning, I’ve had a lot of time to think. About Goldi. About me. Our past. Our future. How fucking perfect she is and how I’d spend the rest of my life loving the hell out of her if only she’d let me.

I used to think I didn’t deserve her. That I couldn’t be who she needed me to be. Hell, I still don’t think I was wrong—that boy was in no shape to handle Goldi. But I’m a man now. I’ve weathered the storms and forged through the rubble of living a life without her. I don’t want to know that type of emptiness anymore.

She may be with Jax, but she was mine first.

I’m not surprised when she doesn’t show up for work, even though I know she isn’t sick. I figured she’d be scared off by what almost happened between us. What keeps almost happening between us. She better buckle up, because if she thought I was hard to handle before I decided to fight for her, she has no clue how difficult I’ll be now.

She lets me touch her in the office. Lets me call her Goldi. Baby. The sudden change in her demeanor makes me dizzy, but it’s not unwelcome. I’m fucking giddy over it.

I show up to her dad’s house eager for our “talk.” When I see Eli and his girl sitting at the kitchen table, laughing with Mr. Carson and sharing beers over their memories, my stomach sinks with worry. I don’t think Goldi knows what she’s about to walk into. But fuck, I’m glad I’m here, so she doesn’t have to face it alone.

All through dinner, I keep my eye on her. Assessing her face, watching her body language. I know the bow is about to break before it happens. I should have guessed it would be her father that adds the pressure to make it snap.

I respect Mr. Carson, and I want to help him. But I won’t allow his disease to be an excuse for treating Goldi like a punching bag. It’s beyond obvious he hasn’t healed from his wife’s death and Goldi’s taken the brunt of the fallout. She lost her mom, her dad, her brother, and me all in one go. My heart weeps for what she’s had to endure.

I’m thankful when she decides to get us out of the situation, instead of feeding into the toxic environment of her family dynamic. And even though she asked for a drive, I know where she really wants to go—what she really needs.

I’m not sure she’s in the right headspace to talk about us, but I’m hoping with a little bit of relaxation, we might be able to get her there. Fuck her family for making her deal with shit like this. For the thousandth time, I wonder why Jax and Becca aren’t around to help her carry the weight. I’m pretty confident she hasn’t told them. I don’t blame her, shame is a hell of an emotion. I felt it every day with my mom.

We get to the lake and I pull into our usual spot right on the bank. I look at Goldi. Her face is drawn and she’s lost in her thoughts. I reach out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Come back to me, baby.

She turns, smiling. “Thank you for bringin’ me here. How’d you know this is exactly what I needed?”

“How many times do I have to tell you I know you before you start to believe me?”

She takes a deep breath, hopping out of the truck and running around the back. She jumps in the bed and starts laying out the afghan. My heart skips as I watch her. She’s so comfortable in my truck, by my side, with my things. With me.

I’m so busy staring, I don’t make a move to leave my seat. She pushes her hair out of her face and glances at me, her hands on her hips.

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