Page 68 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

“Maybe it wouldn’t be so strange if you’d been around for all the years in between.” Her smile is wide as she slings her words across the table, and I flinch when they hit.

“Alina. Mind your manners. We got… we got company.” Pops’s voice is low, his words molasses as they slur off his tongue.

“I’m just speakin’ truth, Daddy,” Lee huffs.

Irritation darts through my veins. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Alina.”

“Oh no? Why don’t you enlighten me then, big brother?”

“I would have, if you had ever taken the time to ask,” I seethe, cringing at the drawl that sneaks in my words.

I’m so sick of everyone thinking I’m the one who needs to shoulder the blame. Like I haven’t tried every month for years to build a bridge across the distance. Even the strongest bridges collapse with no support.

I’m not the only villain in this story.

Pops points his finger toward Lee. “Your mama. She would be… disappointed in you, girl.”

My heart stalls in my chest, Pops’s words freezing the air. It’s a low blow, and completely uncalled for. Especially since Ma wouldn’t be disappointed in Lee. She’d be standing right next to her, begging me to come back home, demanding answers for why I didn’t.

My anger drains away when I see tears lining Lee’s lower lids, darkness swirling in her blue eyes. I recognize the hurt as it reaches out to touch my own.

We both have wounds from the same war, we just hide them in different ways.

Chase jumps from the table, hissing something low enough where I can’t hear. I’m not listening anyway. My focus is busy, bouncing between Pops and my sister.

Lee looks down at the table, inhaling deep, while Chase moves in behind her, squeezing her shoulders. He’s glaring at Pops like he’s the dirt beneath his shoe. Something thick and putrid trickles through my vei

ns as I watch how confident he is facing my father, shutting down his cutting words, and shielding my sister from the impact. I wonder what that’s like—not feeling two feet tall under Pops’s gaze.

Pops jerks to a stand and teeters, gripping the edge of the table to regain his balance. It happens fast, and I’m halfway out of my chair before my brain knows I’ve moved. My heart pounds against my chest, the visual of his inebriation filtering through my brain, tugging on thoughts I like to keep hidden.

How much did he have to drink?

“Pops, you okay?”

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

I blow out a breath, my hands resting on my hips. She’s so damn dramatic. “Sis—”

“Don’t you ‘sis,’ me, Eli.”

“I’m fine, dammit!” Pops’s voice cuts through like a knife. “And I’m a goddamn adult. I’m the parent, and this—this is my house.” He points to Chase and Lee. “You two, go on… get. I don’t want you here.”

“Pops,” I breathe, my eyes wide, and my chest tight.

This situation is spinning out of control, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I wouldn’t even know where to start.

“Fine. I don’t need this anyway.” Lee’s eyes are glossy, but her shoulders straighten and her jaw locks in place as she stands from her seat, facing me. “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.”

She grabs Chase’s hand and they march out of the door.

They don’t look back.

He kicked them out.

Regardless of the fact that Chase just spent all night cooking our meal. No matter that Lee’s his daughter, and honestly has more right to be here than me.

Guilt prickles against my spine, and I wonder if coming home sooner would have made a difference. If I could have gotten over my shit and taken a second to just listen, maybe I’d be standing in something that’s only broken, instead of what feels a lot like ruins.

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