Page 62 of L.O.V.E

“What that is, is none of my business. I did some fucked-up shit back in the day.”

“You don’t understand…” God, how could I tell him?

“It’s not my business.” He stepped back. Shook his head. His laugh came cruel. “I thought you were a little too close with your cousin when we met a few months back.”

Sword through my chest.

He couldn’t look me in the eye. His obvious disgust hurt deeper than any physical wound.

When he turned to walk away, I spilled my guts, because fuck Victoria. He’d fall victim eventually. “That was right before graduation. I bought myself a new bikini. Lacey, Finn, Felix, and I were minding our business, found our own little corner of the beach. I got up to use the restroom. My ex was there, waiting for me, said he wanted to talk. Wanted me back.” I sucked in a shaky breath. “You see, he dumped me for Victoria two weeks earlier, just like all the other guys I dated. We talked. I said there was no chance of us getting back together. I headed back to the beach. Next thing I know, someone is laughing behind me. I hear a snip, snip, and my top falls off. I’m trying to cover my chest, more snips, and there goes my bottoms, too. I turn to find Victoria holding a pair of scissors and her phone, she and three of her friends recording the whole incident.

“There was nowhere for me to go, so I ran toward my towel, but I tripped. My cousins ran to the rescue and threw themselves over me to cover my naked ass.”

I shivered, fighting a wave of nausea. “I’d had it with the bullying. With her hatred toward me. Lost my shit. I fought my cousins and tried to get up. I didn’t care if I was naked. I was going to kick her scrawny little ass. I got one punch in, but then she stabbed me in the head with her scissors, screaming at me like I was the crazy one. What you see in that video is me fighting, trying to get free of my cousins, while they’re holding me down. Victoria cut the video, made it look kinky. Shared it with everyone in school.”

My breaths came strained. Violent tremors shook my hands.

Martin rose from the floor, bloodier than before.

Cole stood over me. A statue. Unreadable.

Footfalls came our way. A soft voice blurted, “Martin, I came as soon as—” Victoria skidded to a halt, eyes wide, bouncing from Martin to Cole to me, then back to Cole, who stared right through my aching skull.

“Cole, sweetie, what happened?” She stepped behind her lover, placed a hand on his arm.

Martin growled and disappeared.

“What’s going on?” Though her tone was measured, her glare was feral, and I had no doubt, were there not witnesses, she would stab me again, a fatal blow.

Cole snapped a hand to the back of Victoria’s neck, said, “That’s a good question, Vic. Why don’t you tell me what the fuck is going on,” while he ushered her away from my bed and disappeared.

Dad had the best arms. Solid and strong. Readily available for hugs. Perfect for hauling his drunk daughter home from his best friend’s bar.

Damn alcohol. Stupid pain meds.

“All right, where’s your key?” he grumbled, holding me snug against his side and shuffling through my handbag. “There we are.” He unlocked my door, scooted me forward.

I flopped onto my couch, the room tilting, my stomach churning, my sorrows thoroughly drowned.

Lip quivering, I avoided his glare, staring instead at his brown loafers. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

“You’re lucky Hank was on shift tonight.” He made his way to the kitchen, filled a glass of water, then stood at my side. “What’s going on with you?”

I snagged the glass and guzzled, then wiped my lips with the back of my arm. “I just wanted to stop by Harry’s. Say hello to everyone.”

“Bullshit.” With a huff, Dad shrugged off his jacket. “You never go to a bar alone. Not even to Harry’s.” He dropped next to me, making the cushions bounce. “What the hell were you thinking?”

I blew a raspberry through numb lips. “I don’t have Lacey anymore.”

“Of course, you do.”

“No, Dad. You don’t understand.” I grabbed his arm to make sure he paid attention. “I can’t see Lacey anymore.”

“That’s ridiculous. Of course—”

“She’s married now,” I sobbed, releasing my pain, my heart too soft and bruised to carry all the sadness.

He unsuccessfully fought a smile. “That doesn’t change anything.”

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