Page 51 of Girl Going Nowhere

He gently pinches my chin, drawing my attention up to meet his eyes. “This wasn’t on you. Do you hear me? He was the married one. You didn’t know that. If you did, would you have slept with him?”

That version of me might have because I was stupid enough to think nothing bad could happen. It isn’t like I’ve intentionally hooked up with unavailable men before. But I’ve also never stopped myself from doing it again once I found out. Maia’s dad is the exception to that because of who he is.

Maybe this is karma catching up with me.

“Once upon a time, I probably would have.”

Brodie doesn’t react to that in any judgmental way, which makes me like him better. “Sounds like you wouldn’t do that anymore. We all have to learn sometime.”

All I do is lift my shoulders.

The man in front of me sits down, nudging my leg with his. He tosses the magazines onto the floor, disregarding them. “I want you to remember everything you’ve been through that you’ve managed on your own. You did that and still have a kick-ass kid, right?”

I don’t answer.

“You barely use what’s left of the money he gave you. It’s never been about that. Right?”

My lips start to quiver. “But if he t-thinks that I said something to somebody, he could accuse me of going after more. Then I’ll be in trouble.”

“Hey. None of that.” He presses the pad of his thumb against my lip to quiet me. “You’ve got us on your side. No matter what happens. And since you’re innocent in all this, it’ll be okay. Nobody can come after you.”

That’s where he’s wrong. People like Dover will do anything it takes to protect their reputation. If it means throwing me under the bus, then he’ll do it. I’d get tossed to the wolves with nothing and nobody protecting me.

“IneedMaia,” I all but whimper, more terrified of losing her than everything else.

I feel Brodie pull me into him, wrapping me in his arms. “You’ll always have her.”

“He’s got money.”

“So do we.”

Shaking my head, I try to stop my jaw from quivering worse than it already is. “N-not as much as h-him.”

Brodie doesn’t say anything because he can’t.

We’re no match against Jonathon Dover.

The front door opens and closes, doing little to break the tension in the room.

Footsteps near the kitchen.

“What’s going on?” I hear Finn ask from behind Brodie.

It’s the man who’s sitting in front of me that says, “Before you get your panties in a twist about me getting all touchy-feely with Blake again, we’ve got bigger issues.”

Finn doesn’t say anything.

“Baseball season,” Brodie informs Finn, using the code word we came up with after my drunken admission years ago.

A soft curse sounds from behind us.

Brodie strokes my hair and murmurs, “It’s going to be okay, babe. Your boys will always be here for you and Maia.”

Finn jumps in, his shoes coming into view from the corner of my eye. “Damn straight. What do you need from us?”

Not sure how to answer, I let Brodie do it for me. “Still got the number to the hot redheaded lawyer with big tits? What was her name?”

Finn scoffs. “It’s Sabrina, and don’t be crass if you want her help.”

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