Page 54 of Finding Redemption

Bella’s face scrunched up.“But if he was your dad first… Does that mean he’s, like, my grandpa?My friend Adelaide has grandparents, and they are her mom’s mommy and daddy.”

Luck gave a choked sound that was part laugh, part sob.“Christ, I always dreaded the day when we would have to tell her that she’s adopted, but reminding Paxton he’s a grandfather is kind of hilarious.”

ChapterThirty-Two

Brooke

Bella had seemedokay after breakfast, but as the day had gone on, I couldn’t help noticing how quiet she’d become.When Luck had dragged himself out of bed, Sariah had reluctantly told him about what happened with Jannel.

He’d gotten a look on his face that scared me before he schooled his expression and then started questioning all three of us.What had Jannel said?How had she acted?Did she look high?How long had she been having those ice-cream meetups after school with Bella?

I’d had barely any details to contribute.Mostly, it was Bella who had to answer, and the more questions he threw at her, the more I could see her drawing in on herself.Not liking how talking about her evil grandmother was making Bella feel, I tried to stop Luck, but he was adamant about needing to know so he and Paxton could protect her.

Reluctantly, I let him continue, but I kept Bella on my lap during the rest of the questioning, rubbing her back while she unloaded what we thought were all her burdens.But as soon as she had told him everything she had admitted to Sariah and me earlier, I’d put an end to the interrogation.

Now, after seeing firsthand the turmoil that must have been swirling around inside her mind for who knew how long, I didn’t know what to do to help her.Bella’s sobs were so full of pain, I couldn’t hold back my own tears as I watched her with Paxton.

Helplessly, I stood there and listened to him and Sariah try to reassure Bella, while still attempting to keep up with all the secrets that were suddenly being spilled.In the harsh light of day, knowing the truth instead of taking the assumptions I’d made as reality, everything made so much sense, I felt dizzy.

And with it came overpowering relief.Paxton really did love Sariah—but not in the way I’d originally thought.She was his biological daughter.

His and Jannel’s.

Imagining him with Jannel didn’t bother me.Not even a little.Whatever their history was, I knew he didn’t love her.Sariah was twenty-five.If he’d loved Jannel, she would have been his wife by now.Or at least living with him.Instead, all I’d seen was hate in his eyes at the mention of her.Hate and panic.

From the sick sensation I’d felt when Sariah spoke of the man she couldn’t even bring herself to call Bella’s father—only labeling him the other biological half of Bella—and the way Luck’s face had turned six kinds of scary when she spoke about him, I was getting a clearer picture of why Paxton would loathe Jannel.

Was that why Sariah had wanted to kill herself in the past?Because of Jannel?Or Bella’s father?I wanted to hug my friend so hard, hide her past self away from whatever had given her such thoughts.Protect her from the monsters that haunted the dark parts of her mind.

Paxton’s shuddery breath drew my eyes from Sariah to him.I wanted to throw my arms around him, hold him and his little girl until all their pain and worry faded into nothing.His unmasked suffering echoed within me.

Tears still leaked down his face, but he shot Luck a glare that promised swift retribution.“We are the same age, dumbass.That means you’re old enough to be her grandfather too.”

Luck shrank back, his jaw hardening.“Fuck you.”

Bella grabbed Paxton’s face, squishing his cheeks.“It’s okay, Daddy.I don’t want a grandpa.What I really want is a mom.”She glanced over at me, her dimple popping even as the tears dried on her face.

Paxton followed her gaze, but I quickly looked away without meeting his mossy orbs.Heat climbing my neck, I shifted uncomfortably.I loved Bella.And Sariah.And as much as I’d tried to fight it, I knew I loved Paxton too.

But it was way too soon to be thinking in the direction Bella’s sweet thoughts were going.

Sariah gave me a sympathetic smile, but there was a glint in her eyes that gave me pause.I opened my mouth to tell her not to go there.Only the night before, I thought the man I’d stupidly fallen in love with was hopelessly in love with my best friend.Until only minutes before Bella’s outburst, I’d still thought that was true.

I’d thought if my stepmother could see how much I cared for Paxton, she would do everything in her power to destroy my newfound happiness.But in reality, I was the one who had nearly done that.Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, I’d let insecurities break my own heart.

On top of that, Paxton and I hadn’t even been on a date.Marriage was for sure not going to be on the table anytime soon.Or ever.

Needing to distract both Bella and Sariah, I looked to Luck for help, my eyes silently pleading for him to do something.

“Hey now,” my uncle groused at Paxton, causing my heart to lift in relief.“Whatareyour intentions with my niece?”

Why did I think for even a second that he would help me?Had I not learned my lesson with him already?Stupid.Stupid.Stupid.

While I mentally chastised myself, Paxton slowly got to his feet.“You want to go there?Now?”His voice boomed off the kitchen tiles, causing my dull headache to spike a little harder.“You want to tell me how long this thing has been going on between you and Riah?”

Sensing danger, I beckoned Bella over to me on the other side of the island to get her out of the line of fire should either man throw a punch.Skipping over to me, she gave me a tight hug, still beaming.She appeared lighter now that the weight of all the secrets and worries she’d been holding on her small shoulders had been released.Tucking her hair behind her ear, I kissed her cheek before looking over at the others again.

Curving an arm around Sariah’s waist, Luck pulled her into his side.She put her hand on his chest, staring up at him with so much adoration, it seemed to fill the entire kitchen.Basking in the glow of her love for him, he dropped his forehead to hers for several heartbeats before he met Paxton’s gaze boldly.

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