Page 127 of The Rest is History
“It’s not like that. They care about me.” His face contorts at my words, and I fight against the thump in my chest. Somehow, I gather the strength to stand my ground.
“You know what, Dad? I actually don’t care about what you think. Nothing I’ve ever done in my life has ever been good enough for you. You’ve always accused me of being like my mother, and you know what? Maybe that’s fine. Maybe I don’t mind being like her. She found the courage to leave you.”
My cheeks are wet. Fuck. Stop fucking crying. “I’m happy here. I’m fucking happy. I don’t feel like a loser here. Like I was born wrong. No one here tells me I’m stupid. No one tells me I’m weak.”
“This is ridiculous.” My father runs his hands through his hair. “All I fucking wanted was a fucking son who grew up to be a fucking man.”
“Well, Dad. I’m not that guy, I guess. And whatever I am, if you can’t accept it, then you need to get out of here and leave me alone.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“I won’t. And you flew all the way over here just to tell me all these things. Do you even know what day it is today?”
He glares at me like I’m the sole cause of every bad thing in his life.
“It’s Abby’s birthday, Dad. My daughter would’ve been a year old today.”
“Yeah, well, you’re a man. You’re supposed to deal with these things.”
I wish I could have. I wish I could’ve dealt with it like a man. Instead, I drop to my haunches, sobs overtaking me. For Abby. For this – my father who just cannot accept me as I am.
Chapter 62
Asher
“What?” I ask, coming down the stairs. Sawyer looks like someone died.
“Don’t freak out,” he warns.
“Shut the fuck up, Sawyer. What happened?”
“Reece’s father just pulled up to the house.”
I push past him, and he pulls me back. “Hey, hey. Hold on a second. Reece said to keep you inside.”
“What the fuck is he doing here?” I move to the living room, my blood boiling.
“I don’t know, but Reece is outside talking to him.”
I glance out of the window. Reece is on his haunches, his head bowed and his father, that big fucking monster, stands, towering above him and all the years roll back. I stalk to the door.
Sawyer stops me, but I push him back. Then, taking his face between my palms, I beg my husband, “Baby, please. Look outside and look at him. Look at Reece. Our Reece. Buddy Carter destroyed our lives. He’s still trying to. This is my fight too. Reece needs me. Let me do this for him, Sawyer. Please. I beg you.”
He releases me. “Okay, Ash. Go and finish it then. And bring Reece inside.”
I let Sawyer go and swing the door open so hard it almost comes off its hinges. Rushing forward, I reach Reece, bending to pull him to his feet. He’s crying. Sobbing. He turns in my arms, and I hold him to me, turning to face Buddy Carter.
“You need to get off my property,” I tell him.
He smirks. “Nice to see you again, Asher Cameron.”
“You need to get off my property.”
“Yeah. Well. I’m not here for you. I’m here for my son. I’m the only family he’s got, and I can’t sit back and let him throw his life away.”
Reece’s body is tucked into mine. I tighten my grip on him. “Reece’s family is me. And Sawyer. He’s happy here, and I won’t let you do this to him again.”
“You’re not in a position to argue with me, Cameron. I believe you don’t even have a job anymore. You have even less than my son at the moment. At least he still has a job.”
