My father.
Gabe not only gave us the conference room to have some privacy, but stayed to support Kinsley and me as a friend without saying a word. I can’t shake the irony of the situation, though. Here I thought my future was finally falling into place, and I wind up slammed in a different direction, like a slapshot bouncing off the goal frame.
Add to that the clock on the wall telling me I’m extremely late to the rehearsal dinner, but that’s probably for the best as I’m in no condition to see Sophie, let alone interact with a bunch of people I hardly know.
After sending a text, Kinsley sets her phone on the table and divides her gaze between me and our father as if she’s watching a tennis match. She frowns at me. “Luke, say something.”
I snap my eyes to hers, wishing she didn’t look so much like our mother at the moment because I remember that expression—the one Mom would don when she was disappointed in me.
“Like what?” I slide angry eyes across the table to…him. There’s a lot I want to say right now, but I’m afraid once I start, I won’t be able to stop.
He holds his hand out. “I’m so sorry, son.”
I clench my jaw in an attempt to control my anger but to no avail. “No. You can’t walk back into my life now and call me your son.”
He withdraws his hand as if I slapped him. And in a way, I guess I did. I don’t want to be angry, but that’s all I can feel at the moment.
Kinsley rests her hand on my wrist. “Just hear him out, Luke.”
“Why? So he can make excuses for why he left? For what hedid to Mom? To us?” I shoot out of my seat, sending it crashing against the wall. “I have to be someplace.”
Gabe launches toward the door, blocking me. “Don’t you think this is more important?”
If my options are being here with this mess or being with Soph, the choice is obvious. I grit my teeth. “I can’t do this right now.”
Gabe nods, then moves away.
I glance back at Kinsley. The pull of her eyes almost convinces me to stay, but the volcano of emotions brewing within me is dangerously close to exploding. There’s no way I can expose Sophie to this. I need to be alone.
“I’m sorry, Kins. I…just give me some time to think, okay?” Not the whole truth, but also not a complete lie.
She nods, but I don’t miss the unshed tears in her eyes.
I storm out of the oppressive atmosphere of the arena into a flood of cool air and sunlight. The sensation is so strong it stops me in my tracks. I close my eyes and lift my face to the sun, as if begging for some kind of relief I doubt I’ll find.
“Luke?” My father’s voice spins me around.
I glare at him, hoping he’ll get the message, and go back inside because he’s the last person I want to talk to right now.
His hand shakes as he holds out a folded piece of paper that appears to have spent a lot of time in his pocket. “I wrote this while in prison. An amends letter. I—” His voice cracks, so he clears his throat. “I never expected to give it to you, but when I saw your sister…”
I glare at the crumpled, torn paper that’s more symbolic of the mess he left our lives in than the peace he’s obviously seeking.
“Please.” His voice grates in a horse whisper.
I swallow down the retort I’d like more than anything to sling at him and grab the letter from his hand. Then I turn around and stride away toward my SUV, making my escape.
Once I leave the parking lot, I consider findingSophie but decide against it. The floodgates have opened, and the last thing I want is for her to see me like this.
Here I am again, failing the people I love. My sister…Sophie…
And I do love her. But now I’m not sure it’s enough.
CHAPTER 27
SOPHIE
Atear falls on my phone screen as I stare at it.
