Page 17 of Hot Blooded

“I love him, Daddy. I have for a long time. I love him so much that it hurts. I can’t leave him.”

“And I won’t leave her, Hank. She’s my fucking world.”

He whirls and points a finger at me. “Don’t give me that shit! No woman means a damn thing to you! You just use them and then throw them away.” His eyes switch to Reva. “Do you know how many women he’s lured in with that smile and all his promises? I can’t count them. But I know that he has and now he’s crossed a fucking line.”

He whips his head back to me. “You fucked with the one woman that I thought would be safe from you. My own daughter and I’m never gonna forgive you. If you’ve got any sense, Reva, you’ll get dressed and meet me downstairs and I’ll take you home. Because he will rip your heart out and stomp on it and not even think twice about it. That’s just his way.”

He stalks off, his back rigid, body practically vibrating with rage. Hank’s a big guy and his rage is something to see.

“Daddy, we’re married. We didn’t mean it to happen but I don’t regret it. I want to be his wife.”

Hank stops at the door, his hand on the doorknob, gripping it so tight that I’m shocked he doesn’t rip it right off the wall.

His head turns back to me and his lips are tight, his body shaking, eyes so cold that I shiver. “You were my friend. How the fuck could you do this to me? To her? I never want to see you again!”

He rips the door open and slams it shut behind him. The wall shakes and I close my eyes, sucking in a sharp breath.

What a clusterfuck!

“Tom,” Reva whimpers.

My eyes open and I quickly run to her, catching her as she falls against my chest, her sobs wracking her shaking body, soaking into my bare chest and all the way down to her soul.

“Oh, baby girl. I’m so sorry. He’ll get over it. He was just surprised. It’s alright, baby. Shhh.” I hold her tight and close my eyes, her pain a living thing, curling up on my chest and sucking all the joy out of the room, all the joy of finally having the woman that I love. Every breath is heavy and hurts so damn much that I almost can’t finish a breath.

I promised her that it would be alright and I’m not sure that anything is ever going to be right again. No matter how much I want it to be. I’d move heaven and earth for her but I’m not sure how the hell to fix this one and it’s eating me alive.

I lay my chin on her head and tuck her closer, my eyes closed tight and my chest aching.

This is heaven and hell all rolled up in one. I’ve got the love of my life and she loves me back but we both might lose out because of that love.

I always guessed it but now I know. Life’s not fucking fair.

REVA

After we finally get ahold of the man from the wedding chapel and find out we’re definitely married, we get a flight home and I move in with Tom.

His house is amazing and any other time I would love to decorate, explore and enjoy my time with the man I’ve loved for so long.

But my dad still isn’t speaking to Tom or I. I passed him in town and he nodded but kept on walking.

I close my eyes and sigh, leaning back on the porch swing, my coffee warm in my hand. He’s a stubborn man, that’s for sure. But sooner or later things will come to a head and I hope that it all works out because I miss my father.

I’ve also heard some rumors about him and the baker in town and I want to know whether they’re true or not. But I’m not going to gossip about him with the town cats.

Tom comes outside and sits down beside me on the swing, smiling as I lean into him and sigh.

“How are you today, honey?”

I look up into his eyes and groan. “I don’t know. I miss Dad. I really do. I just wish he wasn’t being so stubborn about this. And as long as this is going on, I can’t talk with him about getting a job at the fire station which means I’m in limbo with what I want to do with my life too.”

He nods. “I get it, baby. But I don’t want you to rush into anything. My house is paid for and I don’t need your money to make it. I just want you to take your time and be happy with your decisions.”

I curl up on his chest, feeling so cozy that I purr under my breath. This man makes me feel so happy and safe. He makes every day a good day. If this thing with my dad gets worked out, then my life will be perfect. Especially if I can get him to agree to let me apply for a job at the firehouse.

“I just want to be able to talk to him.” Tears sting my eyes. “I told you that I saw him the other day in town and that he wouldn’t even talk to me. He did nod and smile but he kept on walking.”

“You’ve got more than me then. He still won’t even acknowledge me.”