Page 85 of Unexpected Heroine

And then she smiles at me, bright and warm as the sun.

At me.

When she looks at me this way—with unbridled affection and acceptance—my father’s voice is barely a scant whisper in the dark. I almost can’t hear it.

Almost.

No one will ever love you, boy.

Almost doesn’t count, though.

Chapter 16

Smash or Pass

LETTIE

My knee bounces under the table, causing the water in my glass to slosh around. I check the time on my shiny new cell phone. In less than an hour, Stella will be here.

As excited as I am to see her, I’m equally as nervous about all the explaining I’ll have to do. About subjects I’d rather not think of, let alone drone on about.

Although I doubt she’ll be ticked at me, she’ll certainly be disappointed. As she should be. I hate how I’ve let her down and dismantled her shaky confidence in me.

Welp. There’s nothing I can do about it this late in the game. The shitty feelings will be worth it to have her by my side.

A warm, strong hand reaches across the table and halts my fidgeting. “Easy, sugar bear. Why are you nervous? I thought you were happy she was coming.”

“Sorry, babe. I am happy. I’m tryin’ to relax, but I’m just so keyed up. What did you tell her?”

“About what happened?”

Nodding, I nibble my pinky nail.

“I told her you were hurt and needed her down here.”

“And she didn’t demand every detail?”

He rolls his eyes playfully. “Of course she did. I simply explained I wasn’t sure how much you would want me to divulge, especially over the phone.”

My knee starts bobbing again like it’s doing the jump, jive, and wail. “That’s a good way to deal with Stella. Appealing to her sense of loyalty.”

He slopes his head to the side and lowers his forehead, looking at me from under his furrowed brow. “Did you want me to tell her more so you don’t have to?”

Pausing, I consider my response carefully.

Shocking, I know. Get over it.

“It would be nice if she already knew everything so she could be with me without all the drama of a drawn out rehashing.” I roll my eyes at my childish wishing. “Last I checked, the ability to download terrible news into someone’s brain doesn’t exist. Sadly. I don’t suppose that’s one of those hacking skills of yours, huh?” My attempt to hold off my nervous laugh ends up as a snort.

He doesn’t laugh with me.

Lips closed, he rolls his tongue around the inside of his mouth. “How about this? I’ll meet her outside to give her a brief explanation before she comes in?”

When I don’t pounce at the chance, he offers another option. “Alternatively, we can wait together for her to come inside. Once she begins asking questions about your bruises, I can pull her aside to explain. Somewhere out of your earshot. Does that sound better?”

During his suggestion buffet, my thumbnail started looking tastier than the rest of my mid-day snack.

I shake my head and hide my face behind my hands. “I ain’t gonna make you do that for me.”