Page 119 of Sawyer

He holds my gaze for a beat too long. “This conversation is not over. Really, what kind of mother are you, bringing random men to the house? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were a sl?—”

“Don’t.” Anger grips my windpipe. At the same time, I’m hit by the ferocious need to cry. “Don’t you dare say that word to me. Or to anyone.”

Silence, heavy and charged, hangs between us as he stares me down.

“Fine,” he clips at last. “But you best believe if I hear a whisper of this man hurtin’ our little girl, we’re gonna have a problem.”

I’m so angry and embarrassed andsadthat I’m shaking. I still manage to bite out, “You’re the problem. You always have been. You’re the one who hurt me by not trusting me. By forcing me to bury who I really am. And you’re the one who hurt our little girl by not showing up the way we needed you to.” A tear leaks out of my eye. I quickly wipe it away. “Get out. Now.”

“Whatever.” Dan rolls his eyes, throwing up his hands. “You’re crazy.”

I laugh. It’s more of a cackle, really, the kind that scorches the back of my throat.

“What?” Dan asks.

I shake my head. “It’s just funny. Men love to call women ‘crazy,’ but y’all are the crazy ones thinking we’d ever settle for your bullshit.”

“Fuck you,” he spits.

“Get. Out.” I nod at the door. “And if I so much as hear a whisper about you putting bad thoughts or ideas into our little girl’s head, you best believewe’regonna have a problem.”

I walk past him in an attempt to end the conversation, careful to make sure our shoulders don’t brush. Keeping my voice light, I tell Junie it’s time to go. I definitely don’t miss doing this kind of emotional labor, where I paste a smile on my face to maintain the peace in our house.

Idefinitelydon’t miss living with Dan and his moods.

At least he’s kind to our daughter as they head out the door, telling her how excited he is to spend the day together.

For a split second, I wonder if I should let him take her at all. I’m not worried for her safety or anything. But it’s clear Dan isveryangry, and I hope he’s not short-tempered with her. I also hope he doesn’t put any bad thoughts in our daughter’s head.

He is her father, though. And this is his weekend to have her. I can just imagine the shit fit he’d have had if I’d refused to let him take June. Not because he’d necessarily miss her, but because it’d have wounded his pride.

So I watch them pull out of the driveway and head down the paved road that leads to the ranch’s entrance.

Then I curl up on the couch and let out the sob I’ve been holding.

After that, I call my sister. I decide on my older sister Dottie, since she’s supposedly the wiser one.

I could really use some wisdom right now.

CHAPTER28

Ava

LIFELINE

“Aw, sweetie, what’s wrong?”Dottie asks after picking up on the first ring.

I scoff. “How’d you know something was wrong?”

“You’re supposed to be getting ready to see your cowboy. Tell me what happened.”

I’ve kept my sisters up on the developments between Sawyer and me. It’s been far too juicy of a story not to share. My sisters and I text every day and chat on the phone multiple times a week, so it’d have been weird if I hadn’t told them.

Bee takes all the credit for my budding relationship with Sawyer, seeing as she’s the one who, in her words, “literallypushed y’all into each other’s arms.”

Dottie loves hearing about all the sweet things Sawyer does for Junie and me.

After witnessing the hell I went through with Dan, I know they’re glad to see me putting myself out there again. To see me happy, happy enough to give a relationship a try.

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