Page 30 of You Are My Every Reason

"It was me who asked to go to the fight," I admit. "I missed you." I watch some of the anger melt away. “I didn’t have to go. I—” I lean forward, kissing him. Rich suddenly rolls, taking me with him so that I’m pinned beneath him.

“That’s a dirty trick you played.”

“But it worked.” I smile at him. “I can’t hide from my father forever.” I don’t want to spend my life in the shadows. I’ve missed enough in life because of him, and I won’t miss another second.

"As much as I don't want to talk about that asshole, I want to know what he put you through. If anyone can relate to an abusive father, it's me.”

I touch the small scar on the side of his head by his temple. “My father made sure not to leave any lasting marks on me. Well, physically anyway. It’s not because he had compassion or anything. He just didn’t want me to be damaged goods. He never outright said that was what he was doing, but when talk of me getting married off one day started to come up, I pieced that together.”

“I want to kill him.” The intensity in Rich’s eyes lets me know his statement isn’t a half joke or offhand comment. He means it.

“The physical abuse got less.”

“I’m guessing because you got in line and made sure not to give him any reason.”

“True,” I agree. There were a couple of times I was close when he was pissed, and I got the random backhand. “Being locked in my room was worse.”

“You know I’m not trying to keep you locked away, right? We can go anywhere.”

“I know that. It was more the isolation that killed my spirit. I was lonely.” I love being tucked away here with Rich. This home is filled with so much life and happiness.

“Promise, dollface. Lonely will be the last thing you’ll ever be with me. I bet I'll start to annoy you.”

“Never.” I was so worried I was going to start to wear Rich down with how clingy I can be when it comes to him.

“My father used to beat the shit out of me.” His words feel like a knife in my heart. I hate that he had to experience that. I know firsthand the emotions that come along with having an abusive parent.

"I'm sorry." I can't picture anyone beating Rich.

"It was better for me to take it than my sister. I made sure his wrath was always aimed at me."

"You're a good man, Rich." Willa is lucky to have him. There were so many nights I wished I had someone to stick up for me.

"Am I? I wanted to kill him. Almost got to, but his death was taken from me."

"But he's gone." I trace my finger down his jaw. "What would killing him have done for you?"

"It was my right."

"Then, is it mine to kill my father?" I watch his face closely. I can’t stand my father, but I can’t picture killing him either.

"You don't have to."

"Because you will handle that?"

"I'll handle him." He might not have said kill, but the silent word is there. "You don't need that in your mind. We're keeping your dreams sweet and dirty."

“I don’t want you to do anything that will put you in danger. Or that will risk our future together. He’s not worth it. I refuse to allow him to take anything else from me.” While I want my dad to suffer and I couldn’t care less if he died, I won’t give him the satisfaction of ruining the rest of my life.

“Me?” He smirks, the corners of his eyes softening.

“Yes, you.” I give his chest a playful shove. “I can’t lose you, Rich. Worse, if I lost you because of him, then he’d win.”

“You’ll never lose me.”

“Promise.”

“Promise, vow, pop a vein. Name it, and I’ll do it.”

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