Page 58 of Strong Side

My dad chuckles humorously. “And what are you going to do, Clayton? You cut me out of your life, and I cut you off. Who do you think pays for all of this?” He holds his arms out at his side as if he truly believes he owns the right to my entire life, but he’s wrong again.

So, I look at him dead in the eyes. Eyes that, in some ways, are an exact mirror of my own, but in others hold only the hopes and dreams of the father I wish I had, and answer him with unwavering strength, “Me.”

1. Say You Won’t Let Go - James Arthur

37

Everything

Clayton

“You?” my Dad asks, looking truly confused.

1 “Yeah, Dad. Me. Have you bothered to check any of my accounts lately?” My lips curl up at the sides, knowing what I’m about to say will be the nail in the proverbial coffin. His brows pinch in confusion, so I continue, “There’s nothing in them. Opened my own accounts two years ago. Ones you have no access to. Oh, I also got my real estate license two years ago. Was actually pretty easy. Don’t know why it took you fivetries to finally pass.”

His face begins to turn a deep shade of crimson, and I listen as Lil stifles a laugh. “You know that building I live in? I own it. Used the money in my accounts to buy that one. The five buildings around it? Own those, too. Every dollar you’ve put into my account the last two years, I’ve donated to various charities. Haven’t used a dime. Call it intuition, but I had a feeling this would happen one day. Just didn’t know when I’d have the courage to do it. You always wanted me to be someone. To achieve something. Well, I am, and I did.”

Reluctantly, I let go of Rocky’s hand and move toward my dad until we’re toe to toe. “So, yeah,Dad.I’m done. I don’t need you.”

In a last-ditch effort, he snarls, “You’ll have nothing without me.”

“Wrong again.” Joseph’s deep voice sounds from behind Dad. “He’ll haveeverything.Leave. Now.”

Dad looks at Joe and Cassie, firm and unwavering, then over my shoulder at Rocky and Lil. My family. These people are my family now. “You heard him. Big Joe said leave. So, leave.”

Without another word, and Dad’s jaw agape, I turn on my heel and walk back to the man I love. Rocky pins him with one last glare before honing his eyes on me. A mischievous smile tugs at his lips as he asks, “Big Joe, huh?”

The music restarts in the background, and the rest of the party resumes. No one spared my dad another moment of their time. Which I’m sure only infuriates him further. “What can I say? Your Dad and I are basically best buds now. Jax better watch out.”

Rocky tips his head back in a laugh before grabbing my hand. “Come with me.”

Pulling me away from the fire and the crowd, Rocky leads us toward the lifeguard shack down the beach. It’s painted in shades of bright blue, pink, yellow, and green, and I can see a slight glow coming from the window on the side. “Rocky, what’s going on?”

He doesn’t say anything and just leads me up the short ramp before pausing at the door, fidgeting nervously. “I wanted to do something for you. But then you flew my family here, and now it feels entirely inadequate.”

I smile and plant a quick kiss on his lips, reassuring him, “Nothing you do is inadequate, Baby.”

Slowly, he pushes open the wooden door, and I inhale a sharp breath. Inside the lifeguard shack, a large, white, fluffy duvet rests on the floor with a multitude of colorful pillows. Battery-operated tea lights are scattered throughout the floor, and a couple of strings of lights hang from the ceiling. “Rocky…”

“It’s not a lot, but—”

I cut himoff, “It’severything.”

His smile beams just as a crack of thunder sounds through the sky. There was no rain in the forecast, but Florida weather has a mind of its own. “Well damn,” I say sarcastically. “Looks like it’s about to storm. Probably will be stuck in here a while.”

He pulls me through the threshold and slams the door closed behind me. “Perfeito.”

1. Son of a Sinner - Jelly Roll

38

Permanent Words

Rockwell

I’m waiting for the bomb to drop from Clay’s dad showing up at the beach—uninvited. He usually sends Clay into an immediate panic attack, but as I stare at him, I realize he looks better than ever. Lighter. Happier. Yet, I feel the need to ask, just to make sure, “How are you feeling,Garotão?”

1??Clay breathes a sigh of relief. “I’ve wanted to tell that man that he doesn’t have power over me anymore for longer than you could imagine. So to answer your question… yeah, I feel great.” He smiles softlyas he looks at me, the twinkle of the lights I set up reflect off his brown eyes. I watch as his gaze rakes up and down my body. “But let’s not talk about him. I want all my focus on you, Rockwell Campos.”

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