Page 99 of Give You Up

I step out of his hold. Hear sirens coming closer. I sit on the porch and hug myself. Dad sits next to me with his arm across my shoulders. He pulls me into him, and nodding at a pacing Taron with his hands jammed inside the pockets of his jeans and his shoulders pulled to his core, Dad says near my ear, “Don’t give up on him, Syn. He didn’t give up on keeping you safe, baby. He kept me apprised of his suspicions. Ran by me and Beau the list of guys he believed could be after you. That’s why he nearly beat your old boss. Taron thought the guy was out to hurt you based off what Boone did last year.”

I shake my head, my body wracked with adrenaline from my brush with death as well as my proximity to Taron, the guy I love. The guy I love. I love Taron. But he cheated on his girlfriend.

“What are you talking about?”

I’m yanked to my feet. Dad steps between me and Taron.

“Boy, that is not the way to treat the woman you love.”

“Wait, what?” I bunch the front of Taron’s shirt in my hand. “You love me? How could you? You left a pregnant woman behind in Cali. I saw her in your bed. She’s your ex-PA.”

“Sydney?” His brows tug together. “Syn, she’s my half-sister. It’s fucked up, but her stepbrother knocked her up. He’s had a thing for her since her mom married his dad and moved them in together. I hated the dude. Didn’t realize his hate for her is how he shows his love for her. I got my ass handed to me many times by Blaze until I pounded his ass once and for all and got his word not to go anywhere near her again. He broke his promise, and I broke his arms and his legs.”

I smack his arm, hard. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have told me about your parents and my parents?” He crosses his arms.

“No. It’s messed up.”

“Exactly.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “Shit, our lives are a fucking mess.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Dad says.

I kick at the ground. “You can’t blame me for jumping to conclusions when I saw her in your bed.”

“Just like you can’t blame me for thinking your boss was out to hurt you?”

I look up. Blink past the tears in my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“I am too, Pixie Dust. I love you so much, baby.”

“I love you, too.”

He opens his arms. I jump into them, laughing at how similar our lives are. It’s messed up. We have a messed-up, crazy family with interweaving connections. After kissing Taron breathless, I ask Dad the question that will make us an even more messed-up family.

“Dad, are you planning on asking Taron’s mom to marry you?”

“Hell yeah.”

“Thank goodness, because I freaking love her homemade apple pies.”

“She does make the best, doesn’t she? Come here, future stepson and son-in-law. Come give your stepdaddy a man-hug.”

“Whatever, old man.” Taron smiles but pulls Dad in for a hug.

“Um, he won’t just be your stepson, Dad. Taron is the father of your first grandbaby.”

“What?”

“Come again, Pixie Dust?”

Two men stare at me, their mouths agape. I smooth my hand over my belly.

“I’m pregnant.”

Taron grabs me around my waist. Spins me around. He’s laughing. My heart soars.

“We’re having a fucking baby. I’m gonna be a father. Did you hear that, Gary? I’m gonna be a dad.”

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