Page 64 of Long Road Home

I’d had a few friends in Houston. Paul had a small group of friends where we occasionally got together to watch Texans games, too.

I had never been to a party with so many people, at least forty, closing in on fifty. Toby hadneverhad this in his life. At least a dozen kids, boys and girls of all ages had welcomed him into their groups. He spent hours chasing goats with the boys, chasing girls around the horse barn with toads they found in the brush.

Through all of it, Jordan stayed close until I finally pushed him away at least an hour ago. He’d been by my side while everyone realized who Toby was, and who he belonged to. He handled their shock and surprise, their speculating gaze where all their unasked questions had been all too obvious.

Did you know?

Did you tell her to leave?

Did you hide your kid from his dad?

Are you okay with this?

No one had been brave enough to ask, and with how good Jordan was to both me and Toby when we saw the rascal, those questioning looks slowly started evaporating and were replaced with hesitant acceptance.

Currently, he was standing with Andrew and Shawn, plastic red keg cups in their hands, leaning against the side of the patio, and all of them were watching the boys play yet another game of hoops. Frequently though, he turned his head, searched for me, and when he saw I was still okay, turned back to the guys.

And every time those steely eyes of his landed on me, I couldn’t stop the tremble it sent down my spine. And it was then it hit me. Perhaps it should have been last night when his hands were on my breasts, and his tongue was in my mouth.

Perhaps it was when he said he’d get there when it came to forgiving me.

But those were words. Anyone could say them. His actions, watching me, checking on me, giving me my space and ensuring I was safe at the same time…that said everything. It proved he meant everything he said.

My gaze drifted through the crowd until I landed on one person. The only person who hadn’t come over to Jordan and me when we were together. The only woman at the entire party who had avoided me.

Last night I’d screwed up. I’d been rude to her, and Jordan had given me another perspective.

Tonight, it was time to finally begin putting the past behind me, exactly where it belonged.

I dumped my sangria into the trashcan. I’d had three glasses and while I’d felt the need for liquid courage earlier, it was more than I usually had. When I finally gathered the courage to talk to a girl who had helped make my life hell for years, level-headedness was key.

She was sitting with Kelly and a man and woman I’d been introduced to earlier but whose names I couldn’t remember. I weaved through the tables, dodged stumbling toddlers and stepped over a baseball here and there on my way through the yard, lit up by decorative lights from tree to tree for the evening.

I took the longest route possible. What in the hell would I say to her? What would she say to me? Apologize? Brush it off?

Worse…attack and throw everything back at me?

Avoidance couldn’t happen any longer. Ihadto do this.

Move on. Grow a backbone. Grow up.

I’d come up behind her, the couple I didn’t know laughing at something Christa had said and as much as I hated interrupting, I didn’t want to wait for a more polite time.

My hands trembled. My knees shook from the force of my thundering pulse.

I settled my hot, trembling palm onto her shoulder. “Hey, Christa? Can we talk for a minute?”

Beautiful, light green eyes whipped in my direction and the smile she’d clearly given toward the people she was with turned tremulous. “Hey, Destiny. Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I pressed my hand to my thigh. God, the sweaty palms were unreal. “But can we talk?”

Her blonde brows pulled together, and she nodded. “Sure. Excuse me,” she said to the people at her table and pushed back in her chair.

Kelly winked at me, her grin knowing and encouraging. I nodded and hoped my expression was filled with thanks.

I attempted to smile politely at the couple I didn’t know but knew I failed. Everything felt strung tense, even the muscles on my face. I imagined a clown smile and grimaced, turning from the table and surveying where we could go for some privacy.

“This way,” Christa said, her hand went to my back and she pointed in the direction of the guesthouse. It was far enough away from the party where we could have privacy. Far enough away that if this went bad, no one would hear us. “They usually keep the guesthouse unlocked and we can have privacy. I imagine you’d like that?”

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