Page 65 of Forever

I didn’t want him here. And despite him trying, my opinion of him that I’d formed 16 years ago hadn’t changed. I didn’t want him to be part of my life. Miller wouldn’t want him to be part of our son’s life. I’d had a couple weeks to think more about this. And I wasn’t going to cave. I couldn’t. I’d never put my son at risk. “I can’t do this, Dad.”

“I just want to be part of your life.”

That wasn’t what I wanted.

“I didn’t hurt Miller. And I’m sorry if I ever hurt you.”

Ifhe’d ever hurt me? He’d stolen my fucking kidney! I took a deep breath. I’d come to terms with all that shit years ago. It had led me to Miller. It had led me to having Jacob. I couldn’t regret or be spiteful about any of that. And I knew he hadn’t been involved with Miller’s death. I understood what happened. But it didn’t mean my father wasn’t dangerous.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “Angel, I’m so sorry.”

Tears started welling in my eyes. “I forgive you.” It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as soon as I said it. James told me he’d felt similarly once he’d forgiven his father. He was right. Holding on to that pain was only hurting myself. I did forgive my dad. I had to, or else the pain would eventually swallow me whole.

“So, maybe I can come over tomorrow? And spend the afternoon with you and my grandson.”

I shook my head. “I forgive you, Dad. But I don’t trust you. I don’t know if I’ll ever trust you.”

He pressed his lips together. “Just tell me what you want me to do. I already stepped down. I…”

“I need time,” I said. I wasn’t sure if time would help. But I knew I needed it.

“Brooklyn, you’re the most important part of my life…”

“She said we needed time,” Matt said and put his arm around my shoulders.

My father was great at manipulating me. If I was the most important person in his life, he would have done things differently 16 years ago. He would have listened to me and sent Isabella away instead of me. He would have put me first. I wasn’t the most important person in his life. I was just all he had left.

When he’d shown up to save me from Locatelli, I’d been ready to put everything aside. To move forward. I couldn’t explain why my mind had shifted over the past couple weeks. But I felt different. I needed to be home. And safe. I needed to protect my family.

“Okay,” my father said. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be waiting.” He leaned down and hugged me.

It caught me off guard and I almost stepped back.

But then I closed my eyes and breathed in his familiar scent. It twisted around in my head. All the good and bad. I hugged him back. Because despite everything, he was my dad. And maybe one day we’d be able to repair everything. But that day wasn’t today.

He sniffed and pulled back. “Magnus, Poppy, thank you for making your apologies. But we should be going.”

Poppy definitely had not apologized for anything. She’d just hit on my fiancé. But I expected nothing less from her.

“Take care of my girl,” my dad said and patted Matt’s back before departing down the hall with the two Mini Mes.

“Well he has that wrong,” Tanner said when he disappeared. “You’re our girl,” he said and winked at me.

I smiled.

“And speaking of girls…how did the two of you enjoy Tatiana?”

“We did not,” I said.

“Oh?” Tanner stared at Matt. “What did you do wrong? I swore you said you could handle at least three…”

“Stop it,” Matt said.

“Were you about to say three girls at once?” I sighed. “My future husband is a total slut.”

“No, apparently he’s not a harlot at all,” Tanner said. “If he couldn’t please both you and Tatiana.”

I shook my head. “We didn’t have a threesome, Tanner.”

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