Page 207 of Mountain Daddy
Want to promise her that I’ll hold her hand the whole time.
I want her to know I’ll dedicate my life to protecting her, if only she’ll let me.
But what good are my promises?
“I’ll tell you,” Kendra says before she glances at me, our gazes catching.
“Good.” Joe wipes at his eyes again. “Good. And I don’t need any stinky grandkids. I have a grand-fox already.”
Kendra smiles, eyes shining. “We can make it official and design him a nursery inside.”
Joe heaves out a breath. “Guess the least I can do is build him a new house. He’ll need it to carry on the family name.”
Kendra shakes her head.
Joe lifts a hand and drags it down his face before dropping it back into his lap. “Can I give you a hug?”
Kendra’s lips tremble as she nods.
And I look away as they stand.
There’s more sniffling.
Joe mumbles something.
Kendra replies with a murmur.
And I feel like I might be ill.
How was I so wrong?
So wrong about literally everything.
I hang my head forward.
What has she been going through these last couple weeks?
How much must she hate me?
It might even be more than I hate myself.
“Quit making it weird. Come join the group hug.” Joe’s voice is gruff.
I lift my head.
Me?
Joe holds one of his arms out, the other still hugging Kendra.
I look to her.
There’s no way she wants me to join.
She probably wants to tell me to leave.
If I were her, I’d never want to see my face again.
If I were her, I would be so full of rage.
