Page 63 of Always a Chance
“I do not.”
He gave me a look that said he knew better. “You can’t seem to let yourself be happy.”
“That’s not true.”
“You feel guilty.”
I looked away from him. “You my shrink now?”
“Seeing that you refuse to see a psychiatrist—which we say because we’re freaking classy—I’m all you’ve got, babe. Your sister’s accident happened while you were getting everything you’d wanted for years in high school.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have told you any of that.”
He ignored me and went on. “Now, she has lifelong issues that affect her quality of life, and you don’t think you deserve to be happy.”
“Stop, please.”
“Not until you see Gianna doesn’t want this for you. A half-relationship in a city you hate.” He stood and put a hand on each of my shoulders. “What happened to her was not your fault.”
“I should have found her.” I collapsed against him. “I knew she was there. I saw her, but I wanted to believe it wasn’t true so I didn’t have to search, so I could be with Johnny.”
He wrapped his arms around me, holding me while I cried.
Someone cleared their throat from the doorway, and I looked up to see my father, briefcase still in hand. His eyes went to the suitcase on my bed. “You’re leaving.”
No matter what Barrett said, I had to get out of here. I pulled away from him and nodded. “It’s time to get back to my life.”
I waited for him to say something meaningful for the first time since I got home, something close toI love you, even if he couldn’t say the words. Instead, he gave me a stiff nod. “Drive safe.” And then, he was gone.
Soon, I would be too.
30
JOHNNY
A family SOS was just the distraction I needed. I wasn’t happy for whatever had happened to make Finley send the text message, but at least it would take my mind off Talia and everything we’d said to each other last night.
We met up at Emma’s Diner around six, once everyone was off work, and took our usual booth. Finley didn’t tell us right away what was wrong or why she needed a sibling milkshake meetup.
If Knox did something, I was going to hurt him. Not like I’d be able to. The guy was surprisingly fit for a computer nerd. But I’d try. That had to count for something.
“So, who are we taking down?” I asked after Callie took our orders. “If it’s Knox, I’m ready. Someone at work? I won’t hit a woman, but I’m willing to cheer you on when you write a mean note.”
“A mean note?” Tanner laughed. “That’s all you’d have?”
“I’m a writer, bro. My revenge would be something to do with writing. I can’t exactly put them in a book and kill them off in my romances.”
“Sure you can.” He grinned. “People die all the time in romances. Car accident, fire, mugging…”
“Enough.” Finley slapped her palm on the table. “We aren’t killing anyone.”
“In a book,” Tanner said slowly.
She rolled her eyes. “Wait for the shakes to get here, and then we can start the meeting.”
Shane laughed. “Meeting sounds so formal. We’re four Kelly siblings who can’t seem to handle life on our own, so we drink too many shakes and complain to each other that things are hard.”
“Sounds like something Rae would say.” Tanner eyed him.
