Page 69 of Feels Like Falling
“No,” I say, taking a step into him, “youdon’t understand. I picked up the pieces every single time. Every time you let her down, every time you let her mother belittle her and make her feel like she wasn’t good enough. And still I trusted you to take care of her when she left for Savannah. I let you chase me away because what could I do?” I throw my hands out to the side before dropping them down. “Believe me when I say thatnothinghas changed. I would have married Ellison at eighteen, and you can bet your life that I’ll be marrying her just as soon as she lets me.”
He drags a hand down his face, a weary sigh escaping him, but I can’t find it in myself to feel bad.
“Believe it or not, I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t want to hurt my daughter.” He clears his throat. “Either of them.”
“Did you only come here for Arden? Or did you actually come for Ellison? Because I’ve been supportive of her nurturing the relationship she has with you, but I’ll end that real quick if she’s just an afterthought. You failed at protecting her, but I won’t.”
“I had to protect her!” he barks but I’m too wound up to care.
“I don’t believe you. You isolated her and stripped her of her childhood. You dideverythingyou could to tear her down.” He opens his mouth to speak but I rush on, “But you know what? She’s resilient and so fucking strong and she made it—she made it in spite of you. And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she has everything she could ever want. You never treated her like a princess, but I sure as hell will treat her like a queen,” I say as I yank open the door of my truck.
“Montana—”
“You have one week to tell Ellison. Everything. You tell her about Arden and you tell her about what happened after she left for college.” I point at him, my voice breaking again. “You tell her why you stole the last ten years from us.”
“Please, just?—”
I shake my head. “No. You tell her. I’m giving you this one courtesy, not because you deserve it but becauseshedoes. She deserves her father to man up and face his past—take responsibility for his actions. You have one week, Evan, and it’s the last time I cover for you.”
Without another word, I get into the truck and peel out of the parking lot, dust kicking up around Ellison’s father as he stands there watching me drive away. He doesn’t seem as big as he did growing up—no longer invincible.
He’s just a man and everything I promised myself I’d never be.
32
ELLISON
Montana’s truck pulls to a stop in my driveway, the back end kicking out a little as he takes the turn faster than normal before parking. Tension radiates from him as he climbs out, and I don’t wait. Pushing open the front door, I race down the porch steps and launch myself into his arms.
He grunts as he staggers backward but catches us just as quick, my legs wrapping around his waist as he crushes his mouth against mine.
It’s heated and sloppy and desperate all at once. I want to ask what’s wrong, but something tells me I don’t want to know.
Not yet.
Not when today’s supposed to be about us. But I can’t help it.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask panting against his lips, my heart in my throat as I wait for his response.
“Not yet. I want to go to the lake and strip your bikini off you and fuck you against the waterfall.”
The whimper that escapes is involuntary becauseLord do I want that, so I tease, “Well, I bought this one for you.”
His eyes flick to my cover-up then back to my eyes, mischief now replacing the stress in his expression when he arrived.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah, I just need to grab my bag.” Cupping his face, his stubble biting into my palms sends a delicious shiver down my spine even though I’m trying to be serious. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
He turns his head and places a lingering kiss on my palm. “All I need is you, Eddie. Now let’s get that bag so I can get you naked.”
Montana squeezes my ass, and I squeal as he carries me back up the stairs, not letting go as he finds my bag inside and then closes the door before walking us back to his truck.
It’s silly, really, but it makes my heart nearly skip a beat at the way he’s lookin’ at me, carrying me around like he never wants to let me go.
“You’re such a goof.” The words are light and breathless, and his smile matches my own.
“Yeah, but I’m your goof.” He kisses my nose and then maneuvers me and the bag inside the truck before walkin’ proud as a peacock around the hood to get into the driver’s seat.
