Page 30 of Keep Me Never
My jaw clenches, moisture building in my damn eyes. I’m not going to cry; that’s so…weak. “My dad is a mess. Fucking broken, man, and I can’t handle it. Never seen him like this and it breaks my damn heart. He’s good—a good man, father, husband. Shit, you guys know. He never did anything without her input, bent over backward, and she just…left.”
She was supposed to love him and she left.
I shake my head. “It’s crazy because when I look back, there were no signs. And I think that’s what’s making it so hard for my dad. They were always the perfect couple, never fought, just like your guys’ parents. And this shit happens. My dad isn’t doing good. He’s depressed but he keeps telling me he’s okay and not to worry about him, but it’s a shit show, you guys. Their divorce is nasty. She’s being unreasonable and coldhearted, taking him to the fucking cleaners.”
“She’s asking him for money?” Brady’s tone is beat.
I look away. “She didn’t ask. She took.” I break off before I add something else—that she tookallof it. “I think I hate her,” I admit quietly, maybe for the first time.
“What can we do to help?” Mason asks, both of them solemn and united in any way I might need.
My lips twitch, but I just shake my head. “I don’t know, maybe ask your parents to check on him here and there? He might hate it, but he needs it.”
“I think my dad knows,” Brady admits and I look to him, finding a sad smile. “He said something about your dad having a hard time not too long ago, but I didn’t think much about it. I’m sure he’s already checking in on him, but I’ll talk to him. Cam’s dad, too.”
“They do know she left, but maybe not all the details.” I nod. “I would appreciate that, though.”
“So our parents already know, but do you want us to keep this from the girls?” Mase wonders.
“Honestly, I want to say yeah, but that’s for my benefit, and I know you guys. You’re going to be stressing on me now, and I don’t want them to worry or for you to have to lie when they ask, so no. It’s okay if you tell them, but I’d rather not be asked about it, you know?”
My boys nod.
“Lean on us, man. If you need us, lean on us.” Brady holds my gaze until I agree. “Okay, good, so now that that’s out of the way, I have something serious I need to ask you, Chase.”
My muscles lock, and I frown from Mase to him.
Brady crosses his arms, takes a breath, and I brace for whatever he may have to say. Does he know I’m broke? Does he know that next semester?—
“Whatexactlydid the message you sent to Paige say?”
Mase and I laugh instantly, and Brady joins in.
I smirk, taking a second piece of pizza. “Nice try.”
And just like that, my world feels a little more in line.
If only it would stay that way…
CHAPTER NINE
Paige
I sigh, pushing the hair from my face and doing my best to keep the tears from forming in my eyes, the final board nailed back up over the window.
“Let’s go outside. I don’t think it’s safe to breathe in all this mold,” Carry, the woman who owns the yoga studio beside my building, whispers.
Defeated, I follow her out, locking the door behind us.
“I’m so sorry, Paige. I wish I could help, but it took every penny of my claim money to get me up and running, and I still had to pay out of pocket to get some of my equipment here faster so I didn’t lose clients to the big, fancy studios across town.”
“No, Carry, please. I appreciate the sentiment, but I wouldn’t accept it even if you could.” I blow out a breath. “At this rate, the city might step in and demand action. My time to figure all this out might be up before I actually make a decision.”
“What are your options, exactly?”
I frown, almost tell her, but decide if I’m going to talk to anyone, it should be my friends. “I’m still figuring that out.” I smile tightly. “I better go. I have a lunch I’m supposed to be at in thirty minutes and it’s across town. “Thanks for letting me know about the boards being busted out. I might not make it back for a couple weeks. My weekends are pretty booked, and I’m still borrowing the elementary-school cafeteria near my school for the youth group lessons a couple days a week so…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you know if there are any issues.”
