Page 95 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
She wasn’t one to shout or raise her voice. Maybe she should have done more of that with Jonathan, but she didn’t think it would have changed a damn thing in their relationship had she done it.
Instead, she kept most of her emotions locked up. If she was displeased with her ex-fiancé, he knew it, but they rarely fought. Not that he showed a large range of emotions either.
She had thought that gave them a good solid relationship. Not a lot of conflict. Stress only came in the form of pinning him down to move faster, but not their daily interactions.
Drama was at a minimum until she found out he was cheating.
Even then, she was swifter than a sword slicing a watermelon when she ended things.
His shit was packed up and left in the foyer of her apartment, so he could grab it and leave without coming in to talk.
Kirk was with her and not letting her ex get a word in of his lies, excuses or whining tears. She hadn’t planned that but was thankful it happened.
The last thing she wanted to do was break down and give Jonathan any opening that he could talk his way back into her life.
She wasn’t weak enough for it to happen, but he didn’t deserve to know how much he killed her dreams and shattered her trust.
She was just learning to stand again on shaky legs.
“I try to do the same,” he said. “Becca knows when she’s being bad. Most of her punishment is getting something taken away. If she cries and throws a fit over it, she gets sent to her room. She can get upset all she wants, but it doesn’t mean I’ve got to witness it.”
Alana ran her hand over his arm. “Does it break your heart to see her cry?”
“I’m a wuss,” he said. “But it does. Even when she’s being a little brat.”
She leaned up and gave him a kiss. “Not a wuss. A very caring, compassionate, and loving father.”
“Can I get a kiss too?” Becca asked.
She jumped out of Brennan’s personal space to see Becca standing in the doorway. The little girl always made so much noise that she was shocked she didn’t hear her standing there witnessing Alana kissing Brennan.
She looked at Brennan to see his reaction, and he was only smiling.
“You know I like giving kisses,” he said, opening his arms.
Becca ran in to get a kiss from her father, then reached over to be transferred to her arms. “Can I get one from you too?”
“Always,” she said, giving Becca a kiss on the cheek.
“I want one like you gave Daddy.” Becca pointed to her lips. “Right here.”
She did as asked and put Becca down, who ran back to the living room for her toys.
“She didn’t seem bothered by that,” she said.
“Nope. I say we just keep going with things and if she asks questions, we answer them the best we can. Are you good with it?”
Alana grabbed his cheeks in her hands and plastered a loud smacking kiss on his lips. “Thrilled with it.”
29
KEEP IT FAIR
Hours later, they were sitting on the couch, the TV on, Becca sound asleep. He’d gone up to check and had a monitor next to him on the end table.
“You’re not in a hurry to leave, are you?” he asked.
He’d been dying to get his hands on her and not worry about prying eyes from his daughter.
