Page 105 of Fighting for Love (Boston Love)

I hit my father’s number. He sounded relieved when he answered the phone.

“Rory, are you okay?”

“You don’t get to ask me that question, Dad. Did Finn show up for his shift today?”

“Yes. After he walked into my office smelling like alcohol this morning, then proceeded to chew me out and demanded I tell him why you broke up with him.”

“What did you say?”

“I told him what I thought was the best thing to say.”

Fear gripped my chest. I closed my eyes and asked, “What. Did. You. Say.”

“I told him you only entertained this whole notion of being with him to be rebellious against me. That you agreed Friday night that the best thing to do would be to end this ridiculous affair you had going with him.”

Anger filled my entire body as my eyes snapped open. “I never said any of that. You lied to him. How could you lie to him?”

“Because you’re going to see that that boy was never going to be faithful to you, Rory. I know the type.”

I yelled into the phone, “You know nothing about Finn! Nothing! He is ten times the man you ever were.”

“Do not raise your voice to me, young lady.”

Shaking my head, I attempted to keep myself calm. Every inch of my body was shaking in anger. I felt sick to my stomach.

“I cannot believe you. I’ll never forgive you for this, Dad. Never.”

“Rory, I’m only—”

“And I’m going to win his love back if I have to keep trying till the day I die, and there is nothing you can do about it.”

“I forbid you to see him, Rory Ann Adams.”

I laughed. “I’m not a child. I’m twenty-six years old, and I neither need nor desire your direction in my life.”

“You are my daughter, and I have every right to be a part of your life.”

“No more, Dad. I never in my life thought I would say this to you, but I hate you. I hate you for doing this to me and to Finn. I will never…ever…forgive you for this.”

“Rory.”

“Goodbye, Dad.”

Hitting End, I looked at Autumn. “He lied and told Finn I agreed the best thing to do would be to end things with him. No wonder Finn was so angry.”

She covered her mouth with her hands. “That bastard!” she gasped.

“He lied. How could my own father do this to me?”

My body was numb.

I did the only thing I knew to do. I threw my phone against the tile floor and screamed, “I hate him so much!”

My knees shook and I felt my entire body give out.

Autumn was by my side, holding on to me tightly as I cried hysterically. “I’ve lost the fight. Oh God, Autumn! I’ve lost him forever.”

“You have not, Rory Adams. You’ve lost one round, but you’re going to win the battle, I swear to you.”

After I had no tears left to shed, I stood and walked to the window. The gray sky parted and the sun shined through the clouds. It was as if all the crying had totally cleared my head. I wasn’t giving up on Finn. No matter how angry he was at me, or how much he pushed me away. I. Was. Not. Giving. Up. What we had was worth fighting for. A future that we both dreamed of, and a love so amazing that now, finally, it had showed me the light.

“I’m not giving up. I’ll never stop trying to win him back.”

Autumn appeared at my side and wrapped her arms around me. “That’s the Rory I know.”

Chapter 48

Finn

Lost hope

Hitting End, I tossed the new phone Angie had brought over onto the sofa.

“Well, at least you didn’t break this one,” Angie said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and headed to the kitchen. My head was fucking pounding from all the alcohol I drank last night.

Opening the refrigerator, I grabbed a bottle of water. “I don’t need a babysitter, Angie.”

She grinned. “I know you don’t. What did she say?”

With a shrug, I replied, “She wanted to talk.”

“And you said no?”

I drank half the water. “You heard what I said. Her letter to me was pretty damn clear, as were her father’s words this morning.”

Angie frowned. “You believe him?”

Wes sat at the kitchen bar and lifted his brow. He’d been with me this morning when we went to Rory’s place before going to the station. Autumn had looked like she was on the verge of telling me where Rory went, but then had gone tight-lipped.

Glancing around my place, I sighed. Angie and her friend must have spent a few hours cleaning.

I motioned to the living room. “Thanks for cleaning that all up.”

“Thank Regina, your neighbor. She had most of it cleaned up before we got here.”

Nodding, I made a mental note to thank her and Paul.

“So, what do we do now?” Wes asked.

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