Page 166 of Really Truly Yours

“Dad, before Sydnee gets here, I need to ask you a question. I know Sydnee is a daughter in your heart. I’ll talk to Sam later…but for now, I want you to know, I have every intention of talking Sydnee into marrying me.”

He stares long enough I almost worry he’s stroking out. Finally, he slaps his knee, topping the celebration with a fist pump. His finger freezes midair. “Go in my room and open the top nightstand door. Bring me the box that’s in there.”

I do what he asks, returning with a flat, rectangular box, something like stationery might have come in in the olden days. I remember his insistence that I get it when we cleared out of his house. He holds the lid, revealing important-looking papers. He lifts the stack and uncovers a lady’s ring. The band is narrow and gold with a chip of a diamond-like stone set on it.

He lays it in my palm, closing my fingers around it. “I know it ain’t much and you’ll be getting her a big old diamond, but maybe you can start with this.”

I squint down. “Where did it come from?” My heart thunders in my ears. I sense Tripp’s breath holding like mine.

“Didn’t do nothing right back then…” His gaze sweeps both my brother and me. “The first time your momma got pregnant, we was in high school. Neither one of us was too far gone yet on the drugs, and I was determined to do right by her.” He sighs, swatting at a new tear. “Bought this ring, but that same night, she lost the baby. I tucked the ring away, and we went back to doing our thing. I still meant to give it to her, someday…” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry I didn’t. Things went downhill after that, and…” He looks at us both, sad. “Sorry, boys. I’m just…sorry.”

Acting on impulse isn’t always bad or wrong. Tucking the precious memento into my jeans, I drop to my knee and embrace my father. The wetness on my cheek may or may not be Donny’s alone. I don’t know, and I’m not going to worry about it.

Tripp closes the gap and puts a hand on our father’s shoulder.

Father and sons—and brothers—together at last.

Chapter 37

Sydnee

Why does life have to hurt?

Love?

Most of my years have been an exercise in not letting this thing called love get too close. It hasn’t been difficult. Repeated rejection and betrayed trust made the job easy.

But Gray.

Gray, the jerk, wormed his way in. And what does he do the moment I let down my guard? He fails me. Spectacularly. I feel my trust quotient dialing itself back a decade.

Are you being fair, Sydnee?

I’m being fair to myself. What mortal woman could withstand his appeal? He’s unfairly handsome, with a double portion of masculinity and charm. Charm like his is its own force of nature.

The dullness of my life made his offer of love unrefusable. The more he squirmed his way into my life, poking holes in my defenses one by one, the more I bought into his kindness.

Was any of it, even a tiny thread, real?

In a sad testament to my thought processes, I want to believe Gray wasn’t completely devoid of sincerity, that he merely got immersed again in his own world of flash and fame and his intentions didn’t withstand the reality.

Listen to me. I’ve turned into one of those mindless, weak women. I know better than to excuse away bad behavior.

Maybe you should talk to him…

I push the cart around a protruding endcap and roll toward the coffee aisle for Donny’s generic brand. Last item, and I’m out of here.

To my own home? Of course not. Because there at the place I’m supposed to be safe waits my nightmare. Though pleading with me to hear Max out, Sam did do me the courtesy of calling to warn me that Max would likely show up at my door.

I can’t deal with my older brother right now. I’ll make Donny’s little loveseat work for tonight. After that? Who knows what I’ll do. Max is crashing with Sam, taking that option off the table.

I pay for Donny’s things with the cash he gave me, mine with my debit card. I’ve counted my pennies. My account is still smoking from the torching of the fee to change my flight.

Aaaand back to Gray.

I load the groceries into the car, but before starting the engine, I rest my forehead onto the steering wheel. My heart hurts so bad. He was so kind. So good to me. Why would he drag me all the way to Houston just to turn on me like that?

Ask him.

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