Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2) by Karen Renee (summer reads .TXT) 📕

He told her he would repay her for the bike ‘Santa’ brought for Brock. Auntie Sandy’s response said it all. “Don’t you dare, War. I love those boys with all of my heart, and if I ever see Pauline again, I’ll scratch her eyes out for what she’s done to not only them, but you as well. So, believe you me, buying a bike for an eleven-year-old boy is the least I can do for my favorite nephews.”

Dad had sighed. “They’re your only nephews, Sandy.”

She had lifted her chin defiantly. “Yeah, and maybe if she’d stuck around and got some help, I’d have a niece, too.”

I had quietly made my way back to my room with hot tears streaming down my face. Not only had I learned Santa wasn’t real, but my mom’s absence had forced Dad to lean on Aunt Sandy and Uncle Nate.

That lesson never left me, and in my teenage years I had vowed that I would never depend on a woman.

I tossed the cheap whiskey down my throat. The waitress looked our way, so I put the glass to the far side of the table and signaled for another.

“So you’re telling me, my mother’s been putting the roof over my head the past three years?”

Dad’s face hardened. “Your mother has been helping to put the roof over your head since you were ten.”

I shook my head. “Too bad she couldn’t step up two years earlier. She could’ve helped get Brock that bike from Santa. And you wouldn’t have been in debt to Auntie Sandy and Uncle Nate.”

Dad’s head shifted back and his eyes widened. I could see his nostrils flare with his breathing. After a moment, he said, “That’s why you stopped believing.”

I grinned maliciously. “Yep. Another fine gift from my mother, wouldn’t you say?”

Our waitress brought us our drinks, and Dad ordered for both of us.

“What if I’d wanted chicken?” I asked, just to be obstinate.

“I’ll call her back, Gabriel.”

I sipped my whiskey as I considered why Dad would use my full name. When I put the glass down, I straightened my face and tried to be more open-minded.

“So, I take it you have more to tell me about Mom.”

Dad nodded. “I do. But, I’d like to know why you’re so bitter. Aside from the obvious. She should’ve come back sooner—”

I leaned forward. “She never should’ve left!”

Dad closed his eyes and I could swear I watched him age in front of me. That made me feel like shit because it hit me that none of this was easy on him, either.

“Sorry, Dad.”

“Don’t be, Gabriel. Do you think every woman is going to split like your mother did?”

I felt my face go slack. “I know she’s a shrink and all, but really? Why are you asking that?”

He arched a brow. “You may not lack for female companionship, but you never keep any of them around. And for that matter, you really never have.”

I sighed. “I don’t know, Dad, but I can tell you, I’m done with the frequent and easy women.”

He lifted his chin. “I don’t know what brought that on, but I can’t say I’m not happy to hear it.”

I shook my head and fought an eye roll. “You sound like Brock.”

He chuckled.

Our waitress arrived with our filets, and we promptly tucked into our dinners.

Ordinarily, a decent beverage and a filet would be exactly what the doctor ordered for me. As it stood, I shoved a wedge of zucchini around my plate wondering what else Dad had to tell me.

He took a large gulp of ice water. “All right. I can see that zucchini is not going to make it to your belly. So, I might as well tell you the rest of it.”

I nodded.

“Your mother has been after me for the past nine months to get in touch with all of you. I didn’t know until recently exactly why that was.”

I nodded again to let him know I was following him.

“She’s an only child, and her father passed away just over ten months ago. She’s inherited seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Her intention is to divide it between you and your brothers. Two hundred and fifty thousand each.”

I bit my lower lip to hold my reaction in check.

When I had my shit together, I asked, “You told Brock already, what about Vamp?”

“Not yet, but I suspect your brother has talked to him about it. He wanted to talk to you, but I insisted on being the one to tell you.”

“What’d Brock have to say about it?”

Dad closed his eyes and sighed. When he looked back to me, I wished I hadn’t asked. “Nothing good, son. He said it was guilt money.”

My head jerked up at that. I was surprised that hadn’t occurred to me.

“It isn’t, Gabe.”

My eyes slid to the side and back to Dad. “Isn’t it?”

“No. And it’s something I’ll despise myself for until the day I die. Keeping her from you boys to keep you all close to one another and prevent a rift, I also kept all three of you from your grandparents. And that’s not something I’ll ever forgive myself for.”

I leaned forward. “Dad, you don’t need to forgive yourself or beat yourself up over shit! You did the best you could. Not that I’m biased or anything, but your best is pretty fuckin’ spectacular.”

Dad smiled at me, opened his mouth to say something, but the waitress came by with the bill.

Twenty minutes later, when Dad pulled into the complex, I said, “You can drop me here, Dad. I’ll walk back to my place. Give me some time to clear my head.”

He pulled his car into a parking spot. “You sure?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I’m sure, Dad. Thanks for dinner.”

He reached across to shake my hand, but after I put my hand in his, he used his other arm to pull me in to an awkward hug.

“I love you, son.”

“I know, and I love you, too, Dad. I’ll talk to you soon.”

After he pulled away, I walked two