Page 130 of Tormented Kings
I know where Preston is and what he’s doing today. But I’ve been doing my best not to think about it. Knowing he’s around Tina, someone who makes my life hell and takes pleasure in my pain, makes me sick.
It’s knowing he hates her with every fiber of his being and doesn’t let her touch him that makes it bearable. I still fucking hate it.
He wished me a Merry Christmas and said we would talk later. I haven’t opened our chat since, too worried I’d ask how it’s going and he’d confess something that would ruin my whole day.
I’m going to see Collin after supper. They normally would have come over here, but Carol insisted we spend today as a new family and made plans for New Year's Day instead.
“Hey,” Mark says, stepping into the living room.
Looking up from my book, I smile. “Hey. How’s everything going in there?” I ask, referring to the kitchen.
“Good,” he chuckles, moving to take a seat in the chair across from the couch. “Your mother is a saint when it comes to him. I know he’s a handful and more chaos than help, but I think he really enjoys helping your mom in the kitchen.” He sighs, looking away for a moment, seeming to be lost in thought. I place my book down, feeling like there’s an important conversation about to happen. He looks back at me. “Grayson has been without a mother figure for a long time. I think I've done pretty okay raising him myself, but I think there was always something missing, you know?”
Emotion gets stuck in my throat because I do know. I never got any time with my dad. I never got to experience what it would be like to have a father figure in my life. Mark is the closest thing I’ve had.
“I’m glad Mom can be that for him.” I give him a genuine smile. “I know she loves him.”
“And you?” he asks me, making my eyes widen for a moment.Does he know?“How are you two getting along?”
I relax for a moment. “Good.” I nod. “We’re friends. Good friends. It’s been an adjustment living together, but it’s been fun.” Not a lie.
“I’m glad.” He grins. “Grayson always wanted a little sister to bug.” He chuckles. “I’m glad he has you.”
Oh boy, does he have me. Just not in the way you think.
“I’m glad to have him too.” Again, not a lie.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he says nervously.
“Okay?” I move to sit up, giving him my full attention.
“I know we haven’t had much time to get to know each other, but I think it’s safe to say that you’ve become a pretty big part of my life.”
“I’d say so.” I grin.
He chuckles, shaking his head before he continues. “You’re family, and I see you as a daughter.” A fist wraps around my heart. “You may not feel the same way, but I hope one day you do.” He smiles sheepishly, and it’s pretty cute. “As you know, this world we live in is pretty cutthroat. I want to make sure that you are given every opportunity and make sure you’re protected in every aspect. The Taylor name holds a lot of power in this world, could open up a lot of doors, and provide a bit of a shield for you. I know you don’t live the way most of the kids at your school do. It’s one of the things about your mother that I fell in love with,” he chuckles. “That being said, the Taylor name means something.”
“Okay...” I say softly, not too sure where he’s going with this.
“You don’t have to feel pressured to say yes. You won’t hurt my feelings. This is all new, and if you need time, that's understandable. If it’s not something you’re ever comfortable with, that’s okay too. But I want to ask anyway.” He pulls out something from his jacket pocket and places it on the coffee table between us.
My brows pull together, and I grab the manila folder and open it. Skimming the page, I read a lot of legalese, but the one thing that is clear is that these are adoption papers.
My eyes snap up to his, and my heart thunders in my chest. “You want to adopt me?” My voice cracks a little.
He nods his head. “Like I said, Sadie. I see you as a daughter. Even if you’re not there yet. I’d love to get to know you more and build up that bond. Your mother means the world to me, and you do too.” Damn it. My goal was to not cry on Christmas.“If anything, use the name as a safety net. You don’t have to change your last name or anything. Evans was your father. And while I didn’t know him well, I know he was a good man. It's a wonderful last name. Just being officially a part of the family can offer just as much as being an actual Taylor. No pressure. Just think about it, okay? Everything is signed on my part. All you gotta do is sign your name and send it in since you’re a legal adult.”
I’m left shocked as Mark comes over, bends down, and kisses the top of my head like a dad would his little girl before leaving me sitting there stunned with the papers in my hand.
“What the heck just happened?”
He wants to adopt me? Me? Why? I’m almost twenty. There’s no point, right?
But he said he wanted me to be a part of the family, officially. Right?
His name holds power. Safety. If I was a Taylor—in the official sense—would that help the situation with Preston and Collin’s father? Would he be so quick to threaten me?
My head spins with this new information that is going to require a lot of thinking.