Page 109 of Effortless

I have no idea what to say to that. I’ve never had the kind of money she grew up with and can’t imagine what it’s like to have a parent so obviously choose that over me.

Rather than say something that won’t help the situation, I do the next best thing.

“Come here.” I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly. She cries into my shoulder for a few minutes.

“Thank you. I needed that.”

“I wish I’d have been there with you today.”

“Me, too,” she admits. “It probably would have made things worse but I wouldn’t have cared. She knows you and I are together and she thought she could manipulate me into being her little puppet so she could keep her boy toy around.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but your mom sounds like a psychopath.”

She bursts out laughing. “Not sure how else I would take it but I agree with you. She’s gone off the deep end big time.”

“You gonna be okay?”

She wraps her arms around me tightly and cranes her neck to look up at me. “I have Brooklyn and you. So yup. I’ll be okay.”

My arms convulse around her. “You do have me.”

“I know.”

I take a deep breath and tell her, “There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while and maybe it’s shit timing but I need to tell you.”

Her face grows weary. “What is it?”

“I love you. In love with you,” I correct.

Before I know what’s happening, she’s jumping into my arms and kissing me. “I love you, too. I was so nervous to tell you. You’re the first man I’ve ever loved.”

“And the last.”

She nods, kissing me again.

Before we get too carried away, I remind her, “Baby, your dad’s inside and is probably wondering what’s taking you so long.”

“He’ll deal with it.”

God help me, I don’t care what the guy thinks. I’m in love with his daughter and plan to do right by her for as long as she’ll have me. I’m going to stand out here on the porch and kiss her as long as I want.

Minutes later, the porch light flickers on and off.

“Uh oh. We’ve been caught.”

We both laugh and untangle from each other, wiping our mouths and trying to look presentable before going inside to greet her dad.

“You done attacking my daughter’s mouth so we can be properly introduced in person?”

“Yes, sir. I’m Cash,” I say to Robert.

“Robert. Heard a lot about you.”

“Same.”

“Probably not as much good stuff but I plan to change that.”

I nod. “Sounds like you’ve had a rough day?”