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“So good,” I say with a mouthful of food. Keaton grins and takes a bite, his face twisting in a grimace.
I laugh as he chews and chews and eventually swallows. “You like this?” he asks, his nose scrunched up as he glares at the sandwich.
“Yup! More for me!” I finish the last of my sandwich and grab his.
Keaton laughs, the sound deep and satisfying.
“So,” I say after taking a huge bite. “I told you my sob story. Now it’s your turn.”
Chapter 7
Keaton
Shit.
Roxy is right. I owe her my story, especially after she broke open her heart for me. My chest aches at everything she’s been through. I wish I’d met her before now so I could’ve loved her sooner.
Hold up. Love?
Yes, that’s what this is. It’s official. As I look at my beautiful, strong-as-hell woman, I know it to be true. I feel it all the way through my body, consuming me as I come to terms with this life-altering realization.
“Let’s finish this up first, then take a walk along the shoreline,” I suggest.
Roxy gives me a knowing look but allows me this extra time before diving into my past.
We talk about our favorite books and movies, some of which we share. I love that we have different tastes. I can’t wait to introduce Roxy to new things and to have her show me more of what she loves.
Half an hour later, the food is mostly gone. I know it’s time to open up and tell my woman about my past and what brought me here in the first place. Roxy helps me pack everything away, and I set the basket and folded blanket off to the side before holding out my hand for her to take.
Instead of holding my hand, Roxy loops her arm in mine and tucks herself into my side. We take our time walking up the shoreline, and I know I need to break the silence at some point. Roxy doesn’t pressure me or push me to talk; she’s simply here, supporting me in whatever way I need.
“My old man was a mean drunk with a gambling problem,” I finally say.
Roxy squeezes my arm but doesn’t say anything, giving me space to get it all out.
“I learned how to take a punch and give one right back at an early age. My father made sure of that. He’d beat me bloody, then tell me to come at him twice as hard.”
Roxy gasps softly, then turns her head and presses the lightest kiss to my upper arm. “I’m so sorry you went through that,” she whispers.
“It’s over now,” I tell her as much as myself. It really is over. Truly. He’s gone. “My father isn’t coming back. He’s dead.”
I don’t think I’ve said that out loud since getting the news.
“Is that a good thing?” Roxy asks.
“It’s...” I pause, not sure how to put my thoughts into words. “Complicated, I guess. I don’t talk about this shit to anyone. I haven’t seen him since I left home and joined the military right after graduation. That’s damn near twenty years ago now.”
“When did he pass?”
“Last month,” I choke out. Why is my throat clogging up? I can’t be getting emotional about this. That’s ridiculous.
“Oh,” Roxy says softly. “Keaton, I’m so sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m fine. He was a piece of shit who drank himself to death.”
“But still...”
“It shouldn’t bother me. It doesn’t,” I insist, though I no longer believe myself.
