“Robert!” my mom and I yell in unison.
“Stop, Dad!” I go to step forward to try to break whatever this is up, but before I can, Lance speaks.
“Kallie, don’t. I deserve this.”
“No, you don’t!” My dad hits him again, but Lance holds his ground and never hits back. I can’t help the tears falling from my eyes. He only gets a few hits in before Lance tells him to stop.
“That’s enough, Robert. I understand you’re mad, but if you hit me again, I won’t hold back.” Both are breathing heavily as they stare at each other. “I’m not just sleeping with your daughter. I’m in love with her, Robert.”
He steps back, wiping the blood from his lip, and I take the chance to move to the side. My mom is wringing her hands together across the room, but my dad is still fuming.
“You can’t love her. You’re just wanting a quick fuck. I know how you are, Lance.” My dad steps forward once again, trying to swing, but before he can, I step forward, gripping my dad’s arm, trying to pull him away. He shrugs me off, his movement swift and forceful. I stumble backward, caught off guard, my balance betraying me as I fall. Time slows to a crawl as I watch the ground rush up to meet me, shards of broken glass glinting in the dim light.
A shockwave of pain radiates through my body as I land on the shards. I bite back a cry, the sharp edges biting into my skin. Blood drips down my hands as I try not to move.
Lance rushes past my dad, not caring that he doesn’t have any shoes on as he leans down, gripping my face in his hands. “Kallie, baby, are you okay?” He looks so concerned.
“I’m fine,” I say, even though I’m lying. A thick piece of glass that’s embedded in my hand throbs. I look up, finding my dad’s eyes, his expression twisted with concern.
“I-I’m sorry,” he murmurs, his voice full of regret as he steps forward to help but then thinks twice.
Lance picks me up from the glass and carries me to the bathroom, and I hear my mom and dad’s raised voices back in the kitchen. A few seconds later, the front door slams shut.
“Look at me, baby.” I shake my head, not wanting him to see the tears I’m struggling to keep at bay.
“Hey.” He grips my chin, moving my face so he can look into my eyes. “Are you okay, sunshine?”
The words are stuck in my throat. I don’t trust myself to talk right now, so I nod instead.
“Your dad will get over it. I promise, okay? I’ll talk to him later. Probably better letting him cool off.” He sounds so sure he will calm down.
Lance cleaned and wrapped my hand after thoroughly examining each cut to make sure I didn’t need any stitches. Thankfully, I didn’t.
Now, I’m sitting back in the living room, my mom next to me as Lance makes some coffee and gets the fire going again.
“Do you love him?” my mom asks, taking my hand in hers.
I can’t help the small smile that grows on my face as she mentions Lance. My eyes find him easily across the room as he tosses a new log into the fireplace.
“I do,” is all I say as I smile watching him. “He makes me happy, Mom. And all I want is for Dad to see that too.”
“Your dad will get over himself. You are a grown woman and Lance is a grown man. You both get to make your own decisions, and if it crashes and burns, then we will both be there for you, no matter what. Even if your father has a stick up his ass.” She sends me a wink, and we both bust out laughing, gaining Lance’s attention.
He walks over and presses a kiss to my head before taking a seat next to me. “Reba, I’m sorry for the mess. He’s my best friend and I hate that he found out this way, but I do love Kallie with all my heart. I’d never do anything to hurt her. Please know that.” I can hear the sincerity in his voice, and it sends a wave of happiness through me.
My mom has a warm smile on her face as she looks at Lance. “I know. Everything will be okay. Now, why don’t we go have some coffee and wait for my husband to grace us with his presence?”
Chapter Seventeen
Lance
It has been hourssince Robert left, and no one has heard from him. We’re all around the table eating dinner, and Kallie hasn’t taken more than two bites as she pushes her food around on her plate, worry is written all over her face. I’m already certain I know where Robert is; he needed time to grip his head around this.
Standing from my chair, I tell Kallie I’m leaving. “I’ll be back, sunshine. Watch a movie with your mom, okay?”
“Where are you going?”
I smile down at her, wanting to see her face light up again. “To find your dad and fix things.” I lean down, planting a kiss on her lips. “I love you.”
