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My father’s eyes bugged. “Proposal? Did he ask you to marry him?”
I tried to backtrack quickly. “No, not that kind of proposal,” I lied. “He wanted us to get more serious, but I told him I couldn’t. I told him I wasn’t interested. I care about him and Harley, and I don’t want to fall in love with either of them and then have to break it off.”
“If you cared about him,” Rose stepped into the conversation, “why can’t you tell him about Cara and her husband?”
“Mike used to run with an outlaw biker gang. He’s out of it now, but he thinks Bryan is dead. Bryan is the reason most of the club is in jail. If Mike found out, I don’t know if he would go after Bryan for what happened to the club or tell one of them. I can’t put Byran’s life in jeopardy for that.”
“Oh, I see,” she said as she nodded slowly. “That is quite a pickle.”
I chuckled. “Yes, it is.”
“It’s too bad you don’t know what he would do if he thought he was alive. Maybe he wouldn’t do anything. Perhaps if he cared enough about you, he wouldn’t want to jeopardize what you two have.”
“I don’t know about that, Rose,” I replied. “It’s a nice thought, but one I sadly can’t entertain now.”
My father sensed that I didn’t want to talk about it anymore and quickly changed the subject. That night, I slept in my old room and lay staring at the ceiling, missing the feel of Mike behind me. It was wiser to end it now before either of us got more invested. Sadly, as I lay there missing the feel of him, I realized it was already too late for me.
* * *
Ihadn’t been looking forward to this conversation, but I knew it would take place. Mike and I were seated outside, and I told him they could stay at my house until they found someplace suitable. I didn’t care how long it took. I would be fine staying at my father’s or Evan and Laney’s.
I wasn’t sure why I phrased it this way, but the words spilled out of my mouth. “Part of me did want more, Mike, but then I realized that there are just things in my life that you can’t be a part of.”
“What?”
“Just things. It would never be able to work between us, Mike, and it would be better if we put distance between us now before Harley gets any more attached to me.”
“So, you’re not only breaking up with me but with him too?”
My phone vibrated, and I picked it up, unlocking the screen just as Harley announced he had spilled his milk. I dropped my phone, happy to get away from this conversation for a few seconds.
I cleaned up the mess and was rinsing the towel at the sink when Mike stepped into the room, a furious look on his features and his brown eyes so laser-sharp I thought he could burn through me.
I stared at my phone as he shoved it into my face. “Is this the thing in your life you were talking about, Candy?”
Oh my god! I had left my phone unlocked, and of course, that would be the very moment when Cara would send me a picture of Luke and Bryan. Holy shit! What was I going to do? What could I say? Before I could think of anything, he was in my face.
“You want to tell me where the fuck Ryan Vigilante is now? Because it sure as fuck is not six feet underground like he should be.”
I was trying not to panic, but what could I do? Nothing! I had just jeopardized my sister’s family. Think, Candy! Think of something to say!
“Well?” he growled into my face. “Explain, Candy!”
“He’s alive.”
“No shit!” he snapped. “How is he alive?”
“He just is.”
“Candy, so help me, God! You better fucking tell me what the hell is going on.”
“Daddy?” a tiny voice called from behind us.
Mike instantly spun, and his fury evaporated. “Hey, Harley, everything is okay. Can you go back and watch television for a few more minutes?”
He shifted his eyes to me, and I forced a smile. “Go watch some television, buddy. It’s okay.”
He turned and walked slowly back to the living room. Mike spun around and grabbed my arm, dragging me into the laundry room and closing the door.
