Sacred Vow (Angels Halo MC Next Gen #5) - Terri Anne Browning Page 0,66
I did happen. Why should I let my feelings for my father ruin it?
Determinedly, I turned to go back, only to find Mom was now gone.
Dad stood where she’d been only moments before, dressed in dress slacks, a white button-up, and his leather MC cut. There was a vulnerable, almost pleading look in his eyes that hurt me to see, but I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.
For the longest time, we stayed just like that, both of us too stubborn to look away or be the first to break the silence. The sun was almost completely set before he cleared his throat. “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he choked out.
“Did you come to stop the wedding?” I demanded instead of accepting his compliment.
His throat bobbed before he shook his head. “No, River. I heard Kelli tell you that I was the one to set all of this up. Why would I stop something I want to happen?”
I shrugged. “Because you wanted me to get my hopes up. Then, at the last minute, pull the plug on it all.”
“No, I’m not going to do that. I realize how much Maverick means to you now. If I’d realized before—” He broke off, a muscle in his jaw working for a moment before he could speak again. “I’m so sorry for what I did. I know it doesn’t make any sense to you, but when the boy asked to date you, I thought he was just bullshitting me. I didn’t like him playing with you to get a reaction out of me. I honestly didn’t know how serious you two were about each other.”
“He’s my life. I would do anything for him.”
“And I see now that he would do anything for you, too.” He gave me a grim smile. “I’ve realized I don’t know anything about you, River. And I’m sorry about that more than anything. I guess I stopped paying attention somewhere over the years, and for the life of me, I can’t remember when or even why. Maybe if I’d opened my eyes sooner, I would have noticed how you felt about the boy.”
Tears blinded me, and I quickly blinked them away, not wanting him to see them. “It only took you losing me to open them.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. But you, more than anyone, should know how stubborn I am.” He tried to grin, but even through my tears, I could see it was more of a pained twist of his lips. “You’re just as bad. Where did you think you got it from?”
“Mom.”
“Okay, so you got equal parts of our stubbornness,” he conceded with a snort. But the noise turned into an agonized sound when a tear broke free and dripped down my cheek. “I-I would like the chance to get to know you now, if it’s not too late. Maybe…” He stopped and swallowed hard a few times before he was able to continue. “Maybe we could have dinner once a week, just the two of us.”
“I…” I stopped and pressed my lips together, holding on to my angry words at the sight of his own tears spilling over his lashes. Seeing his pain gave me no joy. If anything, it only made my broken heart ache more. “I don’t know,” I muttered instead. “Maybe.”
“I realize winning back your trust and forgiveness will take time, River. I’m just asking for a chance.”
“I-I’ll think about it,” I offered.
“While you’re thinking, could I walk you down the aisle?” he asked. His voice was so full of hope, and with his tears still falling freely, I found myself nodding.
Dad lifted his hand toward the front door of the clubhouse. “After you, sweetheart.”
Holding the train of my dress, I walked into the clubhouse. Mom and the twins were right inside, and the three of them rushed to get me cleaned up since my tears had messed up my makeup.
The music started, and my heart jumped into my throat. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to run into the common room and rush into Maverick’s arms. A simple “I do” from the both of us and we would be married. But if he’d helped set all this up, with Mayor Jenkins even getting our marriage license taken care of so it wouldn’t ruin the surprise, that must have meant he wanted a wedding shared with our family and friends, so I wasn’t going to ruin it for him.