Inevitable - Kristen Granata Page 0,36

work. I left you all alone when you needed me most, and I’m sorry for that. I should’ve been better. Done better.”

Tears fight to the surface. “Thank you for that.”

“If you want, I can have all of Eric’s things taken out of storage.”

I nod, swiping a tear from my cheek. “I’d like that.”

Dad slides his hand across the table. “I want us to start over, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

I stare at his hand, hesitant to take it. He hurt me, pushed me into the dark during the most difficult time in my life. Can this all be swept under the rug with an apology? Can I move past the pain he caused me, and trust that he’ll be different now?

If I can trust Graham, I suppose I can trust my father.

I slip my hand into my father’s and force a small smile. “It’ll take some time, but I want to try. You lost a son, and then Mom up and left, and I know how hard that was on you. I can forgive you for the way you handled everything. Everyone handles grief differently. You were just doing your best to keep it together.”

Dad uses his napkin to dab at the corners of his eyes. “Thank you, Evangeline. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Can you promise me one thing though?”

He leans in, locking his eyes with mine. “Anything.”

“Can we talk about Eric every now and then? I don’t want it to be this forbidden subject that we dance around. He was an important part of our lives, and I never want to forget him. He’s still a part of our family.”

His hand squeezes mine on the table. “Of course.”

I sigh, my shoulders relaxing just a little bit.

“Is there anything you want to discuss, about Eric?”

My chin drops to my chest as I remember the day I found Eric’s body in his room. “It still bothers me that he didn’t leave a note. Not even for me. I know he was depressed, but still, his death just seemed so ... out of the blue.”

His Adam’s Apple bobs as he swallows, dropping his gaze from mine. I know this isn’t easy for Dad to talk about, but I appreciate his effort.

I shrug and take a sip of my water. “That’s the one thing that feels left unanswered.”

“We can’t always get closure. There are things in this world that will remain a mystery until Judgement Day.”

The waiter returns to our table with dessert menus in hand. “Are you two ready for dessert?”

“Yes, please,” Dad and I say in unison.

Dad grins, and I smile back.

Maybe we can reconcile. Maybe Eric’s death will hurt a little less in time. Maybe I don’t need my mother, because my father will be enough.

And maybe, just maybe, everything will turn out okay.

Chapter Eleven

Eva

My hands shake as I smooth them over my gown.

I check myself out in the mirror one last time. My hair is pinned back in a loose bun, sitting at the nape of my neck. My lids are lined, with a slight wing at each end, and my lips are red to match my dress. I’m happy the lady at the boutique convinced me to buy these strappy silver heels. They might be uncomfortable, but they’re working wonders for the high slit revealing my entire left leg.

A soft knock followed by Graham’s voice is outside my door. “The limo is downstairs.”

My heart-rate spikes and I take a moment to close my eyes, picturing Eric’s smiling face.

“Tonight is for you,” I whisper.

I inhale in a slow breath through my nose and swing open my bedroom door, only to lose that breath the second my eyes land on Graham.

In a tux.

Towering over me with his usual messy hair combed back, his broad shoulders taper down to his waist in his black, single-button jacket. He’s sporting a satin red tie, expertly coordinated with my dress, and his black slacks are tailored to his long legs with perfection.

Wow.

He looks sharp and classy, but the slight stubble along his jawline and the devilish smirk curling his lips gives him a dark, mysterious edge. It’s totally different than the way he normally looks, yet still Graham, and equally as delicious.

My cheeks heat with the way he’s looking at me right now. His green eyes roam over my body, lingering on my thigh at the apex of the slit that stops just shy of my pelvic bone. I do a slow turn to