Loner by Harloe Rae Page 0,96
so.” I’m sure the stare she’s getting from me is blank.
Kellie winks at me. “I’ll accept you eating those words when I’m proven to be correct.”
I can see where Crawford gets his confidence and snarky attitude. “And if you’re wrong?”
She shakes a finger at me, the scold already clear. “I’m sorry if I led you to believe that was an option. It’s not, dear. What’s happening between you two is just a simple misunderstanding.”
Once again, I find myself questioning how much she knows. “He wasn’t exactly ambiguous.”
Kellie leans forward to squeeze my hand. The motherly gestures jumpstarts my stunned heart. “You might assume things are over, but I’m willing to bet Ford is far from done with you.”
I almost shiver from certainty vibrating in her words. A powerful surge floods my veins a moment later. On a scale of one to being a lost cause, where I do fall if I’m hoping she’s right?
Healing Hug #29: A shot of pure relief.
Concrete pumps under my skin with each city block I pass. I’ll be a solid mass ready for battle once I arrive. The miles tick on, erasing more distance between salvation and freedom. Comforting sunshine and my slice of paradise fade in the rearview mirror. All that looms ahead is thundering darkness and soul-sucking shadows. After taking a final left, the steel fortress comes into view. My muscles seize, threatening a lockdown on their own accord. But this is something I must do. Fear doesn’t exist in my vocabulary since he disgraced me for the final time.
The parking lot is decorated with luxury vehicles in all shapes and colors. My bike stands out like a bolt of chrome lightning in the midnight sky. Seems fitting, since I’ve always been an inky stain on my father’s manufactured prestige. I speed toward the front and snag a guest spot. Security will realize I don’t belong when my tires are burning rubber on the way out. I’ve always excelled at making an exit.
After dismounting the only worthy ride in plain sight, I stride to the arching metal entrance someone paid way too much for. The thick soles of my boots pound into the pavement. That steady beat conducts the rhythm attempting to go wild in my chest. I’m finally taking Keegan’s advice and facing my largest demon. Slaying him to the ground would be my preference, but saying my piece will have to suffice.
I swing open the set of frosty glass doors, revealing a disturbing amount of stark white. Dressed in all black and leather, I’m the instant target for anyone with decent eyesight. Lucky for me, this is the last place where I want to belong. The lobby smells heavily of plastic, rotting dreams, and fitting into a mold. One whiff of the artificial odor singes my nostrils. I couldn’t survive a day trapped within these pristine walls.
The receptionist tilts her chin up at me, the angle sharp and haughty as fuck. If she thinks that bullshit display is making anybody feel inferior, I can give her a few pointers. I pay her zero mind and stride by without a second glance. A stunned squeak puffs from her injected lips, but I’m already too far gone.
A small jolt shoots through me when I notice the tracks of mud trailing behind me. So much for his spotless floors. That’s the first jab of happiness anything related to my dad has brought me. I even let a crooked smirk tip my lips. A bit of payback after years of torture.
The massive corner suite beckons me. A wrought iron distressed door isn’t hard to find against the muted background. Father dearest might appreciate order and uniform simplicity, but his demand to stand out from the pack rules higher.
His secretary leaps from her seat when she catches me approaching. “You can’t go in there. He’s in the middle of—”
I throw a hand up, cutting her off. “This will only take a minute of his precious time.”
With that, I barrel into his office as if the devil himself is chasing me. A loud crack of wood against drywall announces my entrance. My father looks up from a stack of paperwork without any sign of distress. His beady brown eyes narrow on me.
“You might be my son, but barging in unannounced is unacceptable. Nice fucking stunt you’re pulling in front of my staff.”
“Figured I’d return the favor for once. Am I disturbing your precious routine?” I begin picking the dirt from under my fingernails.
A joint pops in his