He told me he’d changed from that guy in college.”
Tristian laughed bitterly. “I don’t think people like him change unless they go through anger management and major counseling.”
“Have you been talking to my dad?”
Frowning, he asked, “No, why?”
“You sound exactly like him. Dad despises Stuart. When he approached me about having contact with Easton, Dad was vehemently opposed.”
“Yeah, I can see why. If any man laid hands on my daughter, I’d want to kill him too.” Tristian knelt down in front of me and took my hand. “Can I ask you something?”
I nodded.
“Why? You have the world at your fingertips. Why Stuart?”
Great question. Sighing, I said, “It’s because of Easton. I wanted to give him a chance. He told me he changed and I fell for the lies. Now I’m paying for it.”
My hand was still in the warm embrace of Tristian’s as his eyes pinned mine.
“Mr. Trishan, are you ever coming up to make some pictures with me?” Easton called out from the top of the stairs.
I bit my lips and he grinned. “Persistent, isn’t she?”
“You have no idea.” Then I called out, “Hey, peanut, give us a few minutes.”
“You’ve already had a few days.”
“All right, kiddo, I’m coming up.”
I moved to get up and he held out a hand, palm facing me. “You stay there and rest. I can handle this.”
“You sure? Miss Bossy Pants can be pretty demanding.”
“And your point is?”
“Go. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I watched his rear end as he took the stairs two at a time, and it was oh, so easy on the eyes. Then my phone rang. It was Mom.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hey, honey. We’re on the way over.”
“Okay. Tristian’s here too. Easton is bossing him around.”
Mom relayed the information to Dad and I heard his laughter. “That’s a good sign.”
“What? Dad laughing or Easton being bossy?”
“Both, now that you mention it. Your father has been a bear this morning and you know how Easton is. She’d never boss someone around she didn’t like.”
That much was true. Easton was shy around people she didn’t like or trust. Dad said it was a great trait to have. “I agree. The first thing she did was feed him one of Banana’s chocolate chip cookies.”
“Wow. He must be very special indeed.”
I laughed. “I’ll see you two shortly.”
They let themselves in with their key when they arrived. Mom rushed to my side when she saw me lying on the couch. “How do you feel?”
“Angry, but with myself more than anything. I never should’ve believed the asshole.”
Dad sat at the end of the couch and put my feet on his lap. “You know, I’ve been thinking. Maybe this will turn out to be a good thing.”
“How do you figure?” Me getting beaten a good thing?
“Not the bruises, of course, but maybe this time Stuart will pay for his actions.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it, but I hope you’re right.”
“English, this is going to sound harsh, but maybe it taught you something about trust.”
That irked me. “Dad, I don’t need to be lectured right now.”
“I know, but you need to hear it. I’m begging you not ever to trust that man again, no matter how many flowery phrases he doles out.”
My teeth clamped together as I ground my molars. “For the last time, Dad, it wasn’t the flowery phrases. I wanted to give him an opportunity to know his child. That’s it. End of discussion.”
Dad glanced at Mom and she shook her head. He dropped it. “I’m sorry, munch. I went too far.”
“Yeah, you did. I only wanted him to have what you did with me.” Did that make me deserving of a beating? I had naively trusted him and he’d lied. It was a lesson learned the hard way and one that wouldn’t be repeated.
Two things followed. Stacey burst through the door as Easton, holding Tristian’s hand, bounced down the stairs.
“Mimi! Boppy!” She headed straight for my dad.
Stacey’s attention was diverted to the stairs and she gaped at Tristian.
“Oh, Tristian, meet my best friend, Stacey.”
“Uh, well, hi there.” She awkwardly stuck out her hand.
“Great to meet you,” he acknowledged then said, “Beck, Sheridan. Nice to see you again. Didn’t know you were here.”
“We heard Miss Bossy Pants had corralled you upstairs,” Dad said.
Easton patted Dad’s cheeks. “I’m not Miss Bossy Pants. I’m Easton Sheridan Bridges. Wanna see the oonicorn we drew?”
“Why don’t you go upstairs and get it, peanut?” I asked.
She crawled off Dad’s lap and ran toward the stairs.
“Walk, please,” I reminded her.
I sat up