Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,140

out of the gutter, kid.” Dad ruffles up her hair.

“I’ll be a senior this year. I’m hardly a kid. I’ll be at Whitney Briggs before you know it.”

“You’re coming to Briggs?” I hand both my sister and my father a bottle of water from the fridge. It’s late Friday night, and the two of them just endured a grueling hike with me up past the lookout where Scarlett and I had that private chat. My heart broke for her as I wiped away her tears. That kiss we shared has gone off in my mind like an echo ever since our lips touched Saturday night. Although it doesn’t seem to have meant too much to her. I shot her a text the next day and asked if she was up for breakfast, but it went unanswered. Tomorrow night’s our big and perhaps final performance at the country club. It’ll be interesting to see how things go.

“That’s right.” Trixie pulls a bag of cookies out of the cupboard and helps herself. “Knox said not to tell you, but I couldn’t care less about the beef he has with you.”

My stomach turns just hearing my suspicions confirmed out loud. I glance to our father. I was hoping it would be just he and I today at the trails. I was ready to push hard for a reconciliation even if deep down I know it’s futile. As much as I don’t quite approve of Scarlett’s hostile takeover tactics, the little boy in me demands to play along. But Trixie wanted to join us this afternoon, and I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to hang out with my favorite little sister. I wish she brought Knox along. Now that she’s flat-out told me he’s harboring resentment, I think it’s time I make a larger effort to mend fences between the two of us.

“There’s this big thing at Bradley’s country club tomorrow night.” Just saying his name in front of my father feels like a betrayal.

His chest expands with his next breath. “I know. Your mother is happy.” He shakes his head, confused as to why I would even bring it up. “Don’t worry about me. I’m one hundred percent supportive of this.”

Trixie scoffs, and something in me feels a small glimmer of victory. If Trixie sides with me, if she works as hard as Scarlett and me to help stab our mother’s new relationship to death, there might be hope for our family yet.

“You just reminded me that I have like nothing to wear.” She offers a quick peck to my cheek. “We’ll see you there. I’ve got a million things to do to get ready. Hair, nails, I might need new shoes to go with whatever dress I’m about to buy.” She looks to my father as she gathers her things. “Do you mind if I hit the mall in the morning?”

“Not at all. Have fun.” He smiles over at her as she makes her way to the porch, but a frown takes over as he looks back to me. “What’s really going on here?”

“You’re really going on here. Why aren’t you fighting for her?”

His eyes bear in to mine, hardened with a slight level of rage before softening to something just this side of pity. “I know this is going to be very hard for you to hear, son, but I don’t want her anymore. Not like that.” And there it is—the shot to the heart. “I want her as a friend, as someone who works with me to help shepherd you and your siblings through life. What we shared as a couple is over. It melted away with the web of lies and deception we lost ourselves in. We tried to hold on. Hell, the last seven years we were scraping along by the skin of our teeth.”

“You took vows. You promised to love each other forever.” My voice breaks. “Was that all a lie?”

“Not at the time.” He turns away as if he were slapped. “Okay, I still love her. Is that what you want to hear? I still care about her. On occasion, I wonder what it would be like if we were still together as husband and wife.” It’s his voice that’s wobbling now, and my gut says run. Put both of us out of our misery and end this carnival of grief.

Trixie shouts from the outside for the two of us to hurry up, and we make our way to the door.

Dad turns to me as we hit

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