idea how much you hurt me?”
“Enough to drive me down a dark alley.”
She grimaced, not hiding it for one second.
“I’m sorry, Harley. I’m so fuckin’ sorry for hurtin’ you. I fucked up many years of your life and marriage. I’m sorry to both of you. I made you pay for my mistakes. I hope one day you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. Not a day has gone by I haven’t thought ’bout you or Bailey. I miss my best friend. I love you, Harley. Please tell me you at least know that?”
<>Journey<>
I couldn’t help myself, I never could. Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed Cash’s hand and stood beside him.
Unified front.
“I know you’re still upset with me, Jackson. You have every right to be. I’m sorry too. I thought... I just wanted to help. I know what it’s like not to have a choice of who is in your life. I didn’t want that for Bailey.”
Jackson lowered his eyebrows.
“I love you. I love both of you. I love Bailey as if she were my own. She can have the best of both worlds. Cash is a good person, a good man. He loves her. I’ve seen it. I feel it. I know he’s made mistakes, we all have. Please don’t let Bailey suffer from not knowing him. She deserves to have all the love in the world. You’re her parents, and I’ll respect whatever choice you make. All I ask is for you to please give him a chance to make things right.”
Cash smiled at me.
I was proud of him for finally telling his side of the story. It was so easy to blame and hate him, however, no one did a better job at it than himself.
“I’m here, standin’ in front of you. Wantin’ to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everythin’ you have done for Bailey. You raised her as if she were your own, and you’ve done an amazin’ job. From the first time I saw her on camera when you won the Super Bowl, I could see how bright and beautiful she was. You’ve done right by her, and I will never be able to thank you enough.”
I could tell by the expression on my brother’s and Harley’s expressions this was a lot to take in. I understood how they felt. It was an overwhelming amount of honesty on Cash’s part. All I could do was hope they would eventually come around. It wasn’t something that was going to happen today or tomorrow, or even a month from now.
It was going to take time, and I knew Cash would be patient. He wasn’t going anywhere. He’d wait an eternity if it meant they’d allow him into Bailey’s life. As much as I wanted it to happen in a blink of an eye, I wasn’t na?ve enough to think it was going to. Although, he did take a huge step in the right direction in showing them he wasn’t a threat to Jackson.
I knew all along he wasn’t.
He was a good man, just needing to believe in himself.
“Cash,” Harley spoke, hesitating for a few seconds. “This is a lot to take in.”
“I know,” he acknowledged, tightening his hold on my hand. “I don’t want you to feel rushed or pressured by it. One way or another, you have the right to feel any way you want. I had to say my piece in order to move on wit’ my steps. You and Jackson are the last people on my list to make amends wit’. All I can do is pray one day you both can find it in your hearts, to not forget but to forgive me.”
My brother broke his silence. “I don’t even know what to say, pussy boy. I’ve spent so many years hating you, and now I feel like I have to thank you. It’s so fuckin’ confusing. Only proving you’re still a pain in my ass.” The tone of Jackson’s voice had a hint of humor in it.
“We’re gonna need time to process this,” Harley declared.
“Take all the time you need,” he stated.
Harley stepped in front of him, blocking Jackson to face Cash on her own. “I do know you love me. I’ve always known that. It’s why it hurt so bad when you made me think you didn’t. It all makes sense now, though. I want you to know I do miss you, and despite what happened between us, I’ve never stopped