“Dodging your dad?”
When am I not dodging him? “Uh…yeah, him.”
She gazes at me with sympathetic eyes. “Are you two not seeing eye to eye again?”
“Not seeing eye to eye? I’m not sure that’s the right phrase. More like a battle zone and we’re on opposite sides.”
Hannah lays her hand on my shoulder. “It can’t be that bad. I thought you two were starting to get along. I thought he was starting to understand—”
I let out a harsh laugh. “Understand? The only thing he understands is his way of life is the only way. That we all need to follow the scripture of the almighty Jesus Christ who saves, but when I needed my God most, he was nowhere to be found. I won’t be part of what he preaches. Just another devoted follower who believes in a higher power. I’m done falling for that.”
I fight back the tears, the angry waves of emotion that flow through me day and night. Ever since the night I lost the one person who owned my heart. An accident took Jax, and my God ignored my pleas while I begged him to save him.
“Bridge, I’m so sorry. These past two years couldn’t have been easy for you.”
Shaking my head, I rid myself of the memories. The fight between Jax and my father. His constant disapproval. Jax’s willingness to let me go if it meant me not losing the love and support of my father. The last night I saw him. The last time he told me he loved me.
“You can’t do this. I don’t care what my father says, I love you.”
“And I love you, baby girl, but it would forever be us against them. They’re your family—”
“You’re my family! I don’t care what he thinks. You show me more love than he ever has. I won’t survive if you leave me. You told me we were forever.”
His large hand cups my cheek. “We are. Just not the way we planned. I would never leave you, but I have to step back and let your dad calm down. He needs time. Maybe this was too soon—”
“Too soon? How long do two people who are in love have to wait to get engaged? It’s been three years. And I’m an adult. He has no say in what I do.”
His eyes become sullen. Pain in my stomach explodes. “I know, babe, but without his approval, I won’t go through with it. I have too much respect for him.”
I slap his hand away. “Then you know we’ll never be together. Because he’ll never agree.” He reaches back to catch the tears that flow, but I step away. “You leave here tonight, you can take this with you.” I snatch off the diamond ring he placed on my finger days before and toss it at him. “You know what? Just leave.”
“Bridge—”
“No, I get it. You’re not willing to fight for us. For me—”
“Dammit, you know that’s not true. I’ve fought for you ever since the day you landed in my life. Every single day. And I’ll continue to fight until there’s nothing left inside me. But this? I need to do this the right way. I want to scoop you up in my arms and give you your happily ever after. Make you mine in ways I’ve been dreaming of since the first day I laid eyes on you. But I don’t want there ever to be doubts.”
“There wouldn’t.”
“There would. They’re your parents.”
Tears fall in violent waves down my face. He bends down to pick up the ring and attempts to hand it back to me, but I turn away. “Bridge, I love you. Just give him time. We have our entire lives.” I don’t budge at his words. Eventually, he gives up and hops on his motorcycle. With one final gaze, his eyes memorizing every part of me, he nods and takes off down my street.
I never saw Jax again.
“It doesn’t matter. My dad got his way. No bad boy troubled kid from the wrong side of the tracks stealing his daughter’s virtue and kidnapping her to live in the woods like a bunch of hoodlums.” Hannah’s eyes crease at the harshness of my reply. “Shoot, I’m sorry. I’m just having a hard time—”
“Stop. You don’t need to explain to me. I may never know the pain you’re going through, but I’m here for you. For anything. I know our parents rarely see each other, but that doesn’t mean we can’t. Call me. Anytime.”
She wraps her arms around me. Hannah has always been such a light in our family. “I wish my dad was more like yours.”
Hannah chuckles and pulls away. “What do you mean? You wish your dad was ridiculously overprotective of his grill and won’t let anyone help in fear they may steal his master status?” We both burst out in laughter. “I have no idea what the future holds, but I have faith it will get better. Your happily ever after is out there.”