Shifting her weight, Erin looks away, her gaze darting away from him to the ceiling, then the floor, then to the garden outside.
“The future, huh?” I make a noise deep in my throat, like I’m thinking. “What specific future are you referring to?”
“Well. You know about Erin and her…upcoming mental breakdown, to put it bluntly. She must’ve told you…?”
It takes all my effort to remain calm. What’s wrong with him that he’s talking about her like she isn’t here, when she’s standing right in front of him?
He rubs his hands together. The gesture reminds me of a fly sitting on a pile of dog shit. “If you have a good prenup, she won’t be too much of a burden to you. I’ll make sure of it. And that’s just one of many future favors I can guarantee.”
Jesus. Not a single word for Erin. And I’m certain he doesn’t plan on taking care of her if his daughter happens to need help.
Erin’s stiffer than a board next to me. Humiliation and anger vibrate through her, and the skin around her eyes is red like she’s holding back tears.
My heart breaks for her, as rage rips through me. How the hell did she survive with people like this as her family? I wonder briefly if her mom went into depression because she was married to this subhuman piece of shit, not because she was mentally ill like he claims.
Not to mention, I hate this asshole for preying on Erin’s deepest fear, turning her into a victim. “That’s an offensive proposition. No.”
He does a double take. “What?”
“I mean I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to win. And I also don’t think it’ll be a good idea for me to do a thing. Go away, and don’t ever try to push your snout back into our lives again. And don’t try contacting my family. If you bother any of us, I’ll make sure we give our maximum support to whoever’s running against you.”
His face takes on an unhealthy shade of red. Hope he doesn’t expect me to call 911 if he pops a vein, because I’m going to be too busy dancing. “What?”
“Was I not clear?” I say. “You’ll need to imagine your daughter’s future, because you’re not in it. Now, we need to get ready for the party. Erin, do you have anything to say to your dad before he goes back to wherever he came from?”
Erin tightens her hold on me. “What David said, Dad. Just go and never come back,” she says, her voice taut.
He turns on her in a flash, eyes wide and nostrils flaring like a bull about to charge. “You think you’re somebody important now, huh? Who’s going to be by your side when you’re old and out of your mind?”
I start to step between him and Erin. He doesn’t get to talk like that to her. In fact, no one—
“Fuck off,” Erin says.
Shock and admiration stop me in my tracks.
“What did you say?” Bill demands, his face now purple. Maybe he already popped that vein.
“I said. Fuck. Off. And when you’re done fucking off, go fuck further off.”
He starts shaking, then spins on his heel and stalks away. “You’ll be sorry!” he yells before we close the door behind him.
Erin lets out an unsteady breath and collapses against me.
“You okay?” I say.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She looks up at me with a small smile. “I… I didn’t mean to say it quite like that, but I couldn’t help it. Not when he spoke about our future like it’s set in stone.”
“He deserved every word,” I say, kissing her. “And I had shivers go up my spine when you got all confident and assertive.”
The twinkle slowly returns to her gorgeous blue gaze. “Did you?”
“Yup. There’s a reason I fell in love with you.”
“My F-bombs?”
I laugh. “Nope. That you’re the type to really commit when you make up your mind. I’m just glad you decided to be mine.”
Chapter Forty-Nine