“What have you ever done to make money?” my father yells back. “You sit on your ass, spending it all.”
“What did you spend your money on? Your mistresses?” my mother squawks.
I take a step back next to Kai as they start to scream at each other. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling my back against his front.
“I’m so proud of you,” he whispers. I nod, looking at him over my shoulder and giving him a grateful smile.
“What about your extramarital affairs, dear? I know that you’re fucking your new driver,” my dad continues, his booming voice echoing around the lavish room.
“Why did you even hire a driver if you were having money problems?” I blurt out. They both glare at me.
“What does it matter? Your boyfriend bought this place. You can fuck your way to stay here just like your mom,” my dad says, the vein in his forehead pulsing with anger.
“Enough,” Kai says, stepping forward. His voice is steady, firm, and commanding. Not like my father, whose voice is erratic and shrill. I love Kai for coming to my defense, but I hold a hand out, stopping him from moving.
“They’re not worth it,” I tell him.
He looks at me, and I can tell he wants to yell at my parents. Scratch that; he looks like he wants to punch my dad in his bulbous nose. While that would be fun to see, it’s unnecessary. As soon as I walk out the front door, they’re both dead to me.
I give my head a subtle shake, and he backs down. I love that about him. I know he’d be my knight and shining armor anytime, but he’s letting me take the lead.
“You’re right,” I say with more confidence than I’ve ever had around my parents. “Kai owns it now, and I’m glad he does. I’d rather live in squalor with him than here in hell with you both.”
I grab Kai’s hand, and we head back toward the front door. We don’t say anything as we walk back out to his truck. He helps me in and stops me as I reach for the seatbelt. I stare at him and he studies me, concern and pride swirling in his golden brown depths.
Kai cups my cheek, pressing the sweetest kiss to my forehead.
“Are you okay?” he whispers.
I take a deep breath, wondering how I feel about what just went down.
“I will be,” I promise him. Kai gives me a little smile.
“You know, I have money,” he says. I furrow my brow at him, wondering where that non sequitur came from. “I can get us a bigger house.”
“What?” I ask, wondering what he’s talking about.
“You said you’d rather live in squalor with me. I didn’t know if you hated our place.”
“Oh, no, I love our place. I just said it like it was an expression. Like if you lost everything, I’d still rather live and be with you.”
“I’d rather be with you, too,” he tells me. I grin at him.
“Good. Then take me home, cowboy.”
“Anything that you want,” he rasps, kissing me one last time before he closes my door and heads around to the driver’s side.
I don’t know what the future will hold, but I know it will be alright as long as I have Kai by my side. He’s the perfect man for me. So strong and supportive. I love him. It might have taken us ten years to get here, but it was worth it. I can’t wait to see what the future will hold for us.
TWELVE
Kai
Five Years Later…
“One more story, daddy?”Kaylie asks, and I’m powerless to resist her.
My little girl has me wrapped around her finger, just like her mama.