Blurred Lines by Mackenzie Lane & R. Linda

Author:Mackenzie Lane & R. Linda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: college romance, sports romance, basketball, friends to lovers, boy nextdoor, best friends, An FU College Basketball Friends to Lovers Romance
Publisher: Writerlust Publishing
Published: 2020-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

EM KISSES MY DAD GOODNIGHT and heads straight upstairs to bed. Following Dad into the living room, I collapse on the sofa beside him.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

Dad shrugs. “Didn’t want to cause you anymore pain or stress.” He sighs. “And I only found out the truth a few years ago.”

“How?”

“He told me. Got drunk one night when you and Em were at her prom, or dance or something. Came over here and was bragging about still having his wife when mine had died because of him.”

“I’ll kill him.” I push myself up and get ready to go next door and show Hayes exactly what I think of him.

“Settle down.” Dad reaches up and grips my arm to stop me from doing something stupid. “Go up there and look after your girl. She’s upset.”

“My girl?” I drop my eyes to him, and he nods.

“Your girl.” He smirks, making me think he knows something I don’t.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, kiddo. I’ve had a long time to come to terms with it. Now you and Em have to.”

I clap him on his shoulder. “Sorry for ruining your birthday.”

“Are you kidding me? My night was far from ruined. You’re here. Em’s here. It’s more than I could ever want.” He smiles and nods his head toward the stairs, dismissing me.

“Night,” I say and head up to my room.

“Night.”

Em’s lying on my bed in the fetal position hugging a pillow to her chest when I walk in. Stripping off my clothes, I climb on the bed behind her and wrap my body around hers. I hold her tight and stay quiet while she cries.

After a while, her sobs quieten and her breathing evens out. She rolls over and hugs herself to me tight.

Stroking her hair, I kiss her head. “You okay?”

“No.” She sniffs. “I’m the reason your mom is dead. And for what? My mom stayed with him even after he...” She chokes, unable to get the words out.

Killed my mom.

“You’re not the reason. Never think that. It’s not your fault. It’s his. Okay?”

She doesn’t reply, so I press harder, “Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispers.

“Say it properly.”

“It’s not my fault. It’s his.”

“Feel better?”

“No.”

I roll off the bed and pick up my shirt from the floor. Climbing back on the bed again, I pull Em’s shoes off before unzipping her jeans and sliding them down her legs. She doesn’t fight me or try to stop me. She lets me pull her shirt off and slide mine over her head, feeding her arms through the sleeves like she’s a child. I pull back the covers and Em climbs in, resting her head on my chest when I lie down beside her.

“Can we go to the police?” Her voice is soft, defeated. Heartbroken.

“What for?”

“Explain to them what happened. They might charge him with something. He needs to pay.”

I hug her tight. “I wish we could. But it’s been so long, I’m sure the statute of limitations has passed on that one.”

Em sniffles and she cries silent tears. The wetness on my chest and the slight tremble of her breath, the only thing that gives her away.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.