Page 43 of Never and Always
I felt prickly heat hit my eyes. God, I didn’t want to cry. It never helped. I’d cried so much when my father had left, when things had been tough. It hadn’t changed a damn thing.
“Hey.” He slid an arm around me and tugged me against him.
My face hit his hard chest, covered by the soft fabric of his shirt.
“My father left when I was six. Just one day announced he wanted something different, a more exciting life than working to provide for his wife and two kids.”
Everett’s arm tightened.
“I barely remember him. I never had the experience of a father, someone to take care of us, protect us, keep us safe.” I rubbed my cheek against his shirt. “My mom hadn’t worked since she’d had me and Chance. Her skills were rusty and she was now a single mom. Dad never paid child support. She worked two jobs. She waitressed and got a job at a grocery store. Things were tight. I did what I could to help her.”
“Babe…” His big hand rubbed against my back.
“Things got a little easier when we moved in with my Gram in Chicago. Her house wasn’t big, but at least Mom didn’t pay rent. She bought the groceries and paid the utilities. And Gram is awesome. I don’t know when Chance went off the rails exactly.” I rubbed my cheek against the soft cotton of Everett’s shirt. “He and I were so close, right up until I finished high school. Then he just decided he deserved more, and needed it yesterday, without putting in the work or effort.” I shook my head. God, Everett was so warm.
And I was clinging to him like some needy mess.
I started to pull away.
“No.” He kept me pinned against him. “For once in your life, Piper, just lean on someone, okay? You don’t have to take it all on. Let me help.”
I held myself stiff. I couldn’t lean on him. That opened up a path of needing more of him, and I was well aware that whatever the hell was simmering between us didn’t change the fact that I was a career-driven city girl, and he was a laid-back mountain man.
We were opposites.
Oil and water.
Chalk and cheese.
High heels and flannel shirts.
“Piper?”
“I’m trying. I’ve never…”
“Never let anyone share the load.”
“Never,” I confessed. “I’m always the one other people depend on.”
“I’ve noticed you aren’t that great with delegation.”
I lifted my head. “I’m very good at delegation.”
“You’re moderately good at it, at work. Not in your personal life.”
I was quiet for a moment. “Maybe.”
“Tonight, we’re switching it up. Now, relax.”
I forced myself to relax.
Just for tonight. I’d lean for tonight, then tomorrow, I’d find my brother and fix his mess.
Which brought me back to the hundred thousand dollars.
“How the hell does someone with no job or money end up a hundred thousand dollars in debt?” I whispered.
“When bad guys give it to them.”
