Page 23 of When You Stayed
Goddammit.
“If you so much as step?—”
“Royce?” Killian pulled the gate open, poking his head into the space. Worry tugged his features down as he stepped further inside.
I realized too late that this probably didn’t look great, that I was over here, hidden away with his daughter who was now crying.
“Hey, Dad.” Royce gave him a feeble smile while swiping at her face.
His eyes flashed as he looked between us. “What’s going on?”
“He talked to me about the video. I’m really sorry for making things harder on all of you.”
Killian stepped forward and wrapped her in a tight hug. “Oh, sweetheart. You didn’t. We just want to be sure you’re safe. I’m sorry if Ford didn’t convey that properly.” His eyes shot up to me in an angry scowl.
“Why don’t you head on home, and I’ll be there in a few.”
She nodded, then turned to leave without glancing back. Killian followed behind her, likely wanting to ensure she got on her bike safely. I was close behind him as we made our way back toward theclub. Once she was out of earshot, had started her bike, and moved down the trail toward her house, Killian swung his head in my direction.
“Is there something I need to be aware of regarding you two?”
I stared at her taillights, still curious how she pulled that thing I had buried out and made a mess of my chest with it. I also absolutely detested how sexy she looked on that bike.
“Ford, I’m only going to tell you this once,” Killian warned. “She hides a lot from the public. There’s a deep place in her heart where she stores away all the hurt from people. The rejection, the anger. She puts on a mask for everyone else, smiles and acts like nothing fazes her, then breaks for weeks alone, behind closed doors. She needs someone who understands how to be tender with her.”
“Can you please get to the point?” I droned, sounding bored when, really, my heart hammered a painful rhythm.
His eyes flashed, and I worried that The Wolf of Rose Ridge was about to tear the fuck into me.
“Sure. You’re too fucking harsh for someone like her. Leave her alone.”
I wanted to defend that I wasn’t trying to be with her, nor did I care that he assumed I liked her when I didn’t. I was trying to protect the club.
But instead, a very odd thing came out of my mouth.
“I’m not always harsh. I could try to be tender.”
Killian’s eyes blazed again, searching mine. “You can try all you want to, Ford. Just not with her.”
With that, he moved from the steps and took off toward his bike, where he’d follow his daughter home.
I was left standing there, trying to figure out why his disapproval hurt so much.
SIX
ROYCE
The glowof my phone was the only light in my room.
Which was good because I looked like a fucking mess at the moment. Kleenex was scattered around me, I had a bag of Flaming-Hot Cheetos tucked against my chest, and my hydro flask against my face.
I swiped to the next video, hoping the void in my chest would feel less invasive if I found enough funny videos to fill it. I’d been at it for three hours to no avail.
“What the hell am I looking at?” Taryn’s sharp voice suddenly interrupted my doomscrolling. The light from the hall filtered into my bedroom, making me wince.
“Shut the door!”
She complied with a heavy sigh. “Royce. What the hell?”
