Page 94 of An Unexpected Turn
Recognition drifted over Keith’s features, his easy smile giving way to a tight jaw and narrowed eyes as he glared at me. Peyton leaned on me, still in nothing but my shirt as she groaned into my shoulder. My gaze stayed locked with Keith’s as I rubbed her back, soothing her in advance for what she was about to see. The hour we’d been avoiding and dreading was upon us, and she still had no idea her uncle was two feet away.
“Ah, this wasn’t just a ‘you take care of my kid like I would take care of yours’ gesture? You meant she’d stay in your bed ... with you ... like she was last night.”
Peyton gasped as her head shot up, wincing when she noticed Keith.
He stepped closer, scanning her face as his jaw ticked.
“How many stitches?” he asked, his gaze cutting from her to me before she answered.
“Three. The bruises on my cheeks are from the punch and the fall. What I’m feeling now is the slice of the cut, but my cheeks aren’t that sore anymore.”
“Good,” he said, his tone clipped, but I had the feeling that was more directed at me. “Give Jake and me a few minutes alone.”
“No,” Peyton said as she squinted at Keith. “Whatever you say to him, you can say in front of me.”
“Peyton, please,” I begged. “I told you, let me handle this.”
“No. You’re both not sending me out of the room like I’m a child. I’m an adult, fully aware of all the decisions I’ve made up until this point. I’m sorry we waited so long to tell you—”
“That was my fault,” I interrupted. “I wanted us to tell you together, but we couldn’t get a hold of you for a month.”
“For a month.” He leaned back with a slow nod. “Exactly how long has this been going on?”
“We’ve been together since the beginning of November,” Peyton offered before I could answer. “But it was brewing long before that.”
“Right.” He clicked his tongue against his teeth, nodding again. After knowing him for most of my life, I couldn’t get a read on him. This cool and eerily calm facade he’d stepped into unnerved me. “You want to stay since you’re an adult, fine.” His gaze slid to mine. “Let’s put aside the fact that you’ve both been lying to me for months,” he said, leveling his eyes at me. “What are you doing, Russo?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked with a defensive edge to my voice that I couldn’t help.
“It means that she is a hell of a lot younger than you and vulnerable. I’m not saying you took advantage—”
“You better not be,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m sorry we waited so long to tell you, but I’m not sorry we’re together. If I weren’t serious about her, I never would have come near her. I love Peyton. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to you, but it doesn’t have to.”
“I love him too, Uncle Keith. He’s your best friend. You’ve known him for most of your life, and you know what kind of man he is.”
Keith coughed out a laugh. “I actually don’t at the moment. I’ve known you since the day you were born, and I’m not sure who you are either.”
Peyton straightened and ambled up to Keith.
“I’m sorry you feel that way, and again, I’m sorry we didn’t tell you, but I don’t regret one second with Jake. I know you’re in shock, but can’t you be happy for me? For us?”
Keith’s eyes clenched shut for a moment. “I know what happened in Brooklyn. With the principal. I was waiting for you to tell me, but I guess you don’t tell me much anymore.”
“I couldn’t tell you.” She took in a deep breath after her voice cracked. “I didn’t want to tell anyone, especially you. I was scared you’d be disappointed in me. Just like now. If you only knew how hard we fought against this—for you. But we couldn’t. Loving each other doesn’t mean we don’t love you.”
“You just don’t respect me.” He sucked in a long breath as he looked between us. “You’re okay, and you’re not alone. I’m going to head back up to Jason’s.” He glanced at me before turning toward the door. “I’m not needed here.”
“That’s not true. Uncle Keith,” Peyton called out before he shut the door behind himself.
“Fuck,” she groaned, pressing her palms against her forehead. “That was exactly how I didn’t want it to go.”
“He’ll come around.” I rubbed her shoulders. “If not for me, then definitely for you. Give him a minute.”
I wished he would have just clocked me across the jaw and gotten it over with. This was not the way I wanted him to find out either, but I always feared he’d see my being with Peyton as the worst kind of betrayal. He’d come here thinking I was looking out for his kid as he’d always looked out for mine and now, most likely, believed the exact opposite. All the time that passed without telling him the truth made it that much worse. But no matter when we told him, the fallout between Keith and me would have been more or less the same.
Still, I loved Peyton too much to regret anything—even if it cost me my best friend.
THIRTY-EIGHT
