“Yes.”
Dad just shakes his head, as if he doesn’t believe me. “I hope so, because she’s already in love with you.”
“Don’t.” I shake my head and walk to the opposite side of the room. “Don’t try to give me relationship advice. You know nothing about Adley and me.”
With that, something inside of me snaps. The anger and resentment I’ve held close for so many years finally bubbles to the surface. Rather than simmering there, it explodes, and I realize fast that I have zero control over it.
“And don’t talk about something you don’t know the meaning of,” I add.
His eyes narrow. “I know the meaning. I loved your mother dearly.”
“Is that why she came home drunk every night? Is that why she was cheating on you every chance she got? Because you showered her with love?”
“Your mother and I had a different kind of love. What we felt for each other was wild and dangerous. The love you and Adley share is so much more. It’s pure and selfless and—”
“Don’t tell me what I have with Adley,” I spit. “You don’t even know her. Hell, you barely know me. You pull out these old pictures, toss around a few heartfelt words, and think suddenly everything is okay? Well, it’s not. A few apologies don’t give you the right to interject your opinions about my life. It’s because of you that I don’t believe in love. I’ll never be able to love Adley the way she deserves because you and Mom fucked me up.”
“Pull your head outta your ass. You love her.”
“Don’t tell me how I feel,” I growl. “I don’t love her.”
I regret the words as soon as they’re out of my mouth, because I do love Adley. But I’m pissed and my words are being fueled by twenty-plus years of pent-up pain and rage. I’m stuck between a sick cycle of my past and my future, and I have one goal right now: to hurt my father the way he’s hurt me. Only I won’t use my fists.
“You ruined the idea of happily-ever-after for me. It’s because of you that I’ll never have that.”
Through the roar of blood rushing through my ears, I hear a faint gasp, but I’m too busy unloading on Dad to turn around.
Dad shakes his head. “I don’t believe that for a second. You love your sister.”
“Chloe is different. She’s blood. She’s my family. Of course I love her. But I refuse to fall in love. I refuse to give someone the power to hurt me the way you and Mom hurt each other. That’s all you two did, hurt each other and us. Do you think I want that? Fuck, no. And God forbid I ever have kids. The last thing this world needs is another Bennett spawn running around.”
I can still hear my mother’s warning from years ago. “You’re a dumbass, Linc, stupider than your father, if that’s even possible. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and I hope to God your kids don’t get your brains.”
I was an angry little shit who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “What’s that say about you?”
Touching my cheek, I run my fingers along my jaw, searching for the scar I know is buried beneath the scruff. When I find it, I close my eyes, remembering how pissed off she was about my smart mouth. With the can opener clenched in her fist, she swung and knocked me out cold.
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” I tell Dad, quoting my mother.
His eyes swim with tears. In all my years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him cry.
“I broke you,” he says. “Your mother and I broke you.”
“You’re damn right you did. You ripped my heart and soul into so many pieces that it’ll never be whole for me to give to someone else, let alone a family.”
I take a deep breath. Judging by the look on Dad’s face, my words have hit their mark.
But why don’t I feel better?
“Shit,” I sigh, running my hand through my hair. I turn to the side, and that’s when I see Adley.
Tears stream down her beautiful face, and my heart constricts. Now that the anger has bled from my veins, I realize my harsh words hit the wrong target.
I rush across the room, but when I’m a few feet away, Adley takes a giant step back.
The look on her face stops me cold. “Adley—”
“Don’t.” She holds her hands up.