Page 122 of My All American Girl

52

DEAN

Mo looked like he wanted to throttle me—or bash my skull in with the wrench in his hand. Either would suck. But he and I had too much history for me to let it all end without one more chance at reconciliation.

In the last couple of weeks since Sarah and I split, I’d found my clarity. I knew who I was, what I wanted, and what I was willing to give in order to get it. But it all had to start here.

Mo didn’t say a word. I leaned against a cabinet that held tools. A plate of cookies sat on a nearby table. I remembered Sarah’s advice and ignored them.

The tension was thick. I needed to break through it. This thing between us could not keep going. I didn’t know what was happening when I pulled up, but I saw the hurt in her eyes, the tears staining her cheeks. I saw her come out of the garage, which told me she’d been talking with her dad. I couldn’t begin to imagine what she was dealing with during her trip home. It pissed me off that her father didn’t see how amazing she was, and if he kept making her cry, it would be my turn to punch him.

I took a deep breath. “Mo, I’ve got a lot I need to say. I have no expectations you’ll be willing to have a conversation with me, but I’m going to say my piece anyway. After, the ball is in your court.”

He snorted. “Did the two of you organize this?”

“Organize what?” I asked.

“Everyone needs to say their piece to me today.” He shook his head. “Am I being held in here?”

“In your garage?” I asked with confusion. “No. No one is holding you, but I am going to say what I have to. You got to say your piece, and if I remember correctly, you got in a swing that went unreturned. You owe me this.”

“I don’t owe you shit.” He scoffed. “The way I see it, one punch wasn’t enough.”

“Are you going to be a man about this or not?” I snapped.

He finally looked at me, his eyes narrow and shooting plenty of anger. “You came a long way just to be told to piss off. So speak.”

I let his anger roll off my back. I was giving him a little leeway on that, but it wasn’t going to last forever. “I’m sorry for betraying you, Mo. I know what I did was wrong, and I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I have no excuses. Only an apology. I knew better. I had every opportunity to make a different choice, but I didn’t. And I know I hurt you, and my actions have had ripple effects that have also hurt Sarah and your family. I never wanted that. I know you may not understand it, or believe it, but I really didn’t have a choice. I tried to stay away from her, but she’s special.”

Mo’s jaw tightened, his grip on the wrench flexing. “Sarah isn’t your concern anymore. She’s my daughter. She will always be my daughter and my responsibility. I’m handling things after you nearly destroyed her career.”

“Okay, rein it in, drama queen,” I said with a shake of my head. “Her career is just fine. You are the one intent on destroying her career and her confidence with all of your accusations. No one needs to know about Sarah’s private life.”

“Sarah doesn’t have a private life,” he shot back. “She’s a pilot. She’s a Thomas. She is looked up to and held to a different standard than everyone else. Her private life should never have anything in it that disrespects her name or her reputation. Like I said, it is none of your concern what happens to her from this moment on.”

“She’ll always be my concern because I’m in love with her.”

Anger flashed in his eyes. He took quick strides and closed the distance between us. I didn’t move. I let him get in my face. If he wanted to hit me again, I would take it. One more hit. That was what I would let him get away with. If he thought I was going to go limp and let him beat the shit out of me, he was dead wrong. I looked right into his eyes, challenging him. Daring him.

“Don’t say that shit to me,” Mo hissed. “Love her? She’s a child!”

“You’re a child!” I said firmly. “Sarah, on the other hand, is an impressive woman. She knows who she is and where she’s going. She’s strong. Capable. Clever. And perhaps one of the best flyers I’ve ever met. She will always be your baby, Mo. I get that. But to me? She’s my second chance.”

“Your second chance?” Mo seethed, his face scarlet under his thinning gray hair. “What makes you think you get to have your second chance with her? She’s innocent. You’re nearly ten years older than her. I’m not letting you run off with my little girl.”

“I genuinely care about her. I’m not running off with her. I’m standing here in front of you, trying to talk to you like a man.”

“Care?” Mo spat the word at me, as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. “You don’t know the meaning of the word.”

“You and I both know that’s bullshit,” I said. “You know me, Mo. You can talk all the crap you want, but you know I’m not that kind of man. I don’t disrespect women. If I tell you I’m in love with her, I mean it.”

“Get the hell out of here,” Mo said through gritted teeth, his face inches from mine.

“I’m willing to talk if you change your mind,” I replied calmly. “But I’m not giving up on Sarah.”

“I’m not going to let her anywhere near you, Ryker,” Mo threatened. “You’re going to London, and she’s staying here where I can keep an eye on her. She’s going to get herself back on track, and if you dare reach out and try to ruin that, I’ll destroy you. You’ll never climb into another cockpit again. You’ll be riding a desk in some backwoods base, counting paperclips. You don’t know how much worse I can make it. If you know what’s good for you, get your ass to London and move on.”

“I’m not going to London,” I said, stepping back toward the garage door. “I quit.”