Page 129 of Joey

But I’m an optimist these days so I choose another explanation.

We are a thing now. We are a team. We are friends, we are lovers, we are committed.

We will win or lose together.

I don’t give a fuck about the deal we made on Tuesday. I don’t even have a fuck to give about my mom and her stupid boyfriend. And while I might still have a spare fuck for Miklos’ initial betrayal, it’s not a true fuck.

It’s really just simple forgiveness.

Because fine. Miklos was bad too. Whatever. He did his best and you know what? That’s all anyone can do. Their best. This life isn’t fair. No one promised me a goddamned parade. No one is responsible for my actions just as I’m not responsible for theirs.

But beyond that, no one is responsible for my happiness. Not anymore. Not since I decided to live Miklos’s lie and make the most of what I was given.

I made this decision. And I don’t care what anyone says, when it comes to love there are no rules. It’s all dictated by the heart.

I loved Miklos like a daughter loves a father and I’m not going to apologize for that.

“Hey… Brooke?” Joey says, slipping his tie through his shirt collar.

“Hmm?” I ask. Turning to smile at him.

“You’ve never mentioned your real father. Who was he?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “Never met him.”

“Did you ever miss him?”

Oh. Shit.

I pause. Because I know what he’s asking. Hell, I’m the one who planted the idea of staying away from Maisy in his brain in the first place. Me and my stupid fairy tale fantasy.

“Brooke?”

I glance at Huck and Wald and find both of them looking at me with uneasy cocked heads, and squinty side eyes, and it’s possible they’re holding their breath.

I should lie. If ever there was a time to lie, it’s right now.

But Joey would spot that lie so fast and part of being loyal is also being truthful. Like Wald told me the other day. I can lie to whoever I want, I just can’t lie to them.

“No,” I say. “No. I never missed him.”

Huck and Wald both let out a long breath. And I don’t mean to catch Wald’s eye when I go back to undressing, but I do.

He approves.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE - JOEY

I stare at Brooke for a few seconds but I’m not really seeing her. I’m picturing Maisy and her life with Michael Conner on that estate. I don’t really understand what that place is. It’s not just the Kane family home, that’s for sure. It’s almost like… it’s almost like all the families involved in the Boston money-making ceremony banded together and now use this place as their sanctuary.

So Brooke was right. I probably should just leave Maisy alone. Let her live her life safely tucked away in her perfect version of the world. Let her believe in the serene beauty of the gardens and that the forest surrounding the mansion is a hug of protection.

Let her think Michael is her father. Let her be his little flower.

She won’t miss me and it’s clear that Michael has provided for her in a way I haven’t.

“Joey?” Wald says.

I realize I’m still staring at Brooke and quickly blink and redirect my gaze to Wald. “What?”