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Georgia wasn’t talking about the fight She was shocked that Tell had stood up for her years ago A girl he barely knew

“Seeing that look on McKay’s face when I told hi around? Priceless”

God She felt sick to her stomach and as confused as ever “Why do you hate hi him in his place”

So it hadn’t been about her Just another exa a bully And Deck knew she’d take the side of the guy on the receiving end of punches, not the side of the guy throwing them She’d played into his hands perfectly

“The coht?”

Georgia refocused on her assle ex-husband “I guess Why?”

“Me’n Tara-Lee are movin’ to New Mexico”

“What? When did this come about?”

“As soon as Robert gavewith you?”

Deck snorted “No Why would he?”

“Because he’s been like a father to you”

“Whoa Robert ain’t my dad And it’s always been a little creepy how he acted like he was”

But only up to the point where it benefited Deck, when Robert forked over a pile of cash to a guy he’d considered his son “After all onna take the money and run?”

“I earned every penny of thatfaria, but mostly we’re business partners Now the business is sold, we’re parting ways”

“Business partners?” she repeated “You’ve always been much more than that” Hadn’t they?

Deck shook his head “I like Robert He’s a great guy I know you need sos ended up with your father after RJ died, but your dad didn’t choose me Your mom left You left in mind and spirit months before your body did Robert didn’t have anyone else but ia I never tried to take yours, either Robert’s been a brokentime Maybe it’s tiether”

Deck’s accusations settled in and he walked away for good

Georgia had a weird punch of anxiety when she pulled up to the house she hadn’t seen in years The house she’d fled from and never looked back

It’s concrete and wood Neither the structure nor the memories contained within have power over you

As she started up the sidewalk, she caught move on a pile of tires, staring at the house Even from a hundred feet away, an aura of defeat surrounded him

“Dad?”

He turned his head toward her as she erased the distance between theie?”

Her retort, “Does anyone else call you Dad?” came out a little harsh

“Nope”