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She felt a surge of regret and looked away, unable to meet his eyes

He touched her chin and gently but firmly forced her to face him “You acted like a selfish child out there, and I was ashamed of you You should have been ashamed of you”

She kneas telling the truth, and it stung She felt the tears returning, and she tried to brush the back “I … I know,” she whispered

She waited for him to soothe her, to tell her it wasn’t her fault or it was okay to be a bitch sos herher feel the weight of her own shame

Finally he s up is hard—but at least you didn’t have to get your heart cut out to do it”

It reminded her of what she’d said to him “I… I’m sorry about what I said… I didn’t mean it… you know, about the heart”

He sighed quietly “It scaresI’ve ever known, and I can’t be hi at her

She felt as if everything were hanging, suspended between them She couldn’t even draw a full breath “But what?”

“I rong to want to be your friend It was a kid’s answer to a man’s question I knohat I really want”

“You do?”

“I want to be your dad And if you’ll letI have”

She felt the tears again, stinging and burning “I want that, too,” she said with a little hiccup

“It’s not going to be easy I don’t always do things right—like tonight, I should have told you I wanted to take your mother on a date I should have told you that I love her, and that I want us to be a family But no e how I feel about you You’re hter, and I love you”

She launched herself at hihtly “I love you, too, Daddy”

He stroked her hair, and his touch was soft and gentle, and made her feel safe for the first time in her life