Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 99723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
He looks thoughtful for a moment, then nods, agreeing with my analysis. “Have you moved on? Or are you still waiting on him to finally give you more than scraps?”
“Ouch. Not pulling any punches, are you?”
“Do you want me to? We can talk about stupid shit if you’d rather?” He pauses, letting me decide, and when I stay quiet, glaring at him, he says, “We won tonight’s preseason game. Kipson and I got into it a bit. Oh, and I found a protein bowl place online that I want to check out tomorrow. You wanna go with me?”
I made the connection between how Dad treated me and the way Tyler treated me a long time ago, but to have it so plainly spelled out for me by someone I’ve barely met is painful. Especially when we met mere weeks ago when I was semihappily accepting more of my dad’s scraps in the form of a free night out and some gastropub apps. I’d like to pretend that it was nothing more than taking what I’m owed by the man who has never been much of a father, but deep down, I know the truth. I long for a father-daughter relationship, not with the dad I have, but with the dad I wished I’d had but never did. His priorities have always been hockey first, himself second, and anything else, including his daughter, far down the list after that.
Tyler is another matter, though. As much as Dad and Tyler have both hurt me, they are not the same.
And I don’t want to talk about hockey or protein bowls. I like getting to know Dominic more deeply, even if it’s picking at some uncomfortable scars from my past.
“Tyler isn’t capable of giving me what I need. He’s a narcissist to his core. Our entire relationship was about what I could do for him . . . what I would do for him. Every kindness he ever gave me was with an underlying intention of isolating me, making me see him in a favorable light, or some other manipulation that only he could understand. I don’t want him, now or ever.” I want to make sure that is crystal clear, both to my mind and Dom’s. “But for Harley, I play along and don’t rock the boat, trying to make sure he isn’t hurt by Tyler the way I was because I have no doubt that Tyler would use our son against me if he felt like he was losing control. He’d do anything to maintain his sense of power.”
Dominic leans forward, his elbows on his knees as he listens intently. “Is that your plan until Harley is grown? To let Tyler destroy whatever sense of peace you’re able to string together, anytime he gets pissed that he’s not the one providing it?”
“No,” I snap automatically.
Dominic lowers his chin, staring at me through his stupidly dark and infuriatingly long lashes. “Isn’t that what you’ve been doing?”
I want to say no. I want so badly to tell Dominic that he’s 100 percent wrong. But is he?
The question raises prickles all over my skin. I am proud of how far I’ve come since getting the courage to walk away from Tyler, and to be called out on it not being enough is infuriating. Especially when it might be true. Reluctantly, I answer, “I don’t like that you can see me so easily.”
“Easy?” he laughs. “Briar, nothing about you is easy except your smiles. But you’re worth the work.”
The compliment, given after a deep and at times painful conversation, soothes the irritation that’s making me feel vulnerable.
“Thank you,” I say softly. When Dominic smiles back, I ask, “What time for protein bowls?”
Chapter 11
Dominic
Briar didn’t clarify if this is a date or just two friends grabbing food, so I’m trying to manage my own expectations as we park, because Briar is deeper than I ever imagined and I’m drawn to that dark, ooey gooey center inside her as much as I am the brightness she shows to the world.
I wasn’t sure which version of her I’d get today—the silly, whimsical side who spits out animal facts or the layered, hidden treasure trove of emotions. And when she opened her door, looking like sunshine and smiles, wrapped up in skintight jeans, a cropped tank top, and an oversize cardigan that makes me want to crawl inside it and snuggle with her (or more), I didn’t care. I just wanted Briar, however she was coming.
“How’d you find this place? I’ve never heard of it.” She’s looking around the strip center parking lot as I help her from my truck, and every flick of her head sends her dangling earrings swinging. One is a monkey, the other a banana, and both make me smile.
“I searched for protein bowl places and voilà.” I hold a hand out like a car show model, gesturing to the glowing neon proclaiming “Big Boy Bowls,” with a 3 and a B fashioned into a logo. “This type of place is my favorite back home. Griffin and I have a pregame, postgame, and any other time habit of hitting them up. I wanted to check this one out before the season officially starts.”