Suddenly my phone lit up and vibrated across the table, breaking us out of the spell. I blinked, swallowed thickly, and reached for the phone to see who it was.
On quick glance at the screen and I groaned and set it back on the table.
“Who is it?” Liam asked, nodding toward the phone.
“My dad.” I sighed.
“Aren’t you going to get it?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged. “I don’t want to.”
“Come on, babe.” He leaned forward and picked up my phone. “Talk to him.”
I looked down at the phone in his hand. He held it out to me with a smile and I was putty in his hands. I sighed. “Fine.”
I tapped the button to call him back. Slowly, I lifted it to my ear as it rang, hoping to get voicemail and avoid an awkward conversation.
“Gwendolyn.” My father’s voice rang in my ear as tears welled in my eyes. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed the sound of his voice.
“Hi, Daddy.” I sat up straight as Liam watched me closely.
“How are you?” he asked, his voice soft, but cautious. I guess I deserved that.
“I’m okay.” I looked over at Liam who squeezed my hand in a show of support.
“I’m so glad,” he said. “I was wondering if you had any plans for this coming weekend.”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Well, it’s Mia’s birthday on Saturday and we’re having a party at the house. It would mean a lot to her if you were there.”
“I don’t know.”
“Just think about it,” he said, his voice pained.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as a tear slid down my cheek. I’d done so much to disappoint him. The pain in his voice hit me hard.
“Okay.” My voice cracked. “I’ll let you know.”
“Okay.”
“Bye, Daddy.”
“Gwendolyn,” he said.
“Yes.”
“I love you.”
I looked up at Liam, his eyes so full of love and support that my heart swelled inside my chest. “I love you too.”
We said our good byes and I hung up the phone.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Liam said as he threaded our fingers together. I just shook my head. “What did he say?”
“My sister’s birthday is this weekend. He wanted to invite me to the party.”
“You gonna go?”
“If you’ll come with me,” I said with a shy, hopeful smile. Seeing my family was going to be hard, but with Liam by my side I just might make it through.
Liam leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. He rested his forehead against mine. “Of course I will.”
I looked up at him, a bright smile spread wide across my face.
“One question,” he said. I nodded. “Since when do you have a sister?”
I laughed and kissed him hard. “For someone you supposedly love, there’s still a lot you don’t know about me.”
“I know enough,” he said. “The rest are just details.”
Chapter 20
Liam
Nervous didn’t even begin to cover how I felt as I stood on her father’s doorstep. Gwen threaded her fingers through mine and I looked down at her. Her eyes were filled with just as much dread and worry as mine. I had to suck it up and be there for her.
I raised our linked hands to my lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then smiled and gave her a wink, before I rang the doorbell.
The door opened and we were greeted by a tense looking housekeeper as the sound of screaming children echoed in the background.
I snuck another peek at Gwen. She took a deep breath, stepped inside, and pulled me with her into the entryway.
I’m no stranger to extravagant homes, but this one was a class in itself. The entire foyer was covered in bright white marble. A huge crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling and a grand staircase swept up toward the second floor.
I couldn’t help but crane my neck taking in the opulence as Gwen pulled me through the room toward the party that was in full swing.
We stepped out onto the patio, a riot of noise surrounded us as we took in the chaos that filled the back yard. The party was a carnival theme, with red and yellow tents set up with carnival games and food of the kids. A bounce house the size of my loft, and shaped like a giant pink castle, bobbed off the sides as kids threw themselves around it, laughing and screaming as they jumped.
“Wow.” I hadn’t even realized I’d said it out loud until Gwen responded.
“I know. Way over the top.”
“Gwen!” a tiny voice shouted.
We turned toward the sound as a tornado of blonde curls in a bright pink tutu launched herself at Gwen.
Gwen bent down and scooped up the miniature version of herself, a bright smile lighting up her face. “Princess Mia,” she said as she lifted the tiny thing in her arms.
“You came,” Mia said.
“Of course I did. I wouldn’t miss it,” Gwen announced. She planted a kiss on Mia’s glitter-covered cheek.
Mia giggled. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“Daddy got me a pony,” the little girl squealed.
“A pony?” Gwen asked.
A pony—Seriously? I know every little girl wanted a pony for her birthday, but who actually followed through on that request?
Mia nodded. “I named her Twilight Sparkle. She’s awesome. Come see.” Mia wiggled out from Gwen’s grasp, her feet hitting the ground and she was off before Gwen could say a word. She looked back at me and mouthed, “Sorry.”
I watched them weave through the crowd, Mia in the lead as Gwen desperately tried to keep up with a four-year-old hopped up on cotton candy and glitter.
I knew her relationship with her family was tense at best, but the resentment she felt didn’t seem to extend to her younger sister. Watching her interact with this little girl was an amazing thing. The patience and kindness Gwen showed Mia made me see her in an entirely different light. One in which a future for us seemed possible and much more real.
Our relationship had been a rollercoaster. So many ups and downs twists and turns, but I felt like I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel, which made the ride feel more exciting than terrifying.
I was in love with this crazy, difficult, unpredictable woman, and the most insane part of it all was that she actually loved me too.
Someone called her name and Mia took off to play. Gwen watched her go, her eyes soft and sweet, before she made her way back toward me.
“Sorry,” she said when she reached me. “That kid is ninety percent sugar. I swear, I don’t think she ever slows down.”
I smiled and wrapped my arms around her waist. “She loves you.”
Gwen looked back at Mia who was following her friend into the bounce house. “She’s a good kid,” she said, her voice sad and withdrawn.
“You’re good with her.”
She turned back to face me. “She’s just a kid,” she said with a shrug. “How hard is it to be nice to a kid?”
I opened my mouth to answer as a voice interrupted us. “Gwendolyn.”
Gwen and I turned toward the sound. An older man, probably in his late fifties wearing a striped polo shirt and boat shoes stood there with a warm smile on his face.
Gwen stepped out of my arms. Her smile matched his as she walked straight into his open arms.
“Hi, Daddy,” she said, her voice filled with relief, and I watched as her father’s face relaxed. His eyes closed, he exhaled, and wrapped her in his arms.
He released her and held her at arm’s length, taking in her simple sundress and flat sandals.
“Look at you,” he said.
Gwen nervously touched her hair. Gwen without the excessive make-up and hair extensions was a sight I could never tire of. She was stunning without all that crap to get in the way, but being here in her father’s house without her a
rmor had to be completely terrifying for her.
“You look wonderful,” her dad said, and Gwen’s face lit from within. Her smile widened at his approval.
Mr. Stevens looked at me over Gwen’s shoulder and his smile never changed. “Who’s this?” he asked.
Gwen turned, tugged on his arms, and dragged him over to me. I smiled to myself as the scene mirrored Mia dragging Gwen to look at her new pony.
“Daddy,” she said, practically bouncing to a stop beside me. “This is Liam, my…” She paused, not quite sure of the title to give me. We loved each other, but we hadn’t exactly put a label on our relationship yet. I guess now was as good a time as any.
“Her boyfriend,” I said, finishing her thought. Gwen looked up at me, beaming. I held out my hand to him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Senator Stevens.”
He took my hand in a firm shake and looked me over, trying to assess my worth in a glance. I’d seen this done a thousand times with my parents. His face was blank, his smile remained, and I couldn’t get a clear read off him, which did nothing to ease my nerves.
“Please,” he said as he released my hand. “Call me John.”
I nodded.
He tucked a hand in the pocket of his slacks. “Is this new?”
I looked down at Gwen, meeting her eyes with a smile. “Doesn’t feel like it,” I said.
I looked up at Mr. Stevens, who watched us carefully, a smile still spread wide across his face. He stopped a passing waiter and took a drink from his tray, nodding for us to do the same. I just shook my head and tightened my grip on Gwen. Drinking at a kid’s party, while meeting my girlfriend’s father, was pretty high on my list of really bad ideas. It was right up there with piercing my cock and law school.
“How did you two meet?” he asked as he took a sip of his drink.
Gwen bit her lip and looked up at me. I could see the wheels turn in her head. She was trying to make a decision—to lie or not to lie, that was the question.
I took pity on her. “We work together,” I said. It wasn’t exactly a lie, more of an omission.
“Really? How wonderful.”
“John.” A tall brunette stepped up beside him. “Have you seen…”
Gwen’s fingernails dug into my side. I ground my teeth and tried not to react to the pain. A sharp burn radiated up my side and I was sure if her grip tightened any more, she would draw blood.
“Honey,” Mr. Stevens said. “Look who’s here—” He titled his head in our direction and the brunette followed the move, looking over at us.
Her eyes widened. “Gwen. You came.”
“Of course,” Gwen said with a fake, polite smile. “Wouldn’t have missed it.”
The tension between them was thick. It seemed to be sucking the oxygen out of the air around us. I leaned forward. “Hi,” I said. “I’m Liam.”
The brunette turned toward me, a bright smile lighting her face. “Allison Stevens,” she said. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”
I shook her hand and smiled back at her, which earned me a raised eyebrow and a jab in the ribs from Gwen.
Allison turned toward Mr. Stevens quickly. “Have you seen Mia?” she asked. “It’s time to cut the cake.”
“I think she’s in the bounce house,” he said. “I’ll get her.”
He looked at Gwen and squeezed her arm. “We’ll talk in a bit.” The tone of his voice suggested it was more of a request than a command.
Gwen nodded and he took off toward the bounce house, leaving us alone with Allison.
“It means a lot that you’re here,” Allison said.
“I said I’d come, so I came.” Gwen sneered.
I looked at her and frowned at the coldness that had crept into her voice.
Allison swallowed and shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, well, I should go check on the cake. Please make yourselves at home,” she said, before she scurried off toward the kitchen.
“This is my home,” Gwen mumbled as Allison left.
I fixed her with a pointed look.
“What?” she asked.
“She was just being polite.”
“Are you serious? Make myself at home. I spent my life here and she has the fucking nerve to treat me like a guest in my own house.”
“Who flipped your bitch switch?” Her eyes widened as I continued. “You don’t live here, Gwen. You haven’t for years. This may be where you grew up but this is her home now. She lives here. She’s raising her family here, a family which includes you.”
She crossed her arms in defiance and pulled away from me. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Maybe I do and maybe I don’t, but you’ve brought this shit on yourself, Gwen. Your selfish behavior is what got you into this mess in the first place. You say you’ve changed. That you’ve let go of all the petty bullshit you hang on to, but after watching that, I’m not so sure.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and her lips were set in a hard, angry line. Her shoulders were tense as she stared me down. My chest tightened as anger filled her eyes. The last thing I wanted was to argue at her parents’ house, but it was something she needed to hear.
“If you want to have even a chance of being a part of this family again, you’ll have to repair your relationship with your father and your stepmother, because…like it or not, Gwen, they’re a package deal.”
“You’re one to talk,” she spat. “When is the last time you spoke to your parents, Liam?”
“That’s different and you know it.”
“The hell it is. You sit there and judge me, tell me how I’ve pushed my family away, but the truth is you’ve done the same damn thing.”
“I chose a different life. They wanted me to fall in line and I wanted to make my own decisions, make my own way.”
I glared down at her, her eyes on fire with rage. Before the dam could break, Mia ran up grabbed hold of Gwen’s hand, then dragged her toward the house, shouting, “Cake!”
I watched her go, my anger dissipating with every step she took. I shouldn’t have called her out like that. It was too far. Fuck, she was so goddamn infuriating, which was only made worse by the fact that she was right.
***
I watched Mia blow out her candles from the doorway as everyone clapped and cheered. Gwen looked up at me, her eyes a little softer but still angry, letting me know this argument was far from over. She demonized her family, but it was clear to see how much they loved her and wanted her with them.
I would love to have the kind of support she took for granted, but with my family, that just wasn’t an option. I didn’t fit into their world and I never would. I always had beer taste on a champagne budget. They never even tried to understand what I wanted.
“Trouble in paradise?”
I looked to my right as Mr. Stevens appeared in the doorway beside me.
“Just a difference of opinion,” I said.
He sighed. “Yes, Gwendolyn has a lot of opinions.”
I looked back at her and smiled. “It’s one of things I love about her.”
He looked down in his drink and chuckled, dropping a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Then you are a far better man than I,” he said. “Come, let’s take a walk.”
He turned and headed out to the patio. I snuck one more glance at Gwen, then followed him out the door.
The air was crisp as we stepped onto the patio. He stood in silence, watching the rental company crew as they broke down the tents and the bounce house.
“Nice night,” I said as I looked up at the clear sky overhead.
Mr. Stevens didn’t comment. He just looked up at the stars and sipped his drink, seeming lost in thought. After a few moments, he finally spoke. “You seem to be rather enamored with my daughter.”
“I am, sir.”
“Please call me John,” he said, dismissing my formality. You can take the man out of the south but not the south out the man.
“Okay, John.”
“You said you work together?”
“Yes.” I shifted my weight nervously and looked down at my feet.
“The Den, right?”
I nodded.
“You own the establishment, am I correct?” he asked.
My brows drew together. I was pretty sure Gwen hadn’t told him where she worked let alone that I owned the place. What was his angle?
“How—”
“I have a lot of friends in this town, son.” It wasn’t exactly a threat, more like stating a fact, but I couldn’t help but feel a little threatened anyway.
“I see.”
“You seem like a good man, Liam. Hard working, but I feel I must warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“Gwendolyn can be difficult. Especially when things aren’t going the way she’s planned.”
I scoffed. “I’m very aware of how difficult she can be. She’s probably one of the most frustrating women I’ve ever met.”
He raised an eyebrow at me, questioning my words as I continued. “She can be irritating and dramatic, but that’s what makes her so exciting and passionate. It’s the fire inside her that makes it impossible to resist her.”
John watched me and studied my face. His expression relaxed into an easy smile and he chuckled to himself. “I can see she means a great deal to you.”
I glanced back through the doors and watched Gwen. She smiled down at her little sister and handed her another gift as the little girl tore into the paper. “She’s everything to me.”
He smiled and looked back up at the sky. “I’ve made so many mistakes. I just want her to be happy and successful. I’ve gotten her job after job and introduced her to some of this city’s most influential people, but nothing seemed to click. I know it was harsh to just cut her off like I did, but it was the only way I could think to get through to her.”
I nodded my agreement.
“Cutting her off still wasn’t enough, though,” he said. “It wasn’t until she met you that she’s really begun to thrive.”
“It’s all her. She’s a force to be reckoned with. The only thing I did was give her a job. Hell, I didn’t even do that.”
A Chance At Redemption (Madison Square Book 3) Page 13
