Broken by Love

by C. A. Harms

  Riley and I left Bree in the capable hands of Ryan, making him promise he would call if she needed anything. He adored her, you could tell, and right now she needed to be loved to no end.

  After I dropped Riley back at the apartment, I drove home. As I walked up to the door, I heard the radio playing. I slowly opened the door and walked to the kitchen. Peeking around the corner I froze, taking in the sight before me. My throat burned, and my eyes filled with tears.

  Carson held a sleeping Carley against his bare chest, rocking her from side to side. He sang in her ear to the soft music playing on the radio. I watched as he placed his lips against her forehead, breathing her in. His eyes were closed while he continued to sway.

  I didn’t know how much time passed. I only knew that in that moment I fell in love with Carson just a little more. He had performed a one-eighty from the Carson he was six months ago. He was an amazing father, and the love he showed Carley and me daily was overwhelming at times. I still found it strange, because he was always so reserved and distant before.

  He turned and our eyes met. The grin that drove me wild spread across his lips, and I swore if he wasn’t holding Carley I would have tackled him. I made my way to them as he reached out with his other arm, pulling me to his chest. I rose up onto my toes, kissing his jaw.

  “I love you so much.”

  We continued to rock Carley from side to side, taking in the comfort of each other after the shit we had just witnessed. I was so glad Carson and I made our way through our troubles and were now able to love one another so freely.

  Chapter Thirty

  Carson

  The next couple weeks were a whirlwind of drama. I had finally decided to wait to propose to Kate. Every time I attempted to plan a sweet night for the two of us, some crazy shit went down with one of my brothers.

  Tonight we all made plans to go out and try to pull Max out of him slump. The guy was turning dark – well, darker than he already was. He was a fucking grizzly, and no one wanted to spend more than five minutes with him.

  Bree had been avoiding his calls, and that was making him even more temperamental.

  Thanksgiving was only two days away. Riley had been sticking to Max’s side over the last few days because she was worried about what he would attempt next. What the hell did the guy think would happen? I learned the hard way, treat a girl like shit, and one day they will walk away. Bree was done with his fucked up games. Now the guy was suffering from the loss of a good thing. For once in Max’s life, he couldn’t snap his fingers and get the girl.

  After we dropped Carley off to my parents, we drove over and picked up Riley. Zander and his band were playing tonight, so he had already left.

  When we walked into the bar and Tanner approached us looking a little irritated, I felt like turning around and heading back out to the car. What the fuck was with my brothers? They seriously needed to grow up and act like adults.

  “Max ain’t coming,” he announced before he took a swig from his beer bottle.

  “What do you mean he isn’t coming?” He shrugged and winked at a short blonde who was eyeing him from the bar. Turning back to me, he still held a cocky smirk on his lips. Seriously, was I once like this? Did I walk around everywhere thinking I was the shit and all girls wanted me?

  “He took a shift at the station.”

  Now I was confused. “He took a few days off. He wasn’t supposed to go back until the day after Thanksgiving.”

  Once again Tanner shrugged and started toward the bar. He called over his shoulder, “Guess he changed his mind.” The asshole was Max’s roommate, and you would think he’d know more about what was going on with the guy than the rest of us.

  When the band started I decided it was time to let go of trying to fix the screwed up lives of my brothers. It was time they fix their own shit. I walked up behind Kate and wrapped my arms around her waist. Her head fell back against my shoulder, and she placed a kiss along my jaw. “It’s about time you decide to come find me.”

  With a possessive kiss, I whispered, “I knew exactly where you were. You think I’m gonna let you out of my sight?” She smiled up at me. “Hell no.” I pulled her tighter against my chest and swayed my hips against her ass. I heard her moan just before she bit her lower lip and her cheeks became flush. Her hand snaked around behind her, and she slowly glided her fingers over my hardness. I backed her up so we were now closer to the table. If she wanted to play, I was going to make sure she got the chance. The last thing I wanted was for some guy to watch my girl stroking my cock through my jeans. That would only result in my getting in trouble.

  I brought my lips to rest on her neck as I began kissing along her exposed shoulder, running the tip of my tongue upward until I reached her ear. I bit it softly before sucking on the lobe. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, Katelynn.” I groaned against her ear as she gripped me hard.

  She pushed her ass back against me. “Who said I couldn’t finish?” I placed my hand on her stomach, letting my fingers settle just beyond the waistband of her jeans. Pulling her against me, I rotated my hips, pushing my erection against her. She allowed her head to tumble back against my shoulder, exposing her neck.

  There was no way I could pass up the chance to suck on the exposed sexiness of her throat. Moans flowing from her, filling my ear, made me even harder. I was seconds from dragging her hot ass out of this bar and nailing her against my truck.

  “Carson, is that you?” I was pulled from my Kate-filled lustful moment when a small hand was placed on my forearm. I turned toward the touch and found a familiar face, Gretchen. I couldn’t help but smile. It had been years since we had seen each other. “I thought that was you. Wow, you haven’t changed. You still look good.”

  I kept Kate in front of me to hide the fact that I was completely turned on. I needed a few minutes to let the blood flow even back out. “Hey, Gretch, it’s been what, two or three years? How’ve ya been?”

  Her smile grew across her face. “Good, actually. I just came back to town. After graduation, Heidi and I took a trip to Europe, and then we decided it was time to grow up and join the real world.” I felt Kate attempt to pull away. I could tell she was on the verge of a Kate moment. Those moments where she lets her mind get ahead of her and assumes the worst. I figured I better put that fire out quickly.

  I gripped her waist and held her snug against me. “Gretchen, this is my girlfriend, Kate.” Kate looked at me for a second longer before she smiled over at Gretchen. “Nice to meet you, Gretchen.”

  “You too. Girlfriend, huh?” Okay, Gretch, not helping. Don’t do the girly flirting game. Not with Kate, because that shit won’t end well. “I never thought I would see the day that Carson Parks settled down. I must say I am a little shocked.”

  “Girlfriend and a baby, actually. But this girl right here,” I turned Kate and pulled her to my chest, “she’s the one.” Kate’s demeanor went from frustration to happiness in a matter of seconds. Leaning forward, I kissed her softly.

  “Well, where are the pictures? I wanna see this sweet little baby.” My gaze snapped back to Gretchen as another familiar face approached behind her.

  “Well, if it isn’t Carson Parks. How the hell are you?”

  Before I could answer, Gretchen turned to her friend and longtime lover, Heidi. These were actually the only girls I could consider close friends throughout my high school years. They were damn badass and all out fun to be around.

  “Heidi, can you believe Carson is a daddy? This is the poor girl who has to put up with him, Kate.”

  Kate laughed, and I pulled her a little closer.

  “A daddy. Damn, show me this sweet baby.”

  I grabbed my wallet and showed them both the photos of Carley. They smiled and gave me a hug, congratulating us. After a few songs played from the band, they left to meet up with a few friends.

  I gripped Kate’s hand and pulled her toward the bathrooms on the left side of the bar, down a narrow hallway. “Where are
we going?”

  I turned back, winking at her. “You got something to finish.” I think she thought I was joking. The minute I pushed her into the small bathroom and locked the door behind us, her eyes widened in comprehension. I lifted her up onto the sink and began undoing her pants.

  “Carson, what are you doing? We can’t have sex in here.”

  I guided her pants down and left them hanging off one leg. I quickly undid my buckle and slid my jeans down, taking myself in my fisted hand, while she watched me stroke myself. She bit into her lower lip as she scooted closer to the edge of the sink. “I thought you said we couldn’t?”

  She reached down, taking my cock into her grasp, slowly rubbing it against her. “I changed my mind.” I took a step closer as she pressed the head of my hardness against her. “Don’t make me wait.” She panted and continued to watch where we were about to be connected.

  I didn’t take my eyes off Kate while I guided myself slowly into her. Her head fell backward as she moaned and arched her back. “Fuck,” she whispered. I took my time pushing my cock into her before pulling back slowly and thrusting in again, a few more slow, small thrusts before Kate wrapped her ankles around my back. “Harder Carson… please, faster.”

  I gripped her hips and began thrusting harder and faster. “Like that, baby?”

  “Yes, oh, fuck yes. Just like that. Don’t stop.”

  I smiled because at that moment I was the fucking man. I was making her lose control, and that felt fucking amazing. “I’m not stopping until you come, baby.”

  “So close.”

  Just then someone knocked on the door. “Go away!” Kate growled. I chuckled as I pounded into her. She grabbed my shoulder and began driving her hips forward to meet mine.

  “There ya go… let go, Kate. Come, baby.” I felt her body tense, and her fingernails bit into my shoulders through my shirt. I followed right behind her as I drove into her.

  After we caught our breath and cleaned up, we made our way back out to the bar, only to come face to face with Riley. She looked from me, to Kate, and then back to me. “Seriously guys… really? You can’t even go out to a bar without sneaking off to fuck in one of the dark corners?”

  Kate laughed. “It wasn’t a dark corner. The light in the bathroom worked just fine.”

  Riley rolled her eyes before walking away, shaking her head and laughing all the way back to meet up with Tanner, who stood next to the stage watching Zander.

  Chapter Thirty One

  Kate

  I woke up on Thanksgiving to my cell ringing. Carson walked into the bedroom holding Carley. “Babe, your phone has been ringing nonstop.” He picked it up from the nightstand and looked at the screen. The look of disgust on his face did not go unnoticed. “Wicked witch herself.”

  I looked down to find three missed calls from Kara and groaned, flopping back on the pillow. “What the hell does she want?” Right about then my phone rang once more.

  I slid my finger across the screen and put on my fakest I love my sister act. “Hey, Kara, what’s up?”

  “Well, it is about damn time. I have been calling for the last half hour.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I was in the shower.” Carson sat down on the bed, laying Carley out in front of us.

  “You need to meet me at the hospital.”

  “Why? What happened? Is everyone okay?” Panic hit me with thoughts of something happening to one of my parents. I knew Dad had been staying in a small apartment in the office building of the firm, and I hated that he was alone.

  “We have something we need to get done.”

  Her answer threw me off. “What could we possibly need to have done at the hospital on Thanksgiving, Kara?”

  Carson was watching me closely with questioning eyes.

  “Mom should have called you, Kate. Things are really crazy right now, and you should know that Mom messed up. She messed up big.” She paused, and I waited for her to continue. For the first time, Kara sounded scared and emotional. Her voice cracked with her next statement. “I overheard her on the phone yesterday. I stood in the hallway listening to her tell whoever she was talking to that…” Sniffles broke out, and I started to panic.

  “Kara, just tell me, please.”

  Carson took my hand and gently squeezed. I couldn’t look at him. I was freaking out because this conversation was out of character for Kara and me. We had never gotten along. I blamed my mom for that. She always played us off one another, and that led to us always wanting to outdo each other.

  “Kate, Mom cheated on Dad. For years.” Sobs broke through the phone, and my heart sank. “Dad may not be our…” Heavy ugly cries flooded my ears. “Dad might not be our father.”

  My world crashed. Tears seeped from my eyes as I closed them tightly. I couldn’t speak, I could barely breathe. I wanted to strangle my mother. I wanted to hit something, break anything in my path. How could she do this to us?

  “Are you sure?” I whispered.

  “Yes.”

  “Where is she? Does Dad know?”

  I heard her blowing her nose as she tried to get herself under control. “Mom left after she and I got into a heated argument. I tried calling Dad, but he hasn’t gotten the phone turned on at the apartment, and his cell goes straight to voicemail.” Her cries filled my ear once more. “I’ve got to know, Kate. I need to know if my entire life has been a lie. I need to see with my own eyes that Dad is our father. I can’t not know.”

  “Okay. I’ll meet you there, and then we are going to Dad’s apartment. Okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered, and the emptiness of it broke my heart just a little more.

  “Thirty minutes, meet me by the front entrance.” I let her go after she agreed.

  I turned to Carson, and before I could speak, he took me into his arms. “Did you hear?”

  “Yes.” He squeezed me and kissed my forehead. “I heard, baby.”

  I let him hold me as I cried on his shoulder. I felt lost. My entire life had changed in the blink of an eye, and I had no idea how I would handle it. What if the man I loved, the man I thought was my father, wasn’t?

  “I’ll take you.”

  I shook my head as I pulled back. “I have to do this on my own. Kara and I need to do this together. Please, go to your parents’, and I’ll call.” He started to argue. “Carson, please.”

  He did not like it at all, but finally agreed.

  The entire drive to the hospital was a complete blur. I tried to contain the tears, but it was useless. The moment I pulled in to the parking lot and found Kara crying with her head hunched over her steering wheel, my throat burned. I rushed to her car and opened the door. Her eyes met mine, and we wrapped our arms around one another.

  We stood in the middle of the parking lot sobbing. I tried to calm her tears. I wanted to be the strong one, because Kara was losing it.

  “Hey, you, let’s go in there and do this.” I brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Then we are going to go find our dad. Do you hear me? Our dad.”

  She nodded as I took her hand and led her toward the entrance.

  ***

  Two hours later we were at the door of my father’s apartment. I took a deep breath and knocked. After a few minutes, the door opened, and my father met our tearstained faces. He looked tired, like he hadn’t shaved in days and maybe not even showered. He wore a pair of gray sweats and a wrinkled, stretched-out white t-shirt. His eyes were reddened and had dark circles beneath them.

  His lower lip trembled, and it took nothing more for Kara and me to fall into him. He took us into his embrace, holding us close. “Is it true, Dad?”

  He couldn’t speak; he just nodded and held us. Kara sobbed, and I brushed her hair away from her face. Her eyes met mine, and we moved a little closer.

  Dad led us to the couch, and Kara sat next to him as I crouched on the floor at his knees. After a few calming breaths, he spoke.

  “I found out yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t call right away, but I
was trying to find the best way to handle this. I confronted your mother, and she tried to deny it.” He gripped our hands tighter. “The man your mother had an affair with for years is also an attorney. Imagine my surprise when he entered my office yesterday and immediately recognized her in our family photo. It spiraled out of control from there.”

  “What are the chances? I mean, of him being our father?” Kara cried.

  “Sweetheart, I don’t know. I know he was with her off and on for a few years. She would meet him in hotels when she traveled.”

  “Does he know about us? I mean that there is a chance he may be…?” I couldn’t finish the sentence; it was too hard.

  “He does now.”

  I had a feeling my father knew more, but he was trying to calm us. “We went to the hospital. We had blood drawn. They need you to do the same.” He nodded. “We’ll know the results within five to seven days after you give a sample.”

  “I’ll go over there now, then.” He looked at us both carefully. “No matter what these results show, you are my girls. You will always be my girls. Do you hear me?” We nodded and hugged him.

  Kara decided to go with my father. She had no intention of returning home. She wanted nothing to do with my mother right now.

  I drove to Carson’s parents’. The moment I pulled up, Rayann came out and took me in her arms. I could not hold back the tears. “I’m so sorry, sweet girl. I hate that you’re going through this.” She pulled back and took my face in her hands. “I am here for you, no matter what time, day or night, I am here.”

  I nodded; it was all I could do. If I talked, I would lose it. Riley was next in line as both she and Carson approached me. “I love you, hooker.”

  “Love you too,” I whispered.

  She rocked me back and forth, squeezing me tightly. These people were my people. They were my foundation, and without them I would crumble.