Hooker(86)

I reach Joshua first. His arms encircle my waist as he squeezes me tight. ‘You’re the last person I expected to see here today, but I’m so thankful you came.’

‘I needed to see Brock,’ I confess.

‘He may not show it, but I know he’s grateful you came.’

Giving Joshua a brief smile, I go to his mother. ‘I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs Weston.’

‘Thank you, Jade. It’s lovely to see you again.’

‘It’s lovely to see you as well, I just wish it wasn’t under these circumstances.’

‘Thank you. Please consider coming back to the house for some refreshments. I’d love to catch up with you,’ she says, giving me an affectionate hug. I get the impression she knows nothing about what went on between her husband and me. Nevertheless, I smile and thank her for her offer before stepping away.

Butterflies dance in my stomach as I approach Brock. The moment his eyes lock with mine, I see his face soften and a small smile play on his lips. Hope surges in my heart. Reaching for his hand, I give it a squeeze. The contact is brief, but it sends tingles up my arm. ‘I’m sorry about your father,’ I say quietly.

He stares at me for the longest time before replying. ‘Thank you.’ I hear his voice slightly crack as he speaks, and it tugs at my heart. I desperately want to pull him into my arms, but before I get a chance, he takes a step back. My shoulders slump and my heart shatters when he turns away from me, exhaling a large breath and fisting his hands in his hair. That small gesture tells me everything I need to know.

We’re over.

Turning, I walk hastily towards Theo’s car. I need to get out of here as soon as possible.

‘Hey, wait up,’ Theo calls out, jogging to catch up to me. ‘What’s the big rush?’ Grabbing my elbow, he pulls me to a stop. ‘Jade.’ When my watery eyes meet his, I see his face drop before he pulls me into his arms. ‘Jesus, what happened?’

‘Please just get me out of here,’ I beg. I’m grateful when he ushers me towards the car. ‘Can you please take me to my apartment?’

‘Why? What’s happened?’

‘Nothing,’ I say, turning my face away. ‘I just want to go back to my old life and forget everything.’

My life of loneliness and solitude.





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE


BROCK

I feel like a prick, an absolute lowlife, for doing what I just did to Jade, but I panicked. I haven’t shed a tear since my father’s death. Not one fucking drop. The moment I saw the sympathetic look on her sweet face and felt the tender touch of her soft hand wrapped around mine, it was too much. I had to turn away because I was on the verge of breaking down. Every emotion I experienced this week came bubbling to the surface. This woman will forever be my undoing. I couldn’t let her see me fall apart. I just couldn’t.

Fuck, I’ve missed her.

Today was the first time I’ve felt anything other than numbness. My world has been shrouded in darkness ever since I spent ten futile minutes trying to revive my father on the floor of his office. My last words to him were, ‘I despise you. I’m ashamed to be your son.’ How do I live with that? I can never take those words back. I killed him, and I’ll never be able to forgive myself.

Frankly, I’m amazed that Jade attended the funeral. My father tried to destroy her, luring her away from the safety of my home and handing her over to the devil herself. How could she even find it in her to come today? Even if it was just for my benefit. She has the heart of an angel. This is why I love that woman. I’ll always love her, but I’m just not in a good place at the moment. I refuse to bring her down with me. She’s been through enough.

Pushing my thoughts to the back of my mind, I turn my attention to my mother. ‘How are you, Mum?’ I ask, placing my hand on her leg as we travel back to her house in the limousine. This week has been rough for her too. I’m yet to confess that I’m the cause of my father’s death. That’s because I’m a fucking coward.

‘Surprisingly, I feel okay. Is it wrong that I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders? I loved your father, but I didn’t exactly like him. I’ve been extremely unhappy for years.’ Tears of guilt rise to her eyes.

She has every right to feel that way. My father was a monster for the way he treated her. One good thing has come out of his death: Mum, Josh and I are closer now. I haven’t left her side since I drove to my parent’s estate to break the news. I wanted it to come from me, nobody else. Since I was the cause of his untimely demise, the least I could do was be there for her as her world crumbled. It was the first time I’d been back since they kicked Josh out.