Page 44 of Beyond the Hate

“No.” She blows out a breath. “My dad died when I was a baby. I don’t remember him at all.”

I can’t resist touching her. It’s the least I can do when she’s in pain. I squeeze her hand and she clings to mine. Don’t worry, Paisley. I won’t let you go.

“Your mom remarried,” I prod.

“Yes.” She swallows. “I was five when Darcy and Regan came to live with us.”

I make a mental note to find out where they are now. “What’s their last name?”

Her brow wrinkles. “Thatcher. Why?”

Because it’s easier to find people when you know their last name. “Why don’t you have the same last name?” I ask instead.

“My stepfather never adopted me.”

“Was your mom against the adoption?”

She shrugs. “Initially, she wanted me to be older when he adopted me.”

She’s not telling me the entire story. “But he never adopted you?”

“My stepfather and I never got along.”

“Why not? Is he an asshole?”

“An asshole? What makes you think he’s an asshole?”

I squeeze her hand. “I’ve known you since kindergarten. You were an adorable child. Any man would be proud for you to call him dad.”

“Adorable?” She fiddles with her glasses. “I’m a nerd, remember?”

“I apologize. I was teasing. But now I realize I should have never called you a nerd or made fun of your glasses. I can assure you it will never happen again.”

She studies my face and I drop all my guards. I let her see everything. How sincere I’m being. How much I admire her. How much I don’t consider her my enemy.

“Okay. I accept your apology.”

“Did your stepfather not want to adopt you because you wore glasses?” I ask since she still hasn’t explained why her glasses are a trigger for her.

“Not exactly.” She toys with a loose thread on her jeans. “To be more accurate, the glasses were more of a symbol of why he didn’t approve of me.”

“Approve of you? What kind of bullshit is this? Parents don’t approve or disapprove of their children. They’re children. You love them and support them.”

“Ha!” She barks out a laugh but she’s not amused. “My stepdad wouldn’t know what love and support is when it comes to me. Darcy and Regan are a different matter. They’re beautiful and perfect. Never mind how Darcy had braces for three years and Regan had a nose job. They’re beautiful and beauty is all that matters.”

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

“The judges of the Miss Maryland contest think otherwise.”

“Miss Maryland? As in a beauty contest?”

She nods. “Yep. It’s how Chloe and I became such close friends. Her mom forced her to compete in beauty contests all the time.” She gasps. “Please don’t say anything to Chloe. She doesn’t want anyone to know about her past.”

I pat her thigh. “I won’t say anything.” I blow out a breath. “I have to admit I’m still confused. I don’t understand what your stepsisters competing in beauty contests has to do with glasses.”

“My stepdad believes beauty is everything. Women don’t need brains because they should be in the kitchen cooking anyway. But they should be pretty to catch a husband.”

I growl. “You have got to be kidding me.”