Page 108 of Heavy

“And if I was?” I slowly put my hand over my mouth, afraid that the whimper will be too loud. My stomach churns, and I think my knees shake.

“You’d be no better than the people that made you into what you are,” Eamon says with a growl. “Seriously? You would—”

“No,Brother, I’m not using Cal.”

Tears fall from my eyes, and I squeeze my face harder in my hand. My heart feels like it’s ready to shatter. Why would I even think that?

“Contrary to what you feel, I don’t blame you for what happened to me. I do, however, blame you for abandoning me, but I’d never use her. So get that fucking thought process out of your head.”

“Thenwhyare you fu—”

“I’m going to stop you, because this misguided anger at me is quite funny for someone that really doesn’t care too much about that girl in there.”

“Excuse me?!” I don’t think I’ve ever heard Eamon as mad as he is. He was always good to me, and I’ve never had any problems with him, so this feels wrong for Ronan to be hitting so low under the belt. “Where do you get off?!”

“You didn’t even text her on her birthday two weeks ago.” I swallow hard, and it feels like nails are scraping all the way down until they hit my stomach. “Matter of fact, you did, but two days late. You haven’t so much ascalledher to see how she is doing. Didn’t she lose her house a couple months ago?”

It's now Ronan who’s angry.

“You haven’t even known where she has beenliving, Eamon. Don’t give me thisfatherlyfucking bullshit. Let me guess, because this all feels so goddamn familiar. You finally had a conversation with your wife, she made a comment about the cabin, maybe even slipped up saying that Cal was staying here.”

I should leave. I know I shouldn’t be hearing this, but my body stays rooted in place. It’s as if vines are growing from me, seeping into the soil, binding me here, never to let go.

“You, being the coward you are, didn’t say anything and instead rushed over here. Because there could be no way that it’s possible for you tonotknow Cal and I were staying at thesamehouse. However, if that were to be how it was, you didn’t want to out yourself to yourwifethat you knew your convicted brother was staying in the same cabin her daughter was.

“And, Eamon, I know exactly why you aren’t telling her. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree now does it?”

“You shut your fucking mouth, you know nothing. I did tell Jasmine—”

I actually may be sick.

I have to leave.

Somehow, I find the strength to tear my feet from their place, and I run back to the garage, not giving a shit that I’m loud. This is so beyond my mom knowing I’m here with him. If shedoesknow, this just got so much more dangerous for Ronan.

34

Ronan

Mybabygirlisso curious.

I thought I heard something rustling our way, but with the retreat, I can at least muster up that it was Cal. It’s why I wasn’t going to let Eamon’s insinuation of me using her against him fester. I’ve come to care far too much for that woman and won’t have some bullshit miscommunication have her thinking otherwise. She was probably sick, even just for those couple of seconds with the thought. And if that’s the case, I’ll have to punish her for even thinking that to being a possibility.

“No, you didn’t.” I cut into his aggressive lie. “If you had told her, she would be here with you or blowing up Cal’s phone.”

“You were too busy fucking her to know if she were or not.”

“No, Brother, see that’s where you’re wrong. Youassumetoo much. I’m not just fucking your stepdaughter, I’m dating her too.” He goes to open his mouth, but I keep talking. “I was helping her take photos for her… Instagram, I think. Showcasing the work she’s done to the cabin.”

I’d told her it was risky to be showing the cabin considering Eamon wasn’t supposed to know, but she said he didn’t have social media so it was fine. Obviously, she was right on point.

“Your timing was perfect, I do love to show off how good my girl is at sucking my dick.”

“Why her?” he asks through his teeth.

“Why anyone else when she exists?”

His nostrils flare. “You are sick. She’s your niece, Ronan.”