Page 199 of Mountain Daddy

I do one more noisy exhale, then I turn my back on my reflection and open my bedroom door.

I hear their voices, but then I hear the sound of the back door sliding closed as they move out onto the deck.

My shoulders relax.

It’s the perfect start.

Stepping out of the hallway, my movement catches the attention of both men.

Dad’s mouth is moving, already telling Luther a story. And Luther is nodding, but his attention is on me.

I can feel his eyes take me in.

Can feel the way they always take me in.

I am good.

I inhale.

I lift my hand.

And I smile.

Chapter 123

Luther

She smiles,and I can feel it in my bones.

It’s not brittle.

Not pained.

It doesn’t look forced.

I exhale, releasing the breath I’ve been holding.

She looks like herself.

The bright yellow of her shirt contrasts with her dark hair, and her green eyes look like they’re sparkling.

She looks healthy. Full of life.

My arms ache to wrap around her.

I want to press my nose to her hair.

I want to hold her.

But I do the next best thing.

I lift my hand and wave back.

Her eyes move to my palm before she lowers hers to her side.

Joe holds a beer out to me.

I reach for it, but he pulls it back. Then he points to the bottle while lifting his brows at Kendra.