Page 17 of Tempting Bo (Montgomery Dreams #2)

BO

Funny how life gets better when you cut out the bullshit, huh?

Kenzie and I are going steady, our relationship stronger than ever, and we've decided that we’ll stay together no matter what happens with Savannah.

I’m man enough to admit when I've fucked up, and I won't saddle anyone with the consequences of my actions.

She'll get every penny of child support I owe her, and I'd love the chance to be active in my kid’s life, but I want nothing to do with Savannah Ward.

It's Kenzie or no one, and that won’t change.

I've spent my whole life following the script, doing what's expected of me, but I've never been happier than I am right now. My whole life could go to shit, but as long as I've got Kenzie by my side, I can weather it.

Savannah seems to have caught wind of my change of heart, as the message she sent me a few days ago was much less cordial than the ones before that.

She's back to her old threats, the never ending take of you do something or I will , but I refuse to pay it any mind.

She gave me one week to sort through everything, and that was over a month ago.

If she was serious about any of this, my life would be going much differently by now.

I'm more than happy to let her blow smoke until she gets tired and finds someone else to bother.

I've got leftovers from the cafe and a kiss from Kenzie still lingering on my lips when I turn into the driveway, and my spirits are high.

I'll get to see Kenzie again tomorrow afternoon with the kids when they all come out to the farm, and I might ask Dad if I can take off early and take her out to dinner.

It'd be nice to surprise her, and she's been working so hard on this after school program.

I just want to do something to show her I'm proud of her.

As I park, two unfamiliar cars are parked in front of the house.

Mom said something about hiring some extra help at the clinic for the winter season, so I guess people are here to interview.

Odd that they'd park at the house instead of by the barn, but it's a bit nippy out today. Maybe Mom’s doing interviews in her home office to avoid trudging through the sleet.

I'll just have to be careful to be extra quiet when I go in.

I knock the sludge off my boots at the door before stepping inside, ready to toss my leftover onion rings in the fridge and grab a beanie before I head back out to work. Instead, I stop in my tracks as soon as I round the kitchen corner, my blood freezing in my veins.

My parents sit at one end of the table, their faces drawn and pinched in displeasure. Their eyes snap to me as soon as I come into view, and I can see the heartbreak written in the lines of Mom’s face and the absolute fury reddening Dad’s cheeks.

Savannah fucking Ward sits between her own parents.

At my kitchen table.

The bag in my hand drops to the floor.

“What the fuck is this?”

“That's the attitude you want to start with?” Dad asks, a warning threaded through his words.

I glance between him and Savannah, my good mood souring and turning to anger as I realize what's happening.

Oh, that fucking bitch. I can't say she didn't warn me, but I still can't believe this.

Hasn't this whole thing been a shitty attempt to bully me and my family?

There's no way she's serious. Oakley was so certain she was lying.

She can't have been telling the truth this whole time.

Not when I just convinced myself it was all fake.

“Sit down, Bo.” Mom’s voice is so cold I swear the temperature around me drops ten degrees. “Obviously, we need to talk.”

I stalk over to the table and drag a chair out as far away as I can while still being in the kitchen. My dad glares at me for the subtle snub, but doesn't say anything. I slump into the chair, panic and fury mixing unpleasantly in my gut.

What the hell am I supposed to do now?

“Savannah and her parents came over about half an hour ago to talk to us,” Mom says. “I assume you know what about?”

I clench my jaw shut and take a deep breath to control the anger simmering in my chest. It's not a good idea to open my mouth right now, so I just nod.

It's a jerky, short movement, full of tension and frustration. Savannah scoffs at me, but I refuse to look at her.

My self control isn't the best right now.

“When were you going to tell us?”

I look at my dad, hoping to see something to tell me it's all going to be okay, but all I see is fury. He looks outraged and betrayed, and I don't blame him. My own anger curdles like milk, spoiling until it turns to guilt that sits like lead in my stomach.

“When I figured everything out,” I say, keeping my voice carefully steady.

“Figured what out?” Savannah scoffs acidly, rolling her eyes at me. “There's nothing to figure out, Bo. You got me pregnant, you take responsibility. That's how it goes.”

I bite back the desire to shout at her to shut the fuck up, to kick her and her family out of my house.

I also swallow what I want to say in response.

This whole thing is a wreck, and I don't need to make it messier.

I know that saying I think she's lying right to her face isn't a good look.

With her parents here, and Mom and Dad as upset as they are, it'll only be seen as an excuse. I need to talk to them alone.

It's probably a better idea to get Oakley to explain everything to them—she’s always been better with words than I am—but I'm currently alone on the front lines. My only hope is getting my parents to end this conversation for now and telling them everything when we're alone.

“Thanks for your input, Savannah,” I say tightly, shooting her a glare. “There's plenty to figure out, and I think my parents and I should talk in private for a bit.”

Even if all I can manage is a few minutes alone, I might be able to get through to Mom. She's more level headed, even if she does look totally heartbroken right now.

“Why would you need to speak privately?” Savannah’s mom pipes up.

She looks down her nose at me disdainfully, obviously finding me lacking.

I want to hiss at her like a cornered cat.

“We’re going to be family, there's no need to keep secrets amongst us.

Although you've certainly shown your fondness for doing so.”

I ball my hands into fists on my lap and force out a laugh. It's the only thing I can do to stop myself from screaming.

“I think you've got the wrong idea, Mrs. Ward.” I keep my smile firmly in place, although it probably just looks like I'm baring my teeth at her. “I have some things I need to discuss with my parents that don't concern any of you. And we're not going to be family . Not ever.”

My spine straightens a little as I say that, and a bolt of pride shoots through me. I can almost imagine Kenzie cheering me on from the sidelines, proud of me for sticking up for myself.

“Excuse me?” her dad splutters, his round cheeks going ruddy with embarrassment. “How dare you speak that way to?—”

“With all due respect,” I say, cutting him off and hoping I’m being clear that they deserve nothing from me.

“I'm going to do exactly what Savannah said.

I'm going to be responsible. I'll pay her child support, or if she'd rather not be involved in raising our child, I'll take full custody. But I will not, now or ever, have anything to do with your daughter, sir.”

The room goes silent, but it's not the kind of silence I expected. I planned for my parents to be proud of me, to back me up and send the Wards on their way, but when I look back at them, all I see is horror.

“Shut your mouth, boy.” Dad’s voice is so soft it’s almost silent, shaking with rage.

“You wanted to play around, and you've gone and found out what the prize is. You think you can pay your way out? I won’t let you dishonor this family by fathering a bastard and leaving the mother of your child out in the cold? How fucking dare you?”

Everyone jumps when he slams a fist down on the table, and I drop my gaze to the floor, every ounce of fight draining from me. My mom lays a hand on his shoulder in a soothing gesture, and he takes a moment to settle himself before he continues speaking.

“You will do right by your child—and the mother of your child—whether you like it or not, son,” he says firmly.

The last bit of resistance left in me kicks up at hearing that, and I raise my head to meet his gaze.

Images of a miserable life flash behind my eyes, a white picket fence and Savannah and I screaming at each other behind closed doors, a bitter marriage and an even more bitter divorce.

It's the thought of losing Kenzie that makes me speak up, though, circumstances be damned.

If I can't have a moment alone to talk to my parents, then I'll say it all right now.

“She's not pregnant,” I blurt.

I don't look away from my father, but I can see Savannah’s posture shift subtly out of the corner of my eye. Something about it looks off. She should be pissed at the accusation, but she just seems nervous, and it gives me the courage to keep trying to talk sense into my shell shocked father.

“I don't even remember sleeping with her, and she’s still out partying with her friends all the time,” I say, words spewing out as I work myself up.

“Even if she is pregnant, it's not my kid.

You know I'd never do that, Dad. They've put everyone in this family through hell, and I wouldn’t ever betray you all like that! You have to believe me.”

“Put you all through hell?” Savannah screeches, shoving up from the table.

“Boo fucking hoo that we’re related to some asshole who scammed your asses.

We have to live with everyone comparing us to him all the time!

And how dare you say I'm partying just because I'm celebrating my fucking pregnancy with my friends?”

Savannah’s mom stands too, wrapping a protective arm around her daughter’s waist, and I want to scoff at the display.

“Oh yeah, your life has been so fucking hard being bankrolled by money your uncle embezzled from us!” I shout. “Cry all you fucking want, no one believes you.”

“How dare you speak to my daughter that way?” her dad shouts. “You ruined her life, and you'll damn well?—”

“ Enough !”

The roar of my dad’s voice cuts through the din of shouting.

I stand at one side of the table, shaking with rage, and Savannah and her parents stand at the other, staring furiously back at me.

If they weren't such lying fucking snakes, I'd be impressed by how good of a show they put on. Maybe Savannah’s lying to them too.

I don't know. I don't care, either.

I'm not going to?—

“Boden.” My dad’s voice is calm and quiet, the kind of quiet that only precedes me getting my ass handed to me.

“I didn’t raise a disrespectful coward. You will marry Savannah Ward, and I won't hear another word of nonsense from you.

You will break things off with Kenzie and will only see her for work purposes on the ranch.

I will not have you make a laughingstock of the Montgomery name, and that's the end of it. Do you understand?”

“Dad…”

My voice cracks and fades to nothing as my confidence wavers and fails me. In the end, I'm still my father’s son. I'm still sand, whereas he's an immovable pile of stone. I should've known better than to try to butt heads with him.

I should've known better than to let myself hope.

“Do you understand?”

“I hear you.” I bark out a laugh, dropping my gaze to glare a hole through the floorboards between my feet. “Loud and fucking clear.”

I turn and march right back out of the kitchen, leaving the bag from the cafe where it fell on the floor. My parents both shout after me as I storm out of the house, but I ignore them. The door slams shut with a violent crack behind me, and I stalk down the steps and back to my truck.

I don't know where I'm going to go or what I'm going to do, but I know that I can't be here right now. I just can't.

I fumble my phone out of my pocket and dial Oakley as I climb into my truck. It feels dumb, calling my little sister to fix my messes, but she's way smarter than I've ever been. If anyone can get me out of this before my whole life goes down the drain, it's her.

She picks up just as the truck rumbles to life, and I sigh in relief.

“Hey big guy,” she says. “You calling just because you miss me, or do you need something? I'm in the middle of making the best grilled cheese ever, so if it can wait, I'll call you back.”

I choke out a chuckle even as tears blur my vision. Leave it to her to make me laugh even now.

“Dad’s going to make me marry Savannah,” I say weakly.

It hurts so much worse to hear it out loud.

“Fuck.” Oakley sucks in a breath, and I hear a bit of muffled talking on the other end of the life before she comes back to the phone. “Alright, grilled cheese can wait. Tell me everything.”