Page 82 of The One

Prom was the first time he’d let his daughter stay the night with me, and Timothy’s beach house would be the second. But before we’d left for dinner, which we went to right before thedance, he had pulled me aside and laid down the law, letting me know I was responsible for his daughters and that I wasn’t to let anything happen to either of them.

I didn’t tell him that one of the twins was completely out of control and no one was capable of being responsible for her.

I made him a promise instead, and I’d kept my word.

“Rhett,” Mr. Taylor said, “I’d like to speak to you about this trip to Timothy Barden’s beach house. Lainey told me you’ll be staying two nights and there will be approximately eight of you there, the same group who will be going to Europe—am I right?”

“Yes, sir.” I slowed at the light.

“And from what I understand, you’ll be taking my daughters there by boat—your father’s boat, I assume?”

I adjusted my hand since the steering wheel was getting sweaty. “Those plans have changed a little. Now, Lainey is meeting us at the beach house, and I’ll be taking Penelope by boat.”

“Will there be drinking?”

I glanced in my rearview mirror as if I could see the trunk, where there were at least five cases of beer and four handles of booze packed away. Of course, that didn’t count all the weed I’d stashed in my bag and whatever else the others were bringing.

If I told him what was in my trunk, there was a chance he wouldn’t let Lainey go. The dude was extra strict when it came to his girls. Which was funny as hell to me, considering how wild Penelope was when it came to partying.

But there was a workaround to his question because he hadn’t specifically asked if there would be drinking at the party or on the boat.

His statement was broad.

So, I replied as if he’d asked if there would be drinking on the boat, and I said, “No, sir.”

“That’s the answer I wanted to hear.”

I accelerated through the green light, feeling like shit that I’d semi-lied, my pulse going as fast as my speed.

“I want to remind you, son, that I only have three angels in this world, and you’re going to be responsible for two of them at the beach house and again when you all go to Europe. We’ll talk more about that trip later, but while you’re at Timothy’s, do not—I repeat, do not—let me down.”

“I won’t, sir.”

“I know.”

TWENTY

Rhett

Present Day

No, Lainey, you have no idea what happened.

As those words hit her, her head slightly shook, like she was fighting against them. Like she didn’t want to believe what I’d just said.

What she wanted to believe was the version of the story she knew. The one that had been living within her mind for the last fifteen years.

Every tale needed a villain.

I was that person.

I couldn’t blame her for giving me that title, not after all the information that had been fed to her. But what had been omitted were details that changed everything. That didn’t just shift the story, but flipped it on its back.

That side—my side—was long overdue.

And I had no plans on leaving these bleachers until she heard it.

I tapped the spot next to me, filling my lungs before I said, “Please sit.” I waited for movement, and when there was none, I added, “Or come closer and just stand here.” I pointed at the row in front of me. “I need to get some things off my chest.”