Page 27 of Truly (Peachwood Falls #2)

L aina

I fold the last towel and place it back in the bin.

Since the call with my father, I’ve been full of nervous energy. I’m too twitchy to sit still. I can’t quiet my mind. Something is off with Dad. He was too bold, even for him.

Between worrying about him and anxiously waiting for Luke to return, I’m all over the place.

The only thing that helped me calm down was folding laundry.

I folded the load in the dryer from three days ago, everything in my suitcase—which needed it anyway—and Luke’s T-shirts. They were in desperate need of help.

I’ve practiced my speech countless times, ensuring that I cover my bases.

There must be an apology, an admission of wrongdoing, and a plan of attack to improve.

To do better. At least, that’s what the publicist on Social suggested.

It sounded better than anything I free balled—most of which ended up in a ramble and tears.

I can do better than that.

The only hiccup I foresee between Luke and me would be if he chose not to engage with my music life.

He may think it’s too nasty and too complicated.

He may see what it’s done to me and not want anything to do with it.

He may very well think it will be the source of constant conflict and a massive headache—and he wouldn’t be wrong.

And I can’t blame him for worrying about that.

But I have hope, a lot of it , that he’ll love me more than he hates my job.

The roar of an engine breaks the silence, and I hold my breath, waiting for Luke’s truck to fly around the corner of the house and park in front of the barn. But that doesn’t happen. Instead, the vehicle seems to stop in front of the house, and multiple doors open and close.

Who the hell is that ?

I abandon the laundry basket and head for the entryway. The doorbell rings as I reach for the handle. Good timing . My heart pounds as I pull it toward me … and nearly collapse onto the floor.

My father and Tom stand on Luke’s porch. A short, redheaded man with a phone aimed directly at my face is between them, tucked behind their elbows as if he predicts an explosion.

What the fuck?

Nausea clings to my stomach muscles, and sweat slides down my back. Dad’s words that I took as a warning were really a threat. “This isn’t over. We’ll see each other very soon, and we can discuss this face-to-face.”

I’m going to be sick.

Dad slips his sunglasses down his nose. The glimmer in his eye is distressing. “See, Tom? I told you we’d find her.”

God, please help me.

My stomach lurches like I might actually vomit all over them.

Troy’s SUV bolts up the driveway, rocks and dust flying behind it. I’ve never been happier to see him. Because while I don’t want to think this isn’t going to go super sideways and get physical, who knows anymore? I didn’t dream either would show up at Luke’s, let alone together.

Nothing is off the table.

Dad reeks of desperation and oozes fury. Tom is just happy to watch me suffer—hence the camera. I’m sure that was his idea. He’s planning on watching this on repeat. He loves nothing more than seeing himself as the show’s star … especially when he gets to dominate others in the process.

Tom stands tall, all six feet, four inches towering over me in a sad display of superiority.

I almost feel sorry for him.

Troy slides his car next to the garage and is out the door before it fully stops. He marches across the driveway in his suit. He’s pissed.

“Troy,” I cry, so thankful that he hadn’t actually left me.

“Easy now, Troy ,” Dad says, turning his charm on my security guard. The condescension in his voice is utterly embarrassing. Has he always spoken to my team like this? “How have you been, son? I haven’t seen you for a while.”

“I’m not your son . This is private property. You need to go. Now .”

Tom makes a face like he’s looking at a puppy nipping at his pant leg. “Why don’t you get back in your car?” His features morph into steel, and the real Tom comes out. “This doesn’t concern you.”

Troy doesn’t flinch. He might even look amused.

“Stop filming me,” I say, perturbed by the camera trained on my features.

“Listen, doll,” Tom says, patronizing me.

“You obviously need therapy after this ugly little tantrum you’ve thrown over the past two weeks.

And I have access to the best therapists in the world.

I’m willing to look past your attention-wanting behavior and pay out the nose to repair our reputations.

” He leans forward, a sick snicker on his face.

“I’ll still marry you if you promise to get the help you so desperately need. ”

“What I desperately need is for you two pricks to get out of here and forget I exist,” I say, looking him dead in the eye.

“I’m only going to say this once,” Troy says, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Get off the porch, or I’ll move you. One option is much easier and cleaner, but it’s really up to you.”

Tom rolls his eyes and looks at Troy like he’s bored. “ Or what ? You’re not going to do jack shit. Now stand over there and shut the fuck up.”

Troy steps toward him with a look on his face that I’ve only seen once before.

It ended with a lot of blood—not Troy’s.

And while it would give me a thrill to see Tom put in his place, especially since he dared to come to Luke’s and talk to me this way, I also know the PR machine behind my ex, and I don’t want that spinning against me even more.

“Troy, don’t,” I say just as another vehicle comes down the driveway.

It’s Luke’s truck, and it’s picking up speed. Oh no .

My heart races, and I grab the door for support. I have no idea what’s about to happen, and the thought of how many ways this could go wrong terrifies me.

“Ah, is that the Marshall boy?” Dad asks, his head turning back to me slowly. “I see.”

“Who is the Marshall boy?” Tom asks.

“A little punk that Laina used to date until I got rid of him. I did you a favor, little girl.”

No, you didn’t . I step onto the porch, squaring my shoulders to my father.

“That little punk is the best man I know,” I say. “He’s kind and good and honest. He treats people well and me even better. The two of you could take notes if you didn’t have your heads so far up your fucking asses.”

Tom sighs. “Two weeks and you have such a filthy mouth.”

“You should hear the things I say to Luke,” I say, smirking.

The fury on Tom’s face is worth every problem my filthy mouth will cause me.

Dad wraps his hand around my arm, making me yelp.

Troy suddenly grabs my father by the back of his shirt with such force that my father loses his footing. He stumbles down the stairs backward, swiping wildly for the railing. The only reason he doesn’t fall on his ass is because Troy has a hold of him.

“Touch her again, and you’ll die,” Troy says, his face inches from Dad’s.

Luke jumps out of his truck, his eyes wild with confusion and fury. He runs across the driveway, making a beeline for me.

Tom’s laugh is loud and obnoxious. His eyes are filled with humor.

“You left me for that ?” he asks. “Oh, Laina. Don’t do this to yourself.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Luke asks, storming up the steps and placing himself between me and Tom. His body ripples with unbridled fury beneath his purple feed store shirt.

I place a hand on Luke’s shoulder, tears filling my eyes.

Troy releases Dad, shoving him away from the steps.

Tom makes a show out of looking Luke up and down. “Wow. Interesting choice, Laina. It seems when you go low, you go to the bottom of the barrel.”

“Get the fuck out of here,” Luke says, not at all intimidated by Tom’s overconfidence.

Tom ignores him. “Isn’t it humiliating to be caught at your boyfriend’s house when you were supposed to be on your honeymoon with me right now?” He shakes his head. “Don’t you have any shame?”

“Oh, I’m ashamed of a lot of things, Tom. But none of it has to do with Luke.”

“Luke, huh?” Tom smirks at him. “Nice to meet ya, Luke .”

“Is this the life you want?” Dad says, straightening his shirt. “Why would you choose this? Tom can give you the best of everything—access to anyone, anywhere you can dream. What’s this guy gonna give you? Fleas?”

Luke bristles beneath my touch.

“You realize that I don’t need Tom, or you, or anyone for that matter, to give me anything money can buy, right?” I ask, grinning at him. “Because Dad—I have a lot of it. Granted, you have a lot of it because you stole it from me.”

“Tread lightly, little girl,” he says, narrowing his eyes.

“Or what? What are you possibly going to do to me? Record this and sell it to the tabloids to try to further whatever fucked-up agenda you have?” I laugh. “Fine. Do it. I don’t care.”

Troy places his hand over the top of the phone, making the redhead jump. He squeezes the phone so hard that something inside it crunches. The redhead’s eyes widen, and he steps back, leaving the phone in Troy’s hand.

“It looks like we took care of that,” I say, stepping beside Luke. He takes my hand and squeezes it, and the warmth of the contact spreads through my veins. “The only thing I need from anyone is love, Dad. And you and Tom are incapable of that.”

“We’re capable of what’s important. We have our priorities straight, Laina,” Tom says. “Life isn’t about a stupid emotion meant to make businesses money and provide a source of entertainment for simple-minded fools. Don’t be a sheep.”

“My God. Will you listen to yourselves?” I ask. “Go. I never want to see either of you ever again.”

“You’re coming with us,” Dad says. “We aren’t leaving you here when it’s clear you need a mental evaluation.”

I look at Luke. He watches me for a sign that I need his help. The fact that he realizes I need to do this on my own and that all I need is for him to be here beside me means the world.

“How can you want to be with this guy?” Tom asks, jamming a finger Luke’s way. “He just stands there like a bitch.”

Luke chuckles angrily, licking his bottom lip.

“She’s doing just fine on her own. That’s the thing that neither of you understand.

She doesn’t need to be saved . Laina is strong and smart, and she can make her own decisions.

She can certainly handle the two of you.

If she needs me, I’m right here, ready to kill a motherfucker. ”

“Oh, is that how it is?” Tom asks, standing taller.

Luke grins. “That’s how it is.”

“Okay then,” Tom says, switching his gaze to me. “Enjoy your life being a little whore— fuck !”

He barely gets the word out when Luke grabs him by the front of his shirt and headbutts him in the nose. Blood runs down Tom’s face, mixing with the tears that come automatically.

Shit. My hands fly to my mouth as Tom tries to regain his composure. Luke stares at him like a predator about to strike its prey.

“You asshole!” Tom shouts, backing down the stairs.

Luke matches him step for step. His back is flexed, his shoulders taut.

The redhead runs to their truck and jumps inside.

“You can’t do that,” Dad shouts, clawing at any shred of control he can find.

“He just fucking did.” Troy again grabs Dad by the back of his shirt and drags him to the truck. “It would be best if I didn’t see you again. Do you understand?”

Tom stands at the side of the truck, trying frantically to get the bleeding to stop.

“I really hope we’ve made ourselves clear,” Luke says, walking up to him. “But if you ever need a refresher course, let me know.”

“Fuck you,” Tom says, giving up and letting the blood flow down his face. “Fuck you both.”

He grabs his door handle and yanks it open.

“One last thing,” Troy says, grinning. “I have this all on camera from my car. If you want to pull any shit, take it up with Landry Security’s attorneys.”

Tom gives me one final glare before getting into the truck. My dad starts it up, revving the engine in some childish display of aggression, and then rips it down Luke’s driveway.

I exhale, my shoulders falling forward. Luke is at my side in a second. His arms go around me, holding me tight.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“I am now.”

He squeezes me, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

“If anyone asks, I headbutted Tom,” Troy says, heading back to his car.

Luke releases me. “What do you mean?”

“Weren’t you recording it?” I ask, confused. “Wouldn’t they see that it was Luke?”

Troy opens his door and leans against it. “Seems like my camera wasn’t on.” He winks at us and then takes his seat. “I’ll sit up here for a while. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Troy,” I say.

He pauses, leaning his head out of the car. “Do me a favor, Laina.”

“Anything.”

“Stop being so damn stubborn. The next time the people who love you decide you need protection, fucking just take it.”

I laugh as Luke nudges me from the side.

“Lesson learned,” I say.

Troy mutters something before shutting the door.

Luke spins me around to face him, holding my face in his hands. “We have a lot to talk about.”

“Wanna go inside?”

He chuckles.

“What?” I ask.

“We’re off to a good start.”

“Why is that?”

He kisses me gently. “Because you just asked me if I wanted to go inside my house like you’re the one who lives here.”

Hope blossoms in my chest, and I’m not scared to grab ahold of it.

“Because I do,” I say, tugging his hand. “Let’s go talk.”

He gives me his sweetest, most crooked smile and follows me into our house.