Ashton shook him off. “Would you happen to have any idea how Buddy and Taylor found her?”

Reid didn’t answer him.

Ashton released a harsh chuckle. “Does she know?”

Reid looked down at his bare feet. “No,” he said softly.

“I didn’t think so. Are you being truthful with anyone?”

“I’m sorry. I hated lying to you, but I love her, and I knew you wouldn’t understand.”

“Maybe you could’ve let me decide that. Instead you lied to my face. Now I’ll never believe another fucking thing you say.” Something else seemed to dawn on him. “This is why Martha left, isn’t it?”

“Martha retired.”

“More lies, Dad? Are you so out of your mind you don’t even recognize the truth anymore?”

“I know you’re mad right now, and you have every right to be—”

“I’m so far beyond mad I don’t even know what it’s called.”

“Be careful what you do with this, Ashton. Remember all the people who depend on me for their livelihoods. If you set out to hurt me, you’ll only hurt them.”

Ashton leaned in so he was an inch from his father’s face. “Maybe you should’ve thought about them before you started banging an eighteen-year-old.” With that he spun around and walked to his car. He was gone a minute later in a cloud of dust and rage.

With a heavy heart, Reid trudged back upstairs to find Kate dressed and crying.

“I’m sorry, Reid,” she said between sobs. “I’m so sorry.”

He took her in his arms. “It’s my fault. I lied to him. He asked me straight out if I knew who you were involved with, and I said no.”

She pushed her way out of his embrace. “He’s your son.”

“And you’re my life, Kate.”

“You need to go to him.”

“He doesn’t want to see me right now.”

“I have to go.”

Reid reached for her. “Don’t. Don’t run away.”

Kate brushed the tears off her face. “I’ve come between you and your son.”

“We’ll work it out. Come here, baby. I need you.” He stretched out next to her on the bed. “I love you. Nothing’s changed.” But as he held her close to him, he couldn’t help but worry that everything had changed.

When Ashton got home, he went straight to the liquor cabinet. With two shots of Jack Daniels burning their way through his gut, his heart finally stopped racing.

“How could I not have seen this? I’ve got to be the stupidest asshole in the goddamned world.”