His chest inflated as his expression became unreadable. “Hidden away for only me” —his grasp of my waist tightened— “my private obsession.” He shook his head. “That wouldn’t be right. You’d retaliate...”

“Van?” I looked up as his stare reached deep inside me.

“I’ve done some bad things,” Van said. “I want everything to be different with you, Julia. I won’t hide you from your family, but if you ever want me to intervene, I will. You say the word.” He left a kiss on my hair. “You think I’m old.”

“I didn’t say—”

His finger came to my lips. “I’m not, but I’ve screwed up enough to know what’s right and what isn’t. For this to work, for us to work,” he clarified, “you have to be an active partner.”

A smile curled my lips. “I tried at the cabin.”

“You did great. I don’t mean just with sex. I mean, for your parents to believe this—what’s happening between you and me—is real, they need to hear it from you. They have no reason to trust me and probably many reasons not to trust me. They trust you.”

I inhaled and straightened my neck, feeling the weight of the responsibility I’d failed to accept, that I’d avoided taking, and that Van was presenting to me.

He was right.

For too long I’d been willing to let others speak for me. Whether it was my mother, father, or Skylar, I allowed it. Van wasn’t saying he’d abandon me. He was saying that I needed to use my voice. It was the encouragement I’d never before had.

“You’re right,” I admitted.

“If you want me to step in, let me know.”

“They need to hear it from me.”

His warm touch skirted my arms. “What are you going to say?”

“I’ll tell them the truth. You and I are engaged. I’m going to marry you. The date isn’t set, but I’ve said yes. And as for Wade, you will help.”

“I’ll do what you want.” He looked down at his watch. “Someone has crossed the gate line.”

29. Julia

Julia

Van opened the door to the entry and we stepped beyond the glass French doors. Through the sidelights we could gaze out onto the driveway. The SUV was parked facing the south wing, as the doors began to open—three of them. My stomach sank and I reached for Van’s hand. His body stiffened beside mine.

“Fuck,” Van muttered under his breath.

I could barely articulate what was happening. “They brought Skylar.”

My father had said he’d tell him off and now Skylar was with them.