Free Forever Too Far by Abbi Glines Page B

Nan. I knew that. I just wished she’d learn to let that all go. When she had insisted we come here I’d thought it was her way of forgiving Nan. Looked like I was wrong.
    “I’ll deal with Blaire. This won’t happen again. But you need to start finding ways to let go of this
    bitterness Nan. I can’t help you if you keep acting like this in front of Kiro. He is used to dealing with Harlow. Not you. Harlow is quiet and keeps to herself. That’s all Kiro will put up with and I am sure
    as a child she figured that out fast. You need to realize Kiro won’t accept you for you. He is spoiled
    and selfish. He’s a legend. People adore him and he thrives on it.”
    “I hate my life. I... I think sometimes that it would be easier on everyone if I just ended it.”
    I felt a sharp ache in my chest and I reached over and pulled her into my arms. “You can’t do that
    because I love you. I want you around. You need a chance to find happiness, Nan. Don’t do this to
    yourself. And don’t ever, and I mean EVER, say something like that again.”
    She nodded against my chest and began to cry softly. I wondered if my wounded sister would ever be
    healed.
    It was several hours later before I got back to the house. Nan was at her hotel. She refused to stay in
    the house with Kiro and Harlow. I had texted Blaire twice and I’d heard nothing from her. I was
    worried. I kept telling myself that she was asleep.
    I hurried up to our room and opened the door to find her curled up on the bed asleep. She was still
    wearing her dress and she looked cold. I walked over to her and started to undress her gently. I didn’t
    want to wake her but I also didn’t want her uncomfortable while she slept.
    Once I had her undressed I pulled back the covers and tucked her in. I couldn’t believe she’d said
    something hurtful to Nan. But then Nan had been adamant that Blaire had lashed out at her. It was
    probably the pregnancy hormones. I bent down and kissed Blaire’s head before standing up and
    heading to go get a shower. We’d not even been here one day and I was already stressed and ready to
    leave.
    The banging on the door started just after my head hit the pillow. Or at least it felt like it. Blaire
    stirred in my arms and I noticed the sun pouring in through the windows. Maybe I had gotten some
    sleep.
    “Who’s that?” Blaire asked in a sleepy whisper.
    I wasn’t sure but I hadn’t wanted Blaire woken up like this. I knew she’d sat up late waiting on me.
    “Not sure. Stay here,” I replied and kissed her head before getting out of the bed and pulling on my
    discarded jeans.
    I jerked open the bedroom door to find my dad looking hung over and pissed. “You got shit to deal
    with. Whatever the fuck you said to Nan last night didn’t help. Her ass is moving in,” Dean snarled.
    That was a step in the right direction. She needed a chance to get used to Kiro. This would be good
    for them. “Then my talk did help. It’s time Kiro accepts her and makes up for lost time.”
    Dean let out a hard laugh. “That won’t happen, Rush. You’re blowing smoke up her ass if that’s what
    you’re telling her. Kiro is Kiro. He ain’t a fucking daddy figure and that is what she wants.”
    Maybe. But I had to at least help her try.
    “Just get downstairs and help before all hell breaks loose,” Dean said before turning and stalking off.
    I closed the door before turning back to Blaire. She was sitting up in bed with her hair messy from
    sleep and the sheet pulled up to her bare chest. What I really wanted was to crawl back in bed with
    her and forget this bullshit with Nan.
    “I’m sorry,” I told her as I walked back over to the bed.
    She frowned. “When did you get back last night?”
    “Late. Nan was difficult.”
    Blaire nodded stiffly then dropped her gaze from mine. I went over to her side of the bed and sat
    down beside her then slipped a finger under her chin and tilted her head up to look at me. “Hey,
    what’s