The Girl He Craves

Meredith’s pov

He hauled in a shaky breath, his eyes swimming with sadness. I had hit him with the

past, something that could potentially bring out the man he once was.

’She’s dead.” He whispered, pushing the photo away. “The dead can’t speak.'”

I blinked in sadness, pitying the man he is now today. “But they can still see and hear.

If mom was here, she’d smack you upside your head and then nurse your wounds.”

He clenched his fists, turning away from me completely.” Is this why you came here?

To remind me of why I’m actually doing what I’m doing? Look at me, Meredith.” His

eyes snapped up to mine suddenly and I had to take in a very sharp inhale as

emotions swam through the windows of his soul.

Father was in more pain than I realized.

’I’m a shell of a man because of her. I can love no other, I have a permanent hole in

my heart because of her. Love is selfish Meredith, the pain is unbearable. I tried to

save you from it too,” He looked over my shoulder at Grant.

He continued. “But I was too late. I need to save my grandson before it’s too late.”

I shook my head, reaching out for him. My heart ached for my father. A man who once

believed love was the answer to everything now made love his enemy. It was painful

and tormenting to watch him become this person.

When my fingers touched his hand, he flinched. His eyes swept to mine in shock. I

don’t remember the last time I held my father’s hand or the last time I voluntarily stood

this close to him.

After mom died, our father-daughter relationship was swept up and tom into shreds.

He would come home late from work, smell of booze, and trash the entire place.

I can recall listening to a few bottles shattering on the wall. I can even remember the

glass piercing through my heel one

rampage.

even flinch when I cried out in pain, he looked at me dead in the eyes

eyes, and told the maid to help me. He didn’t come to

day too.

me stay up alone in my room, crying my

only thing that hurt that day, my heart was

that I lost my father the same day I

mother.

other coldly,

asked

I met Grant and

“You’re wrong dad,’ I

I hadn’t called him dad in a while too. Always

words. There’s a flicker in his gaze,

of the past and the way he looked at me before mom

’Love is beautiful. It’s worth it. Those years you shared with mom, I was

happiest you’ve ever been. Do you regret meeting her? Sharing life with

life with her?’

his adam’s apple bob as he swallowed and croaked

your mother Meredith.’ He tore his

pain deep within

’If I had to go back I’d do it all over again.” He whispered. “I’d choose her

again. ■

could hear the raw emotions playing

that you’re trying to hurt her

dearly. You’re trying to tear his family apart.

this is a good idea? Why do

He snapped his eyes to me. “Don’t you see

your mother and would choose her all over again, but the

Love

his hand, growing angry now that he

Every bit of it is beautiful.

because of what I had

father

the Muralo’s. But Grant and I run away and never turned

he thinks that I had

didn’t realize that it was his actions

and then he lost

loneliness and how a

action

vision as I cracked. ‘I’m sorry for leaving you the way I did. I’m