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

rampage.

He didn’t even flinch when I cried out in pain, he looked at me dead in the eyes

to help me. He

day too.

me stay up alone in my room, crying my eyes out. My

thing that hurt that

the fact that

mother.

each other coldly, like we were not father and

did what he asked and

But of course, I met Grant

wrong dad,’

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

words. There’s a flicker in his gaze, a

the past and the way he looked at me

’Love is beautiful. It’s worth it. Those years

been. Do you regret meeting her? Sharing

life with her?’

apple bob as he

when it comes to your mother Meredith.’ He tore his

pain deep

it all over again.”

again. ■

could hear the raw emotions playing

hurting her now that you’re trying to hurt her

a woman who he loves dearly. You’re

a good idea? Why do

see I’m trying to help him Meredith?

would choose her all over again, but the pain

Love is

his hand, growing angry now that he

thinking. “Love is beautiful. Every bit of it is beautiful.

Aiden because of what I

with Grant, my father had

Grant and I run

thinks that

realize that it was his actions that drove

wife and then

a way, I understood his loneliness and how a dead mind

insane to think any action they take,

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