Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

" I 'm sorry, what?" I ask her slowly as I gape at Rylee. "I don't think I heard you right. Did you just say he's your…dad?" I look over at my step-dad and watch as all the blood drains from his face. "She's joking, right? Please, tell me this is one big got you, haha moment?"

He looks between me and Rylee before turning to my mom. The two of them share a look before he brings his attention to me. His face falls as he lets out a heavy sigh.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about all of this, but I didn't know how. I only found out a few weeks ago. And it was a lot to take in. I also had to talk to your mother about everything first."

"So, it's true. Rylee is your daughter?" I ask him. "Is that why you didn't come skiing?"

"My father called me up, said he needed to see me. With him getting older, I wanted to make sure he was alright. I didn't expect to see Rylee's mother there. But, my father felt like it was time to tell me all about my long-lost daughter," he says, then looks to Rylee.

"My father and I had a falling out a long time ago. He wanted me to take over the family business, but I wanted to travel the world and do my own thing. Be my own man. I swear, I really didn't have any idea about you. If I did, I would have done a lot of things differently."

Rylee shifts in her seat uncomfortably, her gaze lowering to the empty plate in front of her.

His eyes drift over to me. "And what did you mean when you said you're dating?"

"Exactly what I said. Rylee is my girlfriend," I tell him. My brain is a fucking mess right now as I try to keep up. "We've been dating for a few months now."

"No." He shakes his head slowly. "No. That can't happen."

Rylee's head snaps up. "I'm sorry, but I really don't think you have any say in, well, anything regarding me or my life."

"I am your father, Rylee." James looks at her with wide eyes. "He is my step-son. You two can't date."

Oh, fuck. It's just hitting me that I'm dating my step-sister .

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and let that one sink in. All I wanted was a nice family supper. To have my girlfriend meet my parents. Who knew my girlfriend shared a parent with me.

Rylee shakes her head. "No, you are a stranger to me, someone who played a small part in my creation," Rylee says. "And we've been dating for a while, before any of this came out. You can't come into my life and tell me who I can and can't date. Plus, it doesn't matter who he is to you, we didn't grow up together and we're not blood relations. We're both adults in college, so we can do as we please."

"But you told me you're dating other people?" James says, shaking his head. "Why him?" He points to me and frowns. "You don't need to date him if you have others."

That one is like an arrow through my heart. What the hell?

"Because I love him." Rylee stands up and leans over the table, her face a mask of fury.

Hold up. Did she just say what I think she said? Did she just say she loves me? A smile slips onto my lips, my dead heart bursting as I gape at my stunning woman, while she has a stand-off with my step-dad.

Her dad? I don't fucking know anymore.

"It doesn't matter how many boyfriends I have. Each of them means the world to me. I'm not choosing. And I'm not going to break up with Trevor just because his step-dad happens to share DNA with me."

Rylee grabs her purse and steps away from the table, then looks to my mom. "Thank you for having me over, but it's probably best I go. This is a lot to take in right now, and I think we all need time to process everything."

"Of course, sweetheart." My mom, who's been quiet this whole time, gives her a kind smile.

"I'll walk you out." I stand and start following her out of the dining room.

"Rylee!" James stands up, trying to grab her attention.

Rylee turns around. "I told you I needed time. And while I know none of us expected this to happen tonight, you judging me and thinking you have the right to tell me what to do with my life makes me not want anything to do with you. I think it would be best if you don't say anything more right now, unless you want to ruin any chance you have of me being in your life."

She turns around again and walks out. "Rylee." I say her name as we reach the front door. I have so many questions, so many things I want to say, to ask, but as I open my mouth, I honestly can't find the words.

She looks up at me with tears in her eyes, and my heart sinks. "I… I have no words. I don't know what the hell is going on, but I'm tired. It's one thing after another. It's like the world hates me. Why can't I catch a break?"

"Hey." I step forward and pull her into my arms. "You don't deserve any of this shit. And I'm so fucking sorry that it is happening to you. I wish I could protect you from it all. Rylee, if I had any idea of who James was to you, I wouldn't have blindsided you like this."

"I know." She smiles up at me with watery eyes.

We stare at each other for a few long beats. This is a bad time, but I can't help asking her. "Did you mean what you said back there?"

She laughs. "That I love you? Yeah." She nods. "I just wish I'd told you in a different way—a different time and place."

"Would it be too corny of me to tell you that I love you too?" I search her eyes. She shakes her head. "Good, because I'm crazy about you, Rylee. And what happened tonight, what we found out, it changes absolutely nothing for me. I love you. I hope this isn't going to scare you off."

"It's not." She shakes her head. "It's just…" She chews on her lower lip.

"You need time to come to terms with all of this." I nod my head in understanding. "I get it, baby, I do. And I'm not mad. Take all the time you need, okay? I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm sorry." Her voice cracks.

"Don't be." I lean down and kiss her lips. "Don't ever be sorry for things you have no control over."

I want to drive her home. Leaving her right now is the last thing I want to do, but I also need to talk to James and get a few things straight. So, I get my mom's driver to take Rylee back to the Cheer house. When the car is out of sight, I head back inside and find James and my mom in his study.

"This can't be happening," he says, sounding pissed off. "They can't date."

"Why not?" Mom asks.

"Because they're brother and sister," he says, sounding repulsed. "It's wrong. It's messed up."

"Is it?" Mom asks. "They are not blood relations. You didn't even know about Rylee until recently. They didn't grow up together."

"What would everyone think if this got out?" he hisses.

"Is that all you care about?" I ask, stepping into his office. Both of their eyes snap over to me. "How people see you? Because I sure as fuck don't care what people think about me. And I know my mom doesn't either. I thought we were above all that bullshit."

"Trevor. This is wrong. Why can't you see that?" he asks me.

"It's not wrong. What's wrong about it? Rylee is good to me, and I adore her."

"She has other boyfriends. Don't you want someone who can give you all the love and attention you deserve?"

"And what, now you're going to tell me your daughter isn't good enough for me?" I huff out a laugh and shake my head. "Look, I love you, James. You've been an amazing father to me these past few years. But I'm going to tell you this just once, I'm not leaving Rylee. Not unless she asks me to go. And even then, I'd fight tooth and nail to get her to reconsider because she's worth it.

"You don't get to come into her life and tell her what to do. To judge her in any way at all. And you don't get to make life choices for me. I love her. I don't care who else she loves, as long as they treat her with respect. Something you need to learn to have, or you will lose her for good. And me too, at that."

"Trevor," he says in disbelief.

"I don't want to hear anything more about it tonight," I tell him as I turn around. I need time to think, to wrap my head around what the fuck just happened here.

The biggest thing is, I hope to God I don't lose Rylee over this. I know she said we're good, but after some time to think, what if she changes her mind?

Looking down at my phone, I text her, telling her I love her and that I hope she gets home safe.

She sends me back a heart, and says that she will text me in the morning.

I can't lose her. I refuse to.