Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2 Read Online Free Page B

say, pushing the paint can toward him. I just want to get this whole awkward ordeal over with. “I want this color.” I slide the card across the counter and point to the color as he takes it from me. He lowers his eyes and takes the card. Resting his hand on the paint can, he looks up at me.
    “I know this is late, Landon, but I’m trying to turn my life around here. I wasn’t a husband to your momma or a father to you and Juju, but I’m tryin’ to be a better person. I’ve been working now, and I’ve been clean for a few months.” He sighs. Taking the can, he turns and prepares to place it onto the mixing machine before flipping on the switch.
    “That’s good,” I breathe. “My name’s not Landon anymore. It’s Reed. Reed Austin.”
    He faces me and shoves his hands inside his pockets. He stands there for a minute without saying anything.
    “Oh, I see.” He swallows, nodding his head. “You’ve always been a smart kid. I saw a lot of me in you when you were growing up. Then I got all messed up with the wrong people and wrong things. I let people down. I let my family down.” He closes his eyes and lowers his head to his chest. “I suffered, but because of my decisions, you, Juju and your momma suffered the most. I didn’t realize how selfish I was because I was too fucking drunk to care or to know. I was a good person once, and I’m trying to make things right,” he says, raising his chin to meet my eyes.
    I’m frozen in the spot, unsure of what to say. This is the most I’ve talked to him in years, and I can’t manage my mouth to form words. He twists back around when the paint machine stops, takes the can and sets it in front of me and smiles. “That’s a nice color, like the ocean. Your momma always wanted me to take her to the ocean, but I never got the chance.” He lifts the bill of his hat, averting his eyes from me and staring down the dusty paint aisle. I can tell he wants to say more, but he’s too afraid. What’s the point anyway? It’s all in the past now. He can’t fix it. “You should take her there someday.”
    I fight back tears as I stare into the eyes of the man that is my father. I’m fucking mad that he deprived me of having a father to play with and teach me things. I had to do all that on my own, and at the same time, protect my sister and Momma. Growing up, I took care of everything that he should’ve been doing for us. I’m the spitting image of this man in every way, yet I know nothing about him. I’m more like him than I care to admit. I resolve today to change and not be like him because I don’t want to end up alone.
     

     
    “Momma, I’m home,” I say, putting down the bucket of paint and brushes in the hallway. It sucks having one arm out of commission for so long. Thank God it was my left and not my right.
    “I’m reading in the living room.” She lifts her eyes and smiles when I walk into the room. “Where have you been?” she asks, setting the People magazine onto the coffee table.
    “I was just running some errands before I leave tomorrow.” I laugh. “I should have picked you up a nice romance novel to read so you can stop reading that trash.”
    “You know how I feel about my magazine.”
    “I do, and I was hoping to sway you a little bit,” I say, taking a seat next to her on the couch.
    “It was nice having you here with us the past month,” she breathes, leaning back on the couch.
    “I feel the same way, Momma.” I wonder if I should tell her I just saw Dad. If I do, it could reverse all the progress she’s made since I’ve been home.
    “So, what does the rest of your day look like?” She glances over at me and takes my hand in hers.
    “I’m all yours, but first I’m gonna do a little painting in here. I want to liven up the place.”
    “Really? I would love that, honey,” she says as she squints at me. “What color did you pick? And, is it Martha Stewart?”
    “Yes, and it’s the color of the ocean.” I chuckle,