Kacey saw the whole thing go down.
She wasn’t too comfortable with Liam going out to hang with the guys but he was pretty persistent, and she had to say he’d been acting a little weird since he got there. He was holding her a little too much and kissing her and being really nice even though every other word out of her father’s mouth was the f-bomb. Liam seemed to like him though, so when he got up to go out, she didn’t stop him. Even though Jordie was out there, looking utterly delicious despite the done-up hair and beard job he had. Shelli and Posey must have gotten ahold of him and, of course, that made her want to aww.
But she didn’t.
She couldn’t pay much attention to him though. Because soon her father’s face twisted up when Liam turned to talk to him. Then Karson’s and Jordie’s jaws dropped and they both said something that Liam just waved off. When her dad stood, throwing his hands up over his head as he yelled violently, she knew it wasn’t good, but she didn’t think it was what she thought her father just said.
Shaking her head, she jumped to her feet along with her mother and cried out, “What?”
He pointed at her, his brows touching as his face filled with anger. “You aren’t marrying this guy! No! Over my dead fucking body!”
“Karl!” her mother yelled as Kacey stood there, shocked. Her eyes cut to Liam as he stepped in front of Karl, his back to Kacey
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’d like Kacey to—” Liam started, but Karl wasn’t backing down.
Not that she’d expect him to.
“I said no! You hear me? Get out of my face,” he said, pushing past Liam while Regina took ahold of his arm, trying to stop him. But he just dragged her along with him. “Let go of me, Regina. Do you hear what is going on? They’ve only known each other for a couple months! She don’t even love him!”
“Karl, hush! You don’t know that,” Regina yelled back.
“I’d really like to talk to you privately, Kacey.” Liam tried to be heard over all the yelling, but Kacey couldn’t even move.
Was this really happening?
Was she dreaming?
She looked to Karson for help, but he was standing there, his mouth gaping open, no help at all. She looked to Lacey, but she was holding Mena, her eyes wide as she looked back and forth to each person who was yelling. When his eyes met hers, Jordie just grinned in a slow, very condescending way. Almost like he found this not only hilarious but downright stupid. She could read him like a book; it was easy for her, even with him holding back so much of himself. But sometimes, he opened up, and when he did, she absorbed everything he said and stored it in her heart for later. Now though, she wanted to smack him as his arms went over his chest, his eyes watching her so intently.
Waiting for her next move.
Asshole.
Not that she wanted his help, but Jesus! Could someone help out here?
“I won’t allow it, Kacey Marie King! I refuse to!” her father yelled, bringing her attention to him.
“Allow it?” she muttered, her eyes narrowing angrily. “Daddy, I’ll do whatever I please.”
“The hell you will! You don’t even like this guy! Better yet, love him!” he yelled at her, his nose flaring, and she really didn’t understand why he was so mad. Yeah, he was right, but why did he feel the need to make a scene like this? Her daddy was overdramatic, but even this was a little crazy.
“Kacey, can we go outside?” Liam asked, but she held her hand up, stopping him.
“In a second,” she said sharply, her eyes never leaving her dad’s. “Why are you so mad?” she asked him then, trying to keep her cool even though she was beyond embarrassed.
“Because I don’t like him.”
“But what if I do? What if I want to marry him?” she asked and Karl basically shot steam out of his nose.
“What?!” he said, along with Karson and Jordie.
Jordie came off the wall, his aloofness gone as his eyes burned a hole in her head.