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.

“You can’t be serious,” Karson said then. “You just met him.”

“You sure as hell don’t love him,” Jordie added as Karson nodded.

“You don’t know that,” Liam shot at him and Jordie laughed.

“Dude, I know her and she don’t love you,” he snapped back and Liam glared as Karson nodded.

“Yeah, what he said,” Karson agreed.

“Kacey, maybe you should think about this,” Lacey said then.

“What the hell, Lacey!” Jordie yelled and she shrugged.

“Hey, don’t yell at her,” Karson shot at Jordie, but then he looked back her. “But really? What the hell?”

“I’m just saying! She needs to think this through.”

“No, she don’t,” Karl said. “There is nothing to think about. This guy is not for you!”

“Kacey, can we please go outside and talk?” Liam asked again.

“We are trying to talk to her!” her mother yelled, but Kacey’s eyes never left her father’s as her face burned with embarrassment. This was her family and she knew if she looked at Liam, his face would be full of horror. Everyone was so loud, so opinionated, and that wasn’t what Liam was about. She knew this and also knew that they were all right. He wasn’t the man she was going to marry.

“Don’t you think I can make my own decisions, Daddy?”

His eyes burned with fire, his body taut, and she was sure he was two seconds from slamming his fist into something. Preferably Liam’s face, but she wouldn’t allow him to. He was upset over nothing, and really, it made no sense to her. Yeah, he was overprotective, but he never flew off the handle like this. But this was the first time someone had asked to marry her, she guessed, and at least she knew what to prepare the future Mr. for.

If there ever was a future Mr. She had one proposal and, of course, she couldn’t keep her eyes off the dude who broke her heart. Easy to say she was insane. Or stupid. Or both.

Karl’s head fell to the side, his chest falling and rising. “Yeah, I do, but—”