Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
West’s glare switched on mad quick. “I don’t know what to think about you, Alfie. As I’ve told you before—which has never been truer—I don’t know who the fuck you are.”
I nodded, swallowed, and took a step back. He had me there.
“I have no defense,” I admitted. “My past turned into an involuntary lie that I won’t take all the blame for, but I definitely lied about my job. I started working with Kellan the moment we moved back here, and then I decided to tell him the truth about my biological father last week. Hence why Finn showed up at my house.”
He flinched back, confused. “Why wouldn’t you take the blame for—”
“Ask your old man,” I said abruptly. “Ask him what he told me the first time you introduced us.”
He grew impatient. “I’m asking you. What the hell did he tell you? And why should I trust you?”
I nodded and pointed at him as the hurt slashed through me. “That’s why you should ask him. Because you don’t trust me.”
I had this coming, I repeated internally. He had every right to be furious, to feel betrayed, and to dismiss whatever I said.
It just hurt like a motherfucker.
Our entire relationship suddenly felt so tainted and cheap, and that killed me the most. It was hard to explain. To me, shit was still real. I loved him so fucking much, and I missed him every goddamn day. And now he was gonna believe everything we’d shared had been a lie.
“I’m sorry,” I said, clearing my throat once more. The emotions needed to back the fuck off. I couldn’t deal. “I understand if you never believe another word I say. For me—” I put a hand on my chest “—I made a few dumbass decisions based on…whatever. I wanted to fit in, I wanted to contribute. I took the job—I swear I’ve never hurt anyone, nor will I ever. I lied to you about that. No matter what, you and the kids came first. Our marriage, their safety—all of it.”
He shook his head, as if breaking a trance, and took a couple steps back. “This is too much to process. Can I even trust you with the kids, Alfie?”
Whoa.
My stomach dropped, all the blood drained from my face, and I legit felt dizzy.
Can I even trust you with the kids?
A breath gusted out of me, and I rubbed a hand over my mouth and jaw.
Can I even trust you with the kids?
I swallowed dryly and looked at him, and it was as if everything else disappeared into darkness. It was the weirdest feeling; I was as calm as I was enraged. Steady heartbeat, fucking dead inside, but…oh boy, if he ever…
“You called me unhinged in a text the other week,” I said quietly. “If you ever threaten or try to take the kids away from me…? I’ll show you unhinged, West. Take my word on that.”
I wasn’t fucking around. Three people could bring me to my knees. Three people could make or break me. Losing two of them…? Losing my kids? I’d end the third.
West didn’t back down. He stared at me, seething, but I was done. I left his ass in the driveway and headed back to the house. Ellie and Trip better be ready soon, ’cause we were out of here.
CHAPTER 5
Alfie Scott
Iwasn’t hungry the next morning, so while the kids had breakfast in front of the TV, I went into my study to sort out my thoughts. I’d slept like shit, twisting and turning all night, and regardless of how West and I had left things yesterday, I had to text him.
I wanted to get it all out and, this time, for my sake too. So that, one day, I could move on. Whenever that might be.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and opened my phone.
Within seconds, my knees were bouncing, and I didn’t know what to type.
Yesterday, I’d stupidly thought I could cover everything in the right order, but of course West would butt in with questions that took us down another path. It’d been one hell of a web I’d weaved.
“Daddy, can I have more cereal?” Ellie hollered.
“One part cereal, two parts milk—go ahead!” It was best to remind her of our rule. Otherwise, she’d do a tablespoon of milk and two cups of Cocoa Puffs. “Trip, can you help her, please?”
“Yeah!”
“Thank you, sweetheart!”
I released a breath and planted my elbows on my knees.
Okay, back to the order of my fuckups.
If I knew West, he was at the golf course now, and that meant I could ramble in peace without him interrupting. I could call with an emergency, but text alerts were muted.
Here goes.
Hey. Considering the clusterfuck yesterday, I wanted to get this out. It’s mostly for my sake. I don’t want you to form your final opinion, no matter how bad it is, until I’ve said my piece.