Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 36506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“What kind of bullshit con are you pulling now?” I growl, not liking where this shit is headed.
“Con? I would never.” She smirks at me. “She’s not your daughter, you know.”
I bark out a harsh laugh. “First, you’re accusing me of being some sort of pedophile. Now you’re saying I treat her too much like my own kid. Which is it, Amara? What’s my sin here?”
She doesn’t know about what I did upstairs.
Thank fuck.
She purses her lips. “We were supposed to get married. You and me. But you got tired of us.”
Not her. Just you.
“Now I’m doing what I can to take care of my girl. What I always do.”
“Found some other sucker to pay your bills?”
She lets out a huff. “Why does it matter? We broke up, remember? I’m not your problem anymore.”
I shake my head with anger. “You know what, never mind. Just go before I say something regrettable.”
“Gladly,” she hisses. “And when Emma learns you kicked us out, her heart will be broken. I’m sick of this hero shit she has with you. You’re just another disappointing man.”
She turns and stalks toward the stairs. I storm after her. As she begins packing her bags, I pace the floor in front of my bed.
“I did everything for you, you know,” I choke out. “Treating me this way is a dick move, Amara.”
Not bothering to answer, she leaves the bedroom and stops in the bathroom to grab a bunch of her crap. I stand in the doorway, watching her with my arms crossed over my chest. With each thing she packs up, I feel as though a vise is tightening around my heart.
And it’s not because Amara is finally fucking leaving.
It’s Emma.
What happens with Emma?
Amara slings her bag over her shoulder and then waits for me to move aside. Once I’m out of her way, she stomps down the stairs.
“I’m so tired of being unhappy,” Amara says, voice wobbly. “I’m going somewhere where I’m appreciated and adored and loved.”
I stare at her blankly. I’ve cared for her, but never those things she’s supposedly going to receive elsewhere. And from whom? What am I missing here?
“I still need you to pick Emma up.” Her tone is softer this time as she flashes me a pitiful look I’m used to. “Do you think you can do that one last thing for me?”
“Of course I’ll get her,” I grumble, losing some of my fire. “And she doesn’t have to leave this place. It can remain her home.”
Amara frowns and looks away. “I may need to take you up on that a least until I can secure her a place with me.”
“Done. You know she’s safe here.”
She has the decency to nod. “I guess this is goodbye then.”
“Yup.”
Without another word, she flings open the door and steps out. Brayden is lingering on the porch, worry twisting his features.
“Excuse me,” Amara says hotly as she passes him. “I’m in a hurry.”
He moves out of her way and we both watch her shove her bags into her trunk. Then, with tires peeling, my girlfriend is officially gone.
“We broke up,” I mutter.
Brayden snorts out a laugh. “Yeah. I heard. I think the whole complex heard.”
“Great.”
“Sorry, Dad. For real. I know this sucks for you.”
I should be relieved. Happy even. But anxiety claws at my insides.
Emma.
How does this all shake out for Emma?
When I cram my hands into my pockets, I’m reminded again of what I did earlier. And now, instead of dealing with it, I’m having a heart to heart with my son.
“Do you guys need any money?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Nope. Haven’t touched what you already gave me.”
“There’s more where that came from,” I remind him. “Me and your mom agree since you’re not going to college, you can use that money however you see fit.”
“Yeah, I know. Thanks.”
We chat a couple more minutes and when Brayden realizes I’m not going to kill myself or some shit over my breakup, he finally leaves me be.
I race back inside like my ass is on fire because I have a mess to clean up.
I’m a fucking idiot and I don’t want any trace leftover of what I did.
It’s time to get my head on straight.
Emma
“How’s the crush going?” Ava asks as she kicks off her heels. “I haven’t heard anything else about it.”
Heat creeps over my flesh. Last night was intense. Of course she doesn’t need to know what happened, or better yet, didn’t happen.
“Uh, it’s fine. I think he sort of likes me too. It’s kind of a messy situation.”
She nods, a sad smile on her face. “I understand messy. Do you want to talk about it?”
Headlights flash through her darkened living room and I jolt to my feet. “Maybe another time, yeah?”
“Of course. Thanks, Emma. We appreciate having you. Quinn will Cashapp you tomorrow.”
I thank her and then slip out of the house. It’s going to be awkward seeing Reid in person after last night. Texting him was easy enough because I didn’t have to see his handsome face. Now we’re going to be alone.