“See? That’s exactly what I was trying to avoid. This is why I wanted you away from him. You don’t deserve to cry because he’s too much of a dumbass to see through that girl’s lies. Just say the word and I’ll take you far away from here.”
The thought spins around in my packed-with-regrets head. Maybe this is for the best. Because no matter how much of a liar Riley is, I can’t be the obstacle standing between a son and his father. She’ll never let Haze see Jake again if I stay.
“Take me home.” I contemplate how much these three little words are going to change my life.
“Home?” Kendrick asks, hesitant.
I immediately know what he means.
“Home.” I nod, my already fragile heart breaking for good.
He knows I’m not talking about the lake house.
The cab stops in front of the wood-built house for the last time, and the simple sound of the tires screeching makes me want to cry out all the water my body contains. I hoped Haze’s car wouldn’t be in the driveway. I hoped I could go in quickly, pack up my things, and be out of there.
Unfortunately, he’s home. I know me leaving without a goodbye would’ve been harsh. But so is not being chosen by your own boyfriend.
I pay the driver, drag my feet to the front door, and push it open. Kendrick follows behind me. I turn the corner and see Haze sitting on the couch with his face covered by his hands. He looks up quickly when we walk in. His eyes are bloodshot.
I can’t do this.
How did we go from there to here? How did we go from in love to completely shattered? How are we so broken when just this morning he picked up my pieces and put me back together?
“I’ll get our stuff,” Kendrick whispers and heads for the staircase. The second Kendrick’s footsteps fade up the stairs, Haze speaks.
“Where have you been?”
His eyes are filled with pain.
“Nowhere. Just walking around.”
“Oh.” His voice is weak.
I don’t force the conversation.
“Can we talk?” He pats the couch.
I sigh, walk to him, and sit down farther away from him than I usually would’ve. He doesn’t speak for a few seconds.
“I want you to tell me what really happened,” he whispers.
Here we go again.
“I already told you. She lied. I didn’t do any of those things. She was the one making threats. Not me.”
He sighs, his pale blue eyes begging me to come clean.
“You still don’t believe me.” I can’t stop the tears from coming back. Really? I just got them to leave.
“I want to. I really fucking do, but you have to admit it’s a little weird that you were so upset with Riley just this morning and then… then this happens. I wouldn’t be mad, Winter. I get it. We just started this relationship, and now everything’s changing. I wish things would go back to the way they were, too, but they can’t. Jacob’s here now, and he’s not going anywhere. Just tell me the truth, please,” he begs.
That’s when I snap.
“I did! I did tell you the truth, but you won’t listen. You won’t believe me. You refuse to see Riley for who she is because you know that if it’s true, if she really is a horrible person, you won’t be able to get to know your son. Do you still have feelings for her? Is that what this is about? If you want to be with her, then please, please just go ahead and put me out of my misery.”
I don’t mean that in the slightest, but I’m so angry I can’t help it. Shaking my head, I try to walk away, but he gets up and stops me, circling my arm before I can take another step.
“You can’t be serious right now.” He raises his voice. “I’ve done nothing but try to show you that I’m in love with you. I don’t want her. I wouldn’t want her in a million years. She could sell her freaking soul and I still wouldn’t want her. Don’t you get that?” he barks at me, and I can tell he’s fighting the urge to break something.