“Yeah,” he says with a snort. “Only because she didn’t stand for your controlling bollocks.”
“Believe what you like, Danny, I’m not here to change your mind. I’ve given up trying,” I say exasperatedly. “I’m just here to tell you something that your mother has found out and is trying to use to her advantage.” I mean, she hasn’t actually told me what she wants from me yet, but it doesn’t take a genius to work out that it all comes down to money for her crappy gambling addiction.
“Just spit it out and leave,” he says, no love in his eyes for me.
“Okay… Your mother turned up to my work today, made a scene outside, and I went down to speak with her. To cut a long story short, and there’s really no way to ease into this… I’m here to tell you that me and Cameron are together. We’re a couple, and I’m not here to rub your nose in it or anything, I just needed to tell you the—”
I don’t get a chance to finish speaking as he flies across the room and punches me in the jaw.
“How fucking could you?” he rages, pulling his fist back again. I let him punch me. I let him do it twice more because I guess my guilt is manifesting itself all over again. But after the third hit, I restrain him. I move quick and have his hands behind his back so fast that he barely realises until it’s too late. He thrashes against me, kicking and bucking, but I don’t let go. This will escalate so fucking fast if I let him go, and as much as seeing him like this is killing a part of me, I need to keep it together until I leave.
“Danny, calm down.”
“Calm down? Calm fucking down? Are you kidding me? You’ve just told me you’re fucking my girlfriend, and you want me to calm down?” he fumes.
I don’t have the patience to deal with this, and I hate what we have become, but as I turn him and throw him on the sofa, I can’t help the anger coursing through me as I bellow, “Sit the fuck down and listen to me. For once, just fucking listen.”
There is an element of shock on his face, the first time I’ve ever seen it, but I’m too mad to feel guilty about it right now. I’ve been through too much shit when it comes to Danny and his mother to let him kick me all over again.
“It’s not as simple as me just sleeping with her. I knew her before you two ever met, and we had a relationship that I stupidly ended because I worried about what other people would think, especially you,” I shout as I jab my finger in his face and lean over him. “I’m done with being held to fucking ransom by your mother at various times over the years, and I’m done trying to prove that I fucking love you. You’ve made it clear that there is no room for me in your life, so I am done putting mine on hold in the hope that you finally let me in.”
The frustration is pouring out of me, and I am helpless to stop it.
“And before you even think about going to Cameron and laying into her about this, just remember that I won’t tolerate her being hurt. I won’t put up with the bullshit, Danny, and I swear, if you ever lay another hand on her again, I will make sure it will be the last time you ever do.” It fucking kills me that he put his hands on her before, and I am a coward for not saying something sooner.
“So, let me get this straight… you came here to tell me you’re fucking my girlfriend and to threaten your own fucking son?” he says, but his voice holds more confusion than anger right now.
“Number one, she’s not your girlfriend and hasn’t been for a while. Number two, you’ll never understand anything whilst you’re in self-pity mode and thinking the fucking world has it in for you. And number three, I don’t make threats, Danny, son or not.”
He stares at me for a beat, and I keep my breathing even. I won’t back down, not this time.
“Wow, she’s really done a number on you, huh?” he says, proving my point that he isn’t really listening to a word I’ve been saying.
“If that’s what you heard from all of that, then fine, she’s done a number on me.” I can’t argue with stupid anymore. I just can’t. It’s toxic, and I am done with toxic being in my life. “I just came here to tell you before your mother did, and also to say that until you have the epiphany that you seriously need, don’t bother contacting me.”
Saying that last part hurts, but I need to do this, and maybe it might just do him some good to realise that I won’t just be waiting there, pining for the father and son relationship I always wanted us to have.
And with that, I stand tall and walk out, feeling equal parts light and dark as I do.
ChapterThirty-Seven
Cameron
“How do you have so much stuff?” Caleb says as he hauls another box into the hallway.
“Want me to take it back?” I tease.
“Fuck no,” he says as he puts the box down and grabs me from behind, twirling me around and then dropping his lips to my neck.
“If you keep doing that, we’ll never get my stuff unpacked,” I tell him, but fail to sound convincing as he continues to run his tongue over my skin.
“We’ve got time,” he says before he whirls me around and slams me against the wall.Well okay then.
His lips devour me, kissing every inch of skin that is on show as I close my eyes and lose myself in him, pretty much like I’ve done since we finally gave into our desires and kicked things off between us again. And it’s a good thing I chose to wear a skirt today as his fingers brush over my knickers before they’re being moved to the side as his thumb connects with my clit. I let out a sigh and tilt my hips a little, which he takes as a signal to thrust two fingers inside of me as he works his thumb in circles.
I fuck his hand as I lean against the wall, lifting one of my legs and hooking it around him, opening myself up more, giving him better access.
“That’s it, baby, fuck,” he says as I grind on him and he adds a third finger, stretching me. I moan loudly and open my eyes to look at him, but the fact that the front door is open catches me off guard for a moment.