“Stop fucking lying to me, okay? You were going to run. That’s how it is with you, isn’t it? When shit gets tough, you run with your tail between your legs. You never thought we were going to last, and now that you’ve gotten your opportunity of a lifetime, you were planning to just disappear on me.”
“Fuck you, Michael. I would never do that to you and you know it.”
“Really?” I ask, moving closer. “Because you did it once. When you made me lose six fucking years of my son’s life. Who’s to say you wouldn’t do it again? This time, you were planning to take him to another fucking country. Canada, Christine? Really? How selfish could you be?”
She flinches, staring at me like she doesn’t recognize me.
“Mike.” Her voice breaks as she says my name and tears well up in her eyes. It’s the sight of her tears that makes me calm down. And I realize I might have gone too far.
“Christine—”
I reach out for her but she slaps my hand away. And then she laughs.
“It hurts that you don’t have even a shred of trust in me. How could you even think that I would do that to you? When I got that email, I was shocked, and a part of me was happy. But then I thought about it and I realized it could never work out. I couldn’t leave you, and I would have never move Noah to Canada! I went to talk to my dad because I thought he would give me the best advice, and he did. I was going to turn down the job offer today.”
I’m frozen in place as she finishes speaking.
Fuck.
Her brows tug together as she looks up at me with glistening eyes.
“You don’t have anything more to say? I’m selfish, aren’t I? A coward? Maybe I was all of those things at some point. But I’ve changed, Michael. I changed for you. And you attacked me without hearing the full truth.”
Her voice cracks, a
nd it’s like my heart cracks along with it. I can’t believe I hurt her like this. I just taught my son today that he should never lash out, but I did exactly that. And now, I may have ruined my relationship with his mom.
“Christine,” I start, unsure of what to say.
She doesn’t meet my eyes as she sniffles. I pull her against me, desperate to hold her. I kiss the top of her head, but she doesn’t melt against me like she usually does. I’m even more scared now.
“Let go, Michael,” she states, pushing at my chest.
I release her, and the look she gives me breaks my heart.
“I’m sorry, Chrissy. Please, we can talk this out.”
She takes a step away from me and wraps her arms around herself.
“You, of all people, shouldn’t have just accused me like that, Michael. I made a mistake. I know it was a colossal fuck up, I was wrong. I’ve apologized a million times for keeping Noah away from you when he was born, but it seems like you’re never going to forgive me. You’re always going to keep throwing that mistake in my face.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, taking a step forward, but she takes one back.
My hand falls to the side.
“I’m going home,” she announces, walking away without sparing me another glance.
I want so badly to go after her, but with Christine, it’s always better to give her time to cool off on her own.
My day gets progressively worse when I receive a call from my secretary. Jason informs me about an emergency board meeting in Springfield, and
I need to head over there immediately. I want so badly to go and find Christine, but I can’t. Not right now, at least.
I’ll do whatever it takes to grovel as soon as I return.
CHAPTER24
CHRISTINE