“What?” She says confused.
“Dear old Dad here forgot to invite me. It’s okay though,” he turns to me, “your P.A let me know where you were.”Fuck sake, Carly.I turn in my seat, taking in Paige’s face. She’s looking back and forth between Edward and me, trying to make sense of his words.
“Dad?” She whispers. Edward's gleeful laugh is painful to hear, knowing he’s about to destroy everything. I had it all planned, how I would lead up to this conversation, how I would break it to her. Andthis was not it, not even close. Her eyes meet mine. “Wh...wh…what is he talking about?” She stutters out.
“Paige it’s n—” I start, only to be interrupted.
“Dad thought he’d get one over on me by stealing my girlfriend and fucking her when I couldn’t.”
“That is not what happened!” I near shout.
“Really? My girlfriend,” he points from himself to Paige, “who you fucked, and the best part; you didn’t even tell her who you were. Nice one, Dad.” It’s as if this is a joke to him. As if trying to humiliate Paige, trying to destroy what Paige and I have, is some form of entertainment. I’ve never been ashamed of my son, until now.
“Oh God,” Paige gasps from across the table, drawing my attention back to her. She’s as white as a sheet. She stands and sways slightly, I go to reach for her but she slaps my hands away. “Don’t touch me,” she hisses.
“Sweetheart, it’s not what you think. Please, let me explain,” I plead.
“Did you know?” She doesn’t need to say any more, I know exactly what she means.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“I have to go. I need to leave.”
“Paige, no. Please, baby, don’t go.” I’m begging, but at this point I just don’t care. I’ll get on my knees if it means she’ll stop and listen to me.
“Don’t 'baby' me,” she spits. “Everything, oh God, I thought…” She puts her hand to her mouth, unable to finish what she was saying.
“Everything was real. We are real.” She needs to believe me.
“NO!” She shouts, grabs her bag and begins to walk past me. “You lied to me,” her pained whisper as she passes me breaks my heart and I can’t move, I’m frozen in place.
“Looks like we both lost the girl.” I turn to face my son, taking in the gloating smile. My stomach turns. Where did I go so wrong with him?
“Pack your bags and get out of my house. Your mother can deal with you. I can’t even look at you right now.” He quickly masks the shock on his face. What did he expect from me? A slap on the back and for us to laugh about it over beers? He’s fucking destroyed me.
“As if I’d want to stay with you after this,” he scoffs. I push past him and rush to the exit, hoping to catch Paige. My body finally functioning again and realising I can’t let her walk away. I see her up ahead, staggering around people on the pavement.
“PAIGE!” I shout. She doesn’t turn, but picks up her pace. I run after her. “Damn it, Paige, stop. Let me explain.” I’m almost to her now.
“There’s nothing to explain, Gray,” she calls over her shoulder, still walking away from me.
“There is everything to explain. Don’t walk away, Paige. You don’t walk away from us. Not ever.” I’m in front of her now, blocking her way.
“There is no us, there never was an us.” She steps around me, beginning to walk away from me again.
“Goddamn it, Paige. Just stop.” I grab her arm, spinning her around to face me.
“Let me go,” she hisses, trying to pull her arm from my grip.
“You think I’m going to let the woman I love go? I will never let you go. There will never be a time when I will be able to let you walk away from me.” She freezes, her eyes widening up at me.
“You love me?” She whispers in disbelief.
“I am completely and utterly in love with you. You’re everything to me, Paige. I don’t exist without you.” I pull her to me, uncaring of who’s around us. Cupping her cheek, I give her everything.
“Baby, I am so sorry that I didn’t tell you. I didn’t know you were going to be at the wedding. I couldn’t believe it when I got on the plane and you were sitting next to me,” I press my forehead to hers.
“Why didn’t you say something then? When you first saw me?” Her voice is quiet.
