Jeremy sighed. “Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Home is a thousand miles away.”
“Notyourhome.Myhome. I’m going back to the farm. Coming tonight was a mistake.” I bent over to grab my bag off the floor. “I don’t want to bridge the gap between us. You created the Grand fucking Canyon when you fucked someone else.”
Jeremy was on his feet now, too. “Keep your voice down.” He put a hand on his hip for good measure.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Don’t you want the rest of the world to know howevolvedyou are?” I patted his arm. “Don’t worry. I’m surethere’s some sad woman here who’ll take pity on you and play with you, little boy.”
The thunderous expression on his face only made my smile bigger. I walked to the door with my head held high. Done. Over. Matilda was the only reason we were talking, and my overpriced lawyer could facilitate those conversations going forward.
I paused at the side of the road. A glance left, then right—
The bouquet of roses appeared under my nose. “You forgot these,” Jeremy snapped.
I rolled my eyes. Him? Again?
I smiled at Jeremy sweetly. “Oh? Did I?” I took the flowers and hurled them on the ground. A good stomp with my sneaker drove home the message that I didn’t want his stupid gift.
Jeremy’s mouth dropped open. “What iswrongwith you?”
“You’re still standing here!”
“You’ve completely lost your fucking mind.”
The heavy steps of Callan’s boots stopped behind Jeremy. “She’s had enough of you for tonight.”
Jeremy scoffed a laugh as he slowly turned around. “Well, what a surprise.” The bitterness dripped in his voice. “If it isn’t our good friendCal.”
Callan wasn’t intimidated. He raised his chin and said, “You can come see Matilda some other time.”
“You don’t get to tell me when I can see my daughter,” Jeremy said.
“No, but Erin can.” Callan turned to me. “When can he come see Til?”
“Tomorrow after ten,” I said.
“You heard her,” Callan said. “Now fuck off back to your hotel. We’re done with you.” He beckoned me closer, and after shaky feet pulled me to him, he slung his arm around my waist. “You okay?”
I nudged my head against him. “Yeah.”
“Wait. Just fuckingwait.” Jeremy waved a hand like a director cutting the end of a scene. “What’s going on between you and him?” His dark eyes rounded. “Jesus, Erin, are you… Are youfuckinghim?”
“That’s none of your business,” I said.
“I’m yourhusband!”
“Only for seven more months.”
And the day I could finally file for divorce couldn’t come fast enough.
21
That Heated Confrontation in Summer
Callan
