Page 127 of Over Time Advantage

His eyes toggle nervously between Ginny and me several times before he nods. “Chill, dude. I need to bolt anyway.”

Five minutes later, the boy is gone, Ginny is dressed, and we’re standing in her kitchen.

I shake my head. “What is wrong with you? He’s younger than our daughter.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “If you were fucking some twenty-four-year-old supermodel, no one would bat an eyelash, but I can’t do the same?” She shrugs. “I like them young.” Her eyes move down to my crotch area. “No problems with the plumbing. They’re always up and ready to go. It’s refreshing for me.”

From the moment we separated, I’ve tried to keep things amicable and classy between us, but that came to an end the second Kennedy told me the identity of Ginny’s affair partner.

I let out a laugh. “Turns out it was just you, Gin. No problems in that department for me anymore. I’m with the right woman now, and she does it for me in ways you were never capable of.”

She clenches her jaw. “She’s Kennedy’s coach. I think that’s in poor taste.”

“Not that it’s your business, but I was with her before she became Kennedy’s coach. And,” I smile, “Kennedy loves her like a mother. The two of them are probably sitting in my kitchen right now eating ice cream, giggling about some inside joke.” I know it’s a low blow, but I also know it will bother her, and I’ve lost the ability to give a flying fuck about Ginny’s feelings.

Her giant, poison-filled lips press together like a duck. “Is that why you came here? To hurt me?”

“I came here because I’ve just learned from our daughter who you slept with ten years ago.”

Her shoulders fall. “Oh that. It wasn’t my finest hour.” She says it calmly, as if it’s not a big deal.

I stare at her in disbelief. “Finest hour? Are you fucking crazy? How could you do that to Kennedy?”

She turns her head. At least she has the wherewithal to be ashamed. “It was a mistake. You know more than anyone it was the worst time in our marriage. We hadn’t had sex in years. We barely spoke. Kennedy was acting out. She would bring him home, and he would look at me in a way you never did.” Tears fill her eyes as they meet mine. “I was so lonely, and it felt good to be wanted. I didn’t plan it. He came to the house when Kennedy wasn’t there and…it just happened. Obviously I regret it. It was a mistake. Her face when she saw us haunts me to this day.”

“You wrecked our kid, Gin. It was more than a mistake. You irretrievably damaged her. She’s fucked up about men because of it. She’s fucked up in all relationships because of it. We lost her that day. I’m only now getting her back. I’ve been pushing for her to talk to you and she’s refused. At least now I understand why. Pierce’s issues stem from this too. I know we weren’t happy, but that day was the nail in the coffin for our family. It caused a chain of events we still haven’t recovered from. What’s worse is that you’ve been lying about it ever since. If I understood why Kennedy distanced herself, I would have acted differently. We could have gotten her the help she obviously needed.”

She shakes her head. “You would have kicked me to the curb and cut me off.”

I can’t get over the gall of this bitch. “That’s what this was about?” I shout as I tug on my hair. “Money? All you’ve ever cared about is money. It’s why you trapped me into marriage and why you trapped me to stay.”

She’s expressionless. “I’ve had no money, and I’ve had lots of money. Trust me, the latter is much better.”

I realize there’s no reasoning with her because she’s a sociopath who values her own pocketbook over her daughter’s mental well-being. There’s no explanation for why she did this. There’s no coming back from it. There’s only one way to make this right for my daughter’s sake.

I wordlessly turn and start walking toward the front door.

“Where are you going?” she spits.

I swivel my head back in her direction. “To my lawyer’s office. Pack your shit. I want you out of my house and out of my life for good. And stay the fuck away from my daughter.”

I walk back though my front door to the sounds of laughter coming from my kitchen. My heart swells to a size I never would have imagined possible.

Stepping into the kitchen, I see my two favorite women in the world drinking hot chocolate. The previously unopened bag of marshmallows is half empty. Fallon remembered when I told her how much Kennedy likes them. I was wrong a few seconds ago because my heart grows ever bigger knowing what she’s doing for Kennedy.

This is what Kennedy’s life should have been like. She’s been deprived of so much. That ends now.

Kennedy turns her attention to me and smiles. “Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll be your alibi. And I know where to hide the murder weapon. I’ve got a guy.”

I chuckle. “I didn’t kill her. Death wouldn’t give us enough justice. I’m going to hit her where it hurts her the most.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Her bank account?”

I nod. “I’m kicking her out of the house. I’m going to meet with my attorneys in a few days. I called one of them in the car on my way home. Our divorce agreement was entered into fraudulently because Ginny lied to me about certain facts. He thinks we can nullify it. We’re going to revisit said agreement and make a few changes. She won’t get away with this, sweetie. I promise. I didn’t protect you then, but I will now.”

Her smile widens as she steps down from the kitchen stool and hugs me. “Thanks, Dad. I truly appreciate it.” She looks between Fallon and me. “I’m going to head out to give you two some privacy.”

I shake my head. “Don’t leave. It’s been an emotional night. You can stay over. The guestroom is made up.” It has been for years, hoping she’d one day want to stay here. “I don’t think you should be alone tonight.”