Page 64 of Worth Risking It

“I know. I needed to deal with this on my own, anyway. Thanks, though.”

“All right, man. Well, if you change your mind and need anything, let me know.”

“Mm hm. I gotta get going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yup. Take care, man.”

“Later.”

I hung up and my mind painted a scene of him undressing and laying on that vinyl table for one of Chastity’s amazing massages. Taking another drag, I rolled up the window, got out, and exhaled the smoke while tossing the cigarette. I locked the doors and strode for the porch. Before I stepped inside, I kicked the toes of my shoes to the side of the house to knock off the snow.

Amanda was sitting on the sofa, her hair all matted and covered with white stuff. An intense chemical smell burning my nostrils, my hand waved back and forth as I shut the door and kicked my shoes off.

“What the hell? Is it supposed to smell like that?”

“Oh, what you’re smelling are chemicals frying and destroying my hair.”

I cut my lids at her sarcasm. Pointing to my chest, my chin jutted forward, my brows lifted. “You think this is fun for me? Huh? I’m risking my goddamn life here for you and that baby, so I’d appreciate you getting off your high horse and show some appreciation.”

She folded her arms over her stomach and pouted. Turning sideways on the cushion, she bent her knees toward the back. Her eyes were glossed, her complexion paler than usual. Out of nowhere, she made a statement that had my heart twisting and sinking.

“I’m never going to see my kids again.”

“Shit.” I sat on the other couch, my elbows on my knees, my thumbs digging into my eyes.

“I mean…this morning, when I dropped them off at school, I gave each one an extra long hug.” She sniveled, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her fingers curling into a fist, she covered her mouth and squeaked out a sob. “I gave them a kiss.”

My lids closed, my head bowing low between my shoulders. She was killing me. How the hell was she not having a breakdown right now?

Her tone lowering, she went on, her head tipping to the side. “I told them how much I loved them, and how proud I was.” She swallowed another small sob, her fingers uncurling over her nose to her brow. “And then I stood on the curb and watched them walk inside that school…and I’m never going to see them again.”

She was weeping, shrinking into a ball, her face in the back cushion. “Jack has found my letter by now, I’m sure.”

The letter telling him she’d had a miscarriage and needed time alone. We weren’t supposed to put this plan into motion for a couple more weeks, but apparently Jack didn’t seem to care about not being suspicious, for she had overheard him on the phone two nights ago, discussing the next move to get rid of her. The hell she must be going through was unthinkable. I didn’t envy her internal battles.

Clearing my throat, I folded my arms over my knees and gazed at her. “Look, when the baby is born, you’ll have about a month with him before you have to go back to Jack. When you do, you’ll have a chance to spend time—”

Her eyes rolled, closed, and then opened to peer at me. “You think that helps?”

Dread consuming me, I clapped my palms to my face and groaned. “Look, Amanda, I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve never had to deal with this shit before. I am going against everything I was born to do right now. I…I have no clue what to tell you.”

A sad smile started to show, but fell. “You know, Heather just got her first boyfriend. He’s in ninth grade, so he’s a year older, but he’s a good kid. Smart, handsome, football player. His father is a politician.”

My pulse stopped, my lids rounding. Bit by bit, I lifted my gaze to her, my brain ticking. “Really? Anyone I would have heard of?”

“Maybe. William Alberts.”

Oh, holy hell, the irony. Her husband was fucking the father of her daughter’s boyfriend. What were the chances of that?

Pursing my lips, I waved a dismissive hand to move the conversation on.

“Anyway, she’s all excited about the junior prom coming up. He’s asked her, you know. She’s the only eighth grader who has been invited to the junior prom.”

The corner of my mouth twisted, my shoulders lifting to my ears.

She cut her lids and scoffed. “It’s a big deal, Wyatt. If you were a thirteen-year-old girl, you would understand.”

A genuine chuckle shook my chest as I sank into the cushions, propping an ankle on my knee.