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Like literal pain, but also this woman in front of me.
“What do you mean, what am I doing?” I glare, folding my arms to shield myself. “We got too drunk last night and fell asleep. It was an accident.”
Her eyes narrow, nostrils flaring like a snake preparing to strike. “Oh, sleeping, Matt? Really? Naked?”
With a shrug, I run a hand through my hair, trying to remain calm. “It’s not a big deal. We’ve been friends forever, it…it means nothing.”
Scoffing, she points a clawed finger at me. “You’re so full of shit. I can’t believe you’d do something like this.”
Following her gaze, I catch sight of the dried cum on my abs and my cheeks scorch in embarrassment. “It…so what? You and I aren’t together, Val. Why does it matter who I fuck?”
She snarls at me, “Because what you do affects our daughter and, in turn, affects me, asshole.”
That response makes me snort. “Says the woman who was so coked out of her mind the day our daughter was born that she can’t even remember it.”
The only warning I receive is her lips thinning before her knuckles crack against my face. “Don’t you ever say shit like that to me again when you’re fucking men on the couch she sits on, Matty.”
Reeling back, I cup my jaw in shock. “Hit me again because violence solves everything. I’m not fucking men, Valerie.”
Just Xed, and only Xed. Ever.
She sneers, bending down to pick up the lotion bottle before throwing it at my head. “Could have fooled me. Which one of you took it up the ass? I bet it was you.”
Anger simmers in my blood as I duck to avoid getting hit in the face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know, I shouldn’t even be surprised. I’ve always known you two were weirdly obsessed with each other.”
“Valerie, shut up. Please.”
Ignoring the pleading in my tone, she smirks, stepping forward to shove me backward. “Do your teammates know that you like dick? I bet you check them out in the locker room, you sick fuck.”
“Stop.”
“No wonder you never made me come.” Her nails scrape my arm when she grabs me, digging into sensitive flesh. “I had to picture half the football team just to get off with you.”
“I said shut up!" Her condescending words have my patience reaching its boiling point, and suddenly I snap.
I don’t mean to do it. I’m not a violent person. I have never been in my life, yet something about this woman drives me to the brink.
Kicking Hannah’s tricycle, it careens across the room before slamming into the china cabinet, completely shattering it. Glass rains down, followed by our daughter screaming from the bottom of the stairs, and my stomach drops.
Both of us rush toward our three-year-old, but Val gets there first, yanking Hannah off the step. When I reach them, she backs away toward the door, her face twisted in disgust.
“You’re never going to see your daughter again,” she screams while tears stream down Hannah’s face. My heart cracks in two. “Say goodbye, Hannah.”
No, no, no.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to kick it that hard!” It’s the truth. I’m a big idiot. I don’t know my own strength!
“I should call the police. You attacked me!” Valerie hisses while Hannah reaches for me, sobbing. “Kiss your NFL career goodbye.”
Fear has my knees buckling, and I crash to the floor, my eyes burning when I wrap my arms around Val’s waist.
It wasn’t an attack, but it doesn’t matter. Who would the cops believe? A six foot four, two hundred and fifty-pound linebacker or Val? I’m fucked.
“Please, don’t do this. Don’t take her from me. I’ll do anything. Please, Val!”
God, please. Don’t take my baby girl away from me. Don’t ruin my life.
