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“It’s just…while he gets better—” I start, fully prepared to explain everything when he snaps at me, his blue eyes full of fury.
“He can’t recover from the accident somewhere else? Like his apartment? Can’t his girlfriend take care of him? Why is this shit falling on you?” I think he realizes he’s gone too far when he sees the look on my face. “Liv…”
My heart thumps and squeezes painfully in my chest. My bottom lip trembles, and I press my teeth into it. “I can’t believe you threw that in my face.”
“Olivia, I’m sorry—” His hand rests on my face and I can’t ignore how different it feels than when Bennett touched me.
“You should be,” I grit out. “I get you’re annoyed, but you can’t come here and behave like that.”
“But he can?”
“No! And this isn’t a competition between you two. Bennett and I aren’t together!” I yell.
“Are we?” he asks as
he runs a hand through his hair.
I swallow hard. David and I haven’t defined the lines of our relationship, and while he never seemed to pressure me on that, I’m beginning to think my grace period is about to come to an abrupt end.
“David, I’m still married.”
“That’s not what I asked. He’s got a girlfriend, remember? He’s moving on. Are you?” If this were anyone else and a different circumstance, I’d say this was coming from a place of tough love or support, but his stance, his tone, the look in his eyes makes me believe this is coming from a place of jealousy and contempt.
“That’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair is your ex-husband being here after everything he’s done. Are you that weak that you’re just going to let him back in?” Weak? I stare at him, my eyes wide as his words sink into my soul. How could he say that?
“Weak?” I take a step back. “Is that what you think of me?”
Regret flashes across his face, but it’s too late. The very minor progress I’d made post separation seems to evaporate before my eyes. You’re weak, Olivia. “If you let him use you like this, then yes.”
“Well, if that’s what you think of me, then I think you should go.” I don’t need this.
“You know if he hurts you again, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.” I’m about to tell him that what happens to me will no longer be his problem when Bennett comes through the door.
“Get the fuck out!” he growls and I gasp at the Bennett that I knew very well. The one that would never stand for anyone speaking to me in any way less than respectful. This is not going to end well.
“Excuse me?” David snaps.
“Is this how he talks to you?” He looks at me, the anger leaving his eyes when he looks at me. “I’ve never spoken to you like that…have I?” His brows lower slightly, and I want to tell him that he hasn’t because I know he’s fearing the worst.
“No, you just fuck other women, while you’re married to her,” David interjects.
“Okay enough!” I snap. “David, you need to leave.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. You’ve been nothing but hurtful towards me since you walked in, and I haven’t done anything to deserve it.”
His eyes soften and I know he’s regretting taking his feelings about Bennett out on me. “Because I’m your man, Olivia, not him.” He points at Bennett.
“Funny, every court in America would say otherwise,” Bennett interjects.
I put my hand up towards Bennett, telling him to be quiet, again. “You’re not anything, anymore.” I wrap my arms around myself, my eyes welling up with tears as I “break up” with the man that probably got me through more than he could imagine. “You didn’t even let me explain before you exploded.”
“Olivia…” he starts. “Is there a reason you’re still here?” he snarls at Bennett.
“Baby?” Bennett looks at me and I glare at him for using a term of endearment.
