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To hear him call Jameson his son did things to my heart. I rubbed my chest, feeling as if he’d stabbed it with a letter opener. Ouch. “I’ll tell him the truth when he’s ready,” I choked out. “I’ll tell him I thought I knew who you were, but I was wrong,” I cried. “Goodbye, Drake,” I said for the last time.
Chapter Six
“You don’t have to clean the room. I’ll take care of it after I clean Martez’s room,” Izzy purred his name while fanning herself.
I gave her a half-smile. “Do you need a moment there?”
She leaned against the door. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been attracted to anyone other than Jared,” she stuttered his name. The man had done some serious damage, leaving her like he had. He wouldn’t even give her a good reason why, after fifteen years of marriage and dating all through college. “I thought it was perimenopause, but good news, mama can still be turned on.”
I laughed softly. I was too tired and mourning too much to give her the laugh she deserved. “I’m happy for you. Should we pop a bottle of champagne and toast your hormones?” I teased.
“We should pop a bottle and celebrate your freedom. This is a good day for both of us.”
“Yay, us.” I did a lame, half-hearted fist pump.
Izzy reached out and rubbed my arm. “Come on, Char, you’re better off without him.”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
She pressed her lips together. “He’s not father or husband material. Do you really want Jameson to grow up among the Hollywood crowd? You know how fake and destructive it can be.”
“I know, Izzy. He’s gone. I get it.”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt again over the lousy piece of crap that he is,” she spat.
“I’m fine,” I lied. “I never expected him to choose us.” That was true, but I’d had some hope. Hope hurts like a mother.
She gave me a placating I-know-you’re-lying look. “You’re a terrible liar, but you should be thanking your lucky stars. Now you get the best of both worlds—Jameson to yourself and zero guilt over his loser father.”
“He’s not a loser, Izzy.” I don’t know why I was defending him. Maybe it was the way he had grabbed my hand as I’d walked away for the last time, his eyes begging me to save him from himself. There was something about the way his hand curled around mine. Our searing connection soldered us together, making it almost impossible for me to pull away. But pull away I did. I wasn’t going to beg him to stay. He had to make that choice. And he chose to walk out the door. Regardless, he wasn’t a loser. He was lost. There was a difference. Not to say I thought he did the right thing. Or that I would even welcome him back into my life with open arms. He’d have to do some major damage control and perform a couple of miracles before he could pry my arms open. We’re talking, walking on water and changing water to wine levels. But the truth was, I’d given up hope that he wanted to be found. And it wasn’t my job to find him.
“Any man who walks out on his kid is a loser,” Izzy countered.
“You’re right.”
“And, I didn’t want to say anything, but he’s back with Marissa.” Oh, she totally wanted to say that.
I rubbed my chest where she’d purposefully aimed her fiery dart. “Not that it’s a surprise, but how do you know that?”
“I read it online.”
“You know you can’t believe everything on there. A lot of sites fabricate the truth to get clicks.”
“It’s a trusted source,” she responded curtly.
“Perfect. Mazel tov to him. I’m going to go wash his dirty sheets now.”
Izzy grabbed my hand. “Honey, I’m sorry. I know I go big-sister crazy. I just want to protect you.”
“I know, Izzy. And I love you for it, but I’m a big girl, and it’s over now. Drake is in the rearview mirror and there will be no looking back.” I might glance, but I was definitely never staring at it longingly.
She squeezed my hand. “Why don’t you go rest. You look like the day after my bachelorette party.”
I squirmed just thinking about it. I’d gone head-to-head with Jodi Baxter in a wicked game of beer pong. Never again. I’d thought the world would never stop spinning. Actually, I kind of did feel like that now. Drake’s unexpected appearance had certainly unhinged my axis.
“I need to do this.” The room was calling to me. It had happened often since we’d moved in.
“Okay, honey. Just promise me you’ll finally vanquish his ghost once and for all.”
“Izzy, it’s not that easy,” I whispered. You don’t stop loving someone just because you tell your heart to stop. Believe me, if it were that easy, I would have vanquished Drake ages ago.
