Page 70 of What Was Meant To Be

“Honey, what…?” My mother looks at him before me then Jacob. “Baby, that’s Jacob. You’re really going to take the word of Parker, who you don’t even like?”

“Well finally someone admits it.” Parker scoffs.

“You shut up.” I growl at him before turning back to my father.

“Dad…” I move to stand in front of Jacob. “I need you to take a breath and let me talk.”

“Move, Whitney.” His eyes are cold and hard but they’re not directed at me. They’re directed about a foot over my head.

“Dad… can we please just talk about this?” I ask. “I want to clear up a few things.”

“Yeah, Dad… let’s just take a second. Take some deep breaths,” Mason interjects and I see the moment in my father’s eyes when he realizes that Mason saying something means there’s some truth to what Parker said.

My father’s eyes dart to my brother, his eyebrows furrowing and I watch the pain flash across his face. Like my brother had betrayed him by not telling him.You knew?I can almost hear the words just in the brief look he gives Mason and I hate that I’ve irrevocably changed their relationship in the blink of an eye as well.

“Talk about what?” my mother exclaims and when my eyes meet hers, I can see the tears flooding her eyes. “No fucking way.” I have rarely heard my mother swear and it feels foreign in my ears, hearing her sweet, soft voice speak something so harsh. Her chest is heaving up and down, her nostrils flare and when she opens her mouth a startled cry escapes it.

“Mom…”

“Okay, so we’re all on the same page,” Parker continues. “Didn’t realize JP and the godfather were the same person. Well, that’s something.” He snorts.

“Parker,” Mason growls. “Shut the FUCK up,” he says as he and Chloe both start making their way toward him.

Chloe points at the door. “Okay, seriously? Get the fuck out, Parker.”

“I seriously do not want to have to hit you after what you’ve been through, but you are fucking tempting me,” Mason snaps as they both stand in front of him.

“Well wait… so that everyone gets the full scope of the story, Whitney told me that the guy she was fucking behind my back is anoldflame. As inbeforeme.”No no no no.“And if everyone here is well versed at basic math, that would have put her at the ripe old age ofjailbaitthe first time these two got together. What did you wait for the stroke of midnight on her eighteenth birthday? Love that for you. And you, Kev,” he says, pointing to my father.

“Mason, NO,” Chloe exclaims and holds him back because he is a second from taking a swing at Parker. “So that he can press charges? No. This jerk off isn’t worth it. He wasneverworth it.” She spits out before she looks at Parker. “RUN. Or whatever the fuck, just GO!” she screams at him, but I can’t even be bothered to care because my father has stormed past me and has Jacob by the throat against the wall.

“Dad! Oh my gosh, Dad, please stop! Oh my God. Mom!” I yell for her because I’ve never seen him like this. My father, the giant teddy bear that I’ve probably heard yell on less than ten occasions and has never put his hands on anyone, currently has his best friend by the throat.

“Kev…” Jacob says through sputtered breaths and I’m wondering if he’s letting him do this until he really can’t breathe because Jacob is stronger than my father even on his worst day. “Please, let me…”

He squeezes harder. “FUCK YOU. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” he roars. “WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT LITTLE ASSHOLE TALKING ABOUT?” he says, referring to Parker who I see is no longer in the room.

Not that there was any more damage he could have done. He destroyed my life in three minutes.

His final words to me come charging into my brain.What goes around comes around.I want to go after him and ask why. And how? How could he do this to me? I hadn’t intended to hurt him. It wasn’t malicious. It just… happened. But I couldn’t leave JP here to fend for himself against the only two people that he ever loved more than me. Two people that are looking at him now like they hate him.

“Honey, stop.” My mom touches my father’s arm and I watch as he visibly relaxes, turning to look at her and for a moment I’m lost in how they look at each other. How they love each other. The conversation they’re having with just their eyes right now. The moment quickly dissipates when my father lets go of Jacob’s throat allowing him to take a breath. Coughs escape Jacob’s throat as he rubs his neck and no more than a second later, my mother’s hand comes flying through the air and slaps him hard against the cheek.

I let out a cry and I move in front of Jacob, putting myself between him and my dad in case he decides to go for round two. My back is to my dad as I put my hands on his neck to see the marks from my father’s hands. “Shit! I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” I cry and I can see the hurt, pain and devastation in his eyes. I drag my fingertips over the marks from his fingers, wanting to run my lips over them instead.

I’m sorry I did this,his eyes say.

“YOU’RE SORRY!? Whitney, move,” my father growls and Jacob tries to move me gently out of the way.

“No!” I spin around, planting myself firmly in front of Jacob. “Can you stop acting like a psychopath right now? This is your best friend!”

“Was my best friend, not anymore. Not after this,” he snaps as he takes a step back, probably realizing that I’m not going to move. “My best friend wouldn’t have touched my daughter behind my back.” I look at my mother, who’s shaking her head at me, the tears still pouring from his face.

“And you all just fucking knew!?” He points at Chloe and Mason. “You, I give a pass.” He says to Chloe. “Because you do whatever the fuck Whitney tells you even if it is idiotic.”

“Kevin,” Jacob speaks up. “Don’t do this. Don’t take your anger with me out on anyone else.” His voice is calm and even despite having just been choked by the very man he’s attempting to reason with.

I chance a glance at Chloe and I see the hurt on her face at my father’s harsh words.

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