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“No, it’s fine,” she said quickly. “I just assumed after…after what happened…”
I dropped my head, chastising myself for being so fucking stupid. The point was to put distance between us, but I’d just made that harder than ever.
“Look, he’s a great kid, but you don’t need someone like me in your life.”
“Then why did you offer?” she asked accusingly. “I didn’t ask you to take us to the zoo.”
“I know. I just…he looked so fucking disappointed and you…”
“Me, what?” She scoffed, standing from her chair. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those guys that feels like he has to save women. I’m not some wallflower that needs you to come in and save the day.”
“I know that.”
“Really? Because you’re acting like I can’t take care of myself.”
“I know you can. I see you doing it, but?—”
“But what?” She crossed her arms over her chest, and even though I hadn’t been in many relationships, even I knew the defensive stance that told me saying anything else would be fucking stupid.
I turned to the stove and grabbed the bacon that was on the verge of burning. I thought it would buy me enough time to get her to stop glaring at me, but I was wrong.
“What?” I asked, tossing the pan in the sink.
“Just say it.”
“Say what? You’re trying to pick a fight, but I’m not the guy to do that with.”
“And why’s that?”
“Well, first of all, I’m not your fucking boyfriend.”
“And second?”
“Because I’ll tell you the truth and you won’t like it,” I snapped.
“Since you know everything, tell me the truth. Tell me how you think I’m fucking this all up.”
“Well, yeah, Sky,” I said angrily. “You want to get away? You’re being fucking stupid about it. You hid twenty grand in a jar on a shelf in plain sight. All that hard work to make a better life for your kid, and you threw it away like that,” I snapped.
“I didn’t throw it away,” she said, her eyes tearing up. “I…I was just…”
Sighing, I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her body, pulling her close to me. Her fingers dug into my shirt as she cried, leaving a wet mark that soaked through to my chest. I fucking hated saying that shit to her, but the fact was, she couldn’t do it all on her own, no matter how much she wanted to.
“I’m so stupid,” she cried. “I just…”
“I know,” I whispered, rubbing my hand up and down her back.
“I thought I could get away.”
“You will,” I promised. “I swear to God, you will.”
“Mama?” Parker was standing in the hallway, his chin quivering as he stared at his mom. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Sky said, swiping the tears from under her face as she smiled at him. “Mama was just having a moment.”
“Because of the fire?”
“Yeah, it scared me.”
