Page 26 of Claimed By My Ex's Dad & His Friend

I swap the call to speakerphone and pull up my text messages. Maybe Calli will offer a shoulder to cry on. I don’t even care if she pulls the old ‘I told you so’.

I’m typing my plea to Calli, my need to talk to a friend, but pause when my dad answers.

“Hey, Madi.” My dad sounds groggy. Sometimes he takes naps at the hospital.

“Dad, where are you?”

“What’s wrong, Madi?”

The worry in my voice is clear to both of us.

“You’re going to get a message from Brett. Please don’t open it. Wherever you are, I’ll come and delete it. Just don’t look at it.”

I decide against explaining more in my text message to Calli, and hit Send.

“I’m busy…at the hospital. I didn’t see a message…”

I don’t know what else he says because what I first perceive as chatter in the background becomes clearer. Minions jabbering.

Then it sounds like he’s covered his phone. What the fuck? Why is Calli at the hospital? Is my dad lying?

After a pause, he’s back on. “Madison?”

I pull myself together. “Sorry I got distracted. Promise me you won’t open the message.”

“I won’t, but you need to tell me what’s going on.”

How awkward am I about to make things? “I’ll meet you at the hospital in twenty minutes.”

“No. Don’t do that. I’m already on my way home.”

If my dad’s driving, he won’t be opening messages. I should be okay with this. I should encourage him. But I have to know.

I send Calli another message:are you with my dad?

Minions answer the question.

“Thanks, Dad. I’ll be waiting.” I hang up. It’s hard to process. Calli and my dad? Ew, I scurry off the bed. Have they had sex there? I shudder at the thought and head onto the deck, the one that faces away from the Hamptons.

I’m begging the stars for answers, guidance, support…anything, when distant giggling draws my attention to the mayor’s house across the way. Aria’s flung over some guy’s shoulder. That wouldn’t be remarkable in itself. What makes my heart ache is the other guy slapping her ass. Seriously? Am I the only one who can’t find love?

I drop my head. If I crawl into a closet, I should be able to hide from the world while I sort my thoughts.

“Madison.” Jayce is rushing to my front door but detours to the steps when he sees me on the second-story deck. I only have a few seconds to get inside.

“I learned my lesson. Leave me alone.” My heart races as I dash inside and lock the huge glass doors. Along with the view through the wall of windows, it’s clear that he’s made it onto the deck. I hide in the safety of my bedroom.

Curtains closed. No temptation to open them ever again.

I crash onto my bed, leaning into the headboard, and curling my legs up. Did my years in a nearly platonic relationship with Brett stunt my formative relationship years? How can I fall so easily?

Maybe the other school district I’d been interested in working for hasn’t filled the first-grade teacher position. I want to get as far away from here as possible. Or at least a reasonable drive away…I’ll take anywhere that has a teaching position open.

I half-heartedly search on my phone.

Why didn’t Calli say something? I can’t focus on the listings.

“Madison?” Jayce’s voice comes from inside the house.

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