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Rhett frowned.
“That’s not what I meant. I—”
I held a hand up to stop whatever he was about to say. “No, I think that’s exactly what you meant. You’ve been pissed since the moment I told you I was bringing him. Clearly, you didn’t want him here tonight.”
“You’re right. I didn’t want him to—”
I couldn’t listen to anything else. His words said it all. He didn’twanthim. That hurt worse than his first statement. How could I be with someone who didn’t want my son? I couldn’t. Feeling the tears forming, I turned and headed toward Brendan, leaving Rhett cursing to himself in the kitchen.
Rhett hadn’t been sure he could do this the first time around. Why was I so convinced this time would be any different? Just because I wanted us to be a family didn’t mean he did. This was my life. I didn’t get to be a part-time parent, and if that’s what Rhett thought, then everyone was right after all. We’d rushed into this.
I shoved everything we would need for the night into my overnight bag before grabbing Brendan and bee-lined it straight for the door. Luckily, he was a heavy sleeper and settled against my shoulder without issue.
After buckling Brendan into his seat, I straightened up and found Rhett leaning against the front of the car, arms crossed over his chest. For a second, I thought maybe he’d tell me this was all wrong. But when my eyes made it to his face, that hope vanished in a crushing weight.
“What the hell, Bella? You’re leaving just like that? Don’t you think you’re overreacting? Come back inside so we can talk.”
“No, Rhett, there’s nothing to say. I don’t want us tointerruptyour night any more than we already have.”
His eyes narrowed, and my heart plummeted when he stormed back into the house. Obviously, he’d made his decision.
With cheeks wet from tears, I drove away from the only future I’d ever wanted.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Rhett
What the fuckjust happened?
I stormed back into the house, letting the door slam behind me. I couldn’t believe she left like that. Running away again. And just when I thought we were ready to move in together.
It had been a shitty night. I was sure we both could agree with that, but why couldn’t we talk about it instead of packing up Brendan andleaving me?
Again.
My hands balled into fists as I tried my best not to pull my arm back and slam my fist through the closest wall. How had this all gone to shit so quickly? Things would have gone perfectly if Mom had just watched Brendan like I planned. I could have shown Bella how great things could be if we lived together in my house. All I had needed was this night to go well. How the fuck did it get so messed up?
I flopped back onto the sofa and stared at the ceiling, unsure of what to do.
My phone chimed from the kitchen counter, and the idea that maybe Bella had texted me had me propelling myself off the sofa and rushing forward to grab it from the island. But disappointment hit me hard as I saw the name on the screen. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, but opened the text from Jackson anyway.
Jackson:I know you’re busy celebrating shacking up with your girl. But can you come by tomorrow and look at the boat? It’s not turning over, and it’s not the battery. I already checked.
Me:Not celebrating. Tonight went straight to shit.
A second later, the phone rang with Jackson’s name once again appearing on the screen. Did I really want to hash out the night with him? No, I did not. He’d want to talk about our feelings like a bunch of fucking girls. I wasn’t sure I was in the right headspace for that. But if I didn’t pick up, he would continue to call or maybe even drive over.
Fuck that.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I lifted the phone to my ear. “Hey, man.”
“What the fuck? She said no?”
Even though he said the words, his tone indicated he couldn’t believe that was what happened.
“We didn’t get that far. She brought Brendan, and he was loud and messy…”
There was a long pause. I wasn’t sure how to explain how everything had gone wrong. Mostly because I didn’t fucking know.
