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I felt something boiling inside of me. I’d never met Zoe’s ex-husband, but as I clenched my fist, I realized that I probably shouldn’t. I hated the idea that he would try to tear Rex from his mother like that. Especially after the way he acted tonight.
“So what are you going to do about it?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. He really has the upper hand here. He always seems to.”
“That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight back.”
“Even if I know I’ll lose?”
“So you’re just going to sit back and let him win?”
Zoe looked like she might cry, and I hated that I did that to her. But, even more, I hated that her family was being torn apart by someone who had promised to love her. But instead, was using her weaknesses against her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’ve been upset for weeks now, Carter. This was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
She got up and walked to the door, showing me out. I reluctantly followed, even though I had more that I wanted to say to her.
“Zoe—”
“Carter, I appreciate what you did for me and Rex tonight and I really appreciate our… time together,” she started.
“I didn’t mean to—”
“But you don’t get to march in here and tell me how to deal with my problems.”
“I know.”
“Just because you can get me in bed doesn’t mean that you know my life.”
“I get it. I overstepped. I just…” My mind was so overcrowded with thoughts that none of them made it out of my mouth. “So what does that mean for us?”
I looked down the hallway at the kitchen I’d been working on for her and Rex. Then over to the molding I’d repaired around the fireplace in the living room, across from where we sat. I’d planned to fix the fireplace itself so that she and Rex could enjoy it as the days got colder.
She met my eyes and sighed. “It means, Carter, that my days might be exactly like this. Ugliness with my ex. Racing out to handle something for my son. Being a full-time single mom in a messy situation. I know I said I wanted a little fun. But… fun’s over for me. Now shit gets real. Can you really handle that?”
I had to be honest. “I… I don’t know.”
“Yeah. I figured.”
“I mean, I can work on it, Zoe.”
“Sure you can. But the thing is that my life is happening right now. Rex is growing upright now. And as much as I like you, I can’t wait around for you to catch up and decide that you’re ready.”
“How do I know if I’m ready, though?”
“If you have to ask, then you’re probably not.”
“But… that’s not fair.”
She took a long look at me. I wanted to reach for her, to pull her close and tell her that I would try. I would probably fuck up. A lot. But I would show up and I would try. Only I couldn’t make the words come out.
Zoe and Rex deserved better than a meretry.
“Life’s not fair, Carter.”
No truer words were spoken. She showed me the door.
