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“Noted,” he says, moving away with a smirk. He knocks my shoulder as he walks down the driveway, just as Grayson pulls up across the street. It takes everything in my power not to chase after him and throw him to the ground. But instead, I watch him until he opens his car door, before I move toward the house, feeling utterly defeated. I’ve just reached the top step when he yells out.
“Oh and Wes…if you ever decide to change your mind,remember this…everything awful that’s happened to Lucy is your fault.Everything.”
Grayson gives me a “what the fuck” look as he walks across the road, hearing every word. Greg’s not even trying to be discreet.
“Including the night we conceived Katie,” he adds.
What?
“I knew she kissed you that day. I wanted to prove she was still mine, and she was. I slid inside her like…”
He keeps talking but I don’t listen. A rage fills me as I run toward him at full speed. I’m so close, I’m already imagining his bloodied face.
“Stop, Wes.”
Grayson slams into me with such force we almost fall, but as soon as I’ve gained my bearings, I push him aside to get to Greg. “Stay out of it, Grayson.”
“Stop, he’s not worth it,” Grayson yells as he continues to get between us while Greg laughs behind him, jumping into his car and rolling down the window, out of harm’s way.Coward.
He looks me square in the eye with a sinister smile on his face as Grayson holds me back. “I’m going to ruin you until you have exactly what I have—nothing.”
And with that, he drives away.
I sink down to the carpet as soon as I get inside and drop my face into my hands. I feel nauseous, I’m tense, and sweat is already starting to pearl on my brow. I’m physically repulsed by what I’m going to do. But I can’t change my mind.
Grayson hovers above me, and he’s talking but I can’t hear a word he’s saying.
Greg raped Lucybecause of me. Because he saw us together? I didn’t even fucking know her back then. Fog fills my head and I can’t think straight. I’m hurting her. Staying with her is hurting her. I wish there was something I could do, but he’s never going to give up. He’s actually right; I need to leave her life. I don’t want to but it’s for the best. I’ll watch from the sidelines. I’ll never let him hurt her again. But I have to end this.Fuck, how can I end this?
Tears prick my eyes as my breathing shallows. Pulling on the strands of my hair, I try tofeelsomethingbut I’m numb.
I sit like that—for how long, I don’t know—until I’m hit with a cup of freezing cold water, snapping me out of it.
“What the fuck, Gray?”
“I’mhelpingyoufor once. You were freaking me out. Get your shit together. He’s gone.”
As I shake off the water droplets running down my face, a moment of strength fills me. I can do it. I can end things. For Lucy. For Katie. I’ve been without them before; I can be without them again.
Pulling myself up off the floor, I stretch out my muscles and grab my phone from my pocket, sending Lucy a text.
Wes: I need to see you
And then I fall apart with Grayson picking up the pieces.My, how the tables have turned.
Chapter Forty-Three
Wes
IdrivetoLucy’sin a daze, pulling up as Katie gets into a car with Nate and Cory. She waves enthusiastically through the window and my heart aches. I’m not just leaving her mom. I’m leaving her too.
“We’re taking Katie for a play date with Addie. We’ll be back in a few hours. Enjoy your alone time.” Cory winks and I have to force a smile.Nothing about this is going to be enjoyable.
“Thanks, Cory. Bye, Katie.”
“Bye, Wes,” Katie calls out, just loud enough for me to hear it through the glass.
My stomach heaves but I ignore it. I can’t show any emotion or Lucy will see right through me.Fuck, this is hard.
