AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Looking up toward the house, I find Lucy waiting in the doorway. She’s smiling shyly, but it’s a cover for the nerves she’s trying to hide. They’re written all over her face. I’m not sure whyshe’snervous though. All I said was that I needed to see her. I’ve given her no clues as to why.
The sound of Nate’s car fades, and when it’s barely a whistle in the distance, Lucy rushes toward me, clearly panicked. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t sign it. I don’t want him to press charges against you, Wes, but I can’t just hand him Katie. No matter how much trust I have in you.”
What?
“I’m sorry. You never told me about the money, so I had to wonder…what if Greg was lying? I just…” She fades off as I finally catch up with what she’s saying. She didn’t sign the custody agreement. It wasn’t her?
I should feel relieved, but I don’t. It changes nothing. Greg’s going to continue to go after her if I don’t do this. Contract or no contract, I can’t see him giving up.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say, emotion stripped from my voice as I walk with her into the house.
“No, it does. I’m sorry. I didn’t know about the money. I mean, did you give him money?”
“I did.” I nod once. “It hit his account on Friday.”
Lucy’s eyes widen in shock, before they narrow again. “Friday? But I saw him yesterday, and he said—”
“It doesn’t matter,” I repeat sternly. “I’m not here about that.”
“You’re not?” Uncertainty flashes across Lucy’s face while my insides fill with dread. These next words are going to kill me.
“I think we should stop seeing each other,” I croak out and inwardly flinch at how unconvincing it sounds.
Lucy recoils. “You what?”
“I don’t think—”
“I heard you. But—”
Digging deep, I find it in myself to make her see reason. “It’s never going to work between us. Greg and I don’t get along, and he’s going to be in your life forever. It’s a lot of drama that I don’t need right now.”
Jesus! That sounds so awful. What an asshole excuse. A lump clogs my throat, but I don’t swallow it. I can’t afford to give the game away.
Lucy’s body stiffens and her fists clench. “You don’t need the drama right now? That’s what you’re going with?”
“It’s the truth.” I shrug.
“Well fuck, Wes. I’m sorry my life isn’t picture perfect enough for you. I’m sorry I havedrama. And you know what? While we’re at it I’m sorry you’re an asshole.”Yep, just like I thought.That hurts, but a part of me is happy to see her fight back. To see the strong version of Lucy. After all, her strength is one of the things I love about her.
“I’m sorry too. But I just can’t…” I trail off, only making myself look more like a dick.
Lucy shakes her head in disbelief. “Because it got too hard? Jesus, Wes. I thought you were better than that.”
I shrug again. “Guess you were wrong. I never claimed to be a good guy, Lucy. Not even once.”
She scoffs, shaking her head. “Saying and doing are different things. Youshowedme you were a good guy. Are you trying to say it was all an act?”
I don’t know what to say to that so I stay silent. A look of disgust crosses Lucy’s face before she runs her hand over it, ending with just a frown. “What about Katie then? Is she too muchdramafor you? This will devastate her. She loves you.”
My heart stops before starting up again with a low thud, my skin prickling with goose bumps.Katie.My eyes close briefly without permission. It’s only for a second, but when I open them again, Lucy’s staring at me wide-eyed.
“I knew it! What’s going on? Why are you really ending things?”
Fuck!
“I told you why, Lucy. You just threw me by mentioning Katie,” I rasp, my voice laced with anxiety.
“Did you only just realize how much you mean to her?”
