Iwasn’t aware a single word could ever have the power to obliterate my heart. Notuntil that moment. What hurt more than her saying it, was she knew what she wasdoing when she said it. She knew exactly what it would do to me, and yet she didit anyway. Because Tabitha Clarke was a witch, I was convinced of it then, and Istood there in the parking garage, frozen, as she walked away.
Icouldn’t call after her. I couldn’t grab her and force her to witness thecombustion of my soul, forcing her to look at what she’d done. I could onlyslump against the concrete wall, struck down from the impact of one fuckingword, until she was gone and out of my sight.
“JesusChrist,” I finally breathed, pressing a hand over my heart.
Howcould two women from the same family be so cruel? How was it possible thatthey’d both have a hand in breaking my heart and tearing it open?
Icalled a car to take me home, where I waited for Greyson to be dropped off bymy sister. Mel brought him to the door and when she saw me, her face fell withsomber recollection. I was in more pain than I’d ever felt before in my life,but one look at Greyson’s face told me I’d be okay. It’d take some time, but Iknew I’d be fine.
Ihad my son, and anything beyond that was a bonus.
Still,I knew the reality of what was going to happen, and he needed to understand whyI wouldn’t be hanging out with his aunt anytime soon. Things would be weird,they’d be uncomfortable, and he deserved to know.
“Comein here, kid,” I told him, leading him into the dining room where I had laidout dinner. “I grabbed Chinese.”
“Youhardly ever get takeout,” Greyson said pointedly, and I chuckled.
“Yeah,I know, but I’m not in the mood to cook.” I sighed, scrubbing my hands over myface as I sat down. “I gotta talk to you about something.”
Hetook his seat beside me and began spooning rice and lo mein onto his plate. “Ialready know what you’re going to say, Dad. It’s cool.”
“Ohyeah?” I cocked my head, eyeing him skeptically. “And what am I gonna say, smartass?”
“You’regoing to tell me that you and Aunt Tabs are dating.” Greyson shrugged, as hegrabbed an eggroll. “It’s fine. It’s not weird or anything.”
Stunned,I dropped my eyes to the empty plate in front of me. “So, uh, you’d be okaywith that?”
Hescoffed. “Dad, I’ve known you guys were together for a while. I’m not stupid.”Shoveling a forkful of fried rice into his mouth, he added, “Plus, I went to knockon your door at Aunt Tabs’ place like, last month and you didn’t answer. So, Iopened the door and—”
Ilooked up, my eyes widened with shock. “Dude, why would you just walk into myroom?”
“Um,I mean, you weren’t in there, so I didn’t—”
“Okay,”I laid my hands down on the table, huffing a sigh, “we’re laying down a ruleright now. Unless it’s an emergency—and I mean, house is burning down,someone’s breaking in, you can’t fuckingbreatheemergency—you and Iwill never barge into each other’s rooms, got it?”
“Whynot? Mom and Aunt Tabs never saw the big deal.”
God,the kid had been raised by women for way too long. “Kid, trust me. I don’twanna see you,” I jerk-off gestured with my fist, “any more than you wanna seeme. So, just … knock first, and if I don’t answer right away, assume shit’sgoing down.”
“Whatif something’s wrong and you can’t answer?” he countered, smirking as he pickedup his eggroll.
Jesus,he was killing me. “Then … give me a couple of minutes before you come in, justto be sure.”
“Whatif you stop breathing in that time? Is it really that important for me to neversee you jacking off, that you’re willing to risk your life?”
“Greyson,”I groaned, laying my hands over my face and somehow finding my laugh. “God, Idon’t think I’ve ever been more sure that you’re my kid than in this moment.”
Hesnickered, continuing to eat. “Anyway, I don’t care if you’re dating Aunt Tabs,if it makes you guys happy. It’s actually pretty cool, I think.”
Hisapproval felt like a harsh stab between my ribs. “You know, kid … I wish I hadknown that about two months ago.”
“Why?”he asked, quirking a brow as his chewing slowed.
Inodded. “Uh … well, I don’t think we’ll be seeing each other very much for a while.”
“Whathappened?”
Icould’ve lied to him, I guess, and maybe I should have. Maybe that was theright thing to do, to keep us both looking good in the eyes of Greyson. But Iwas cursed with the inability to lie, unless I was bullshitting, and I couldn’tbullshit about this.
