“Billy would never date someone behind my back.” My voice doesn’t have the kind of conviction I hoped it would.
“You know what always works well in court? Evidence. And I have plenty of it for you.” He pulls out his phone and swipes a few times. Then angles it toward me.
My heart crumbles with every image. It’s obvious they’re from last weekend. From the dinner Billy swore was only for family. Pic after pic of my boyfriend with a beautiful, statuesque blonde. Hugging her. Dancing with her. Sitting with her at dinner. She’s even wearing his suit jacket.
“Don’t they make a lovely couple? I’m pretty sure our agent can get behindtheseoptics. For the record, Billy left with her Saturday night. Why don’t you take care of yourself and your daughter and accept my proposal while you still can? I’ll give you fifty grand to go your separate ways.”
I’m going to be sick. “Get out.”
He shakes his head. “You’re a beautiful girl.” That disgusting man looks me up and down. “I can see why Billy wanted to be with you, but let’s get real here. You just had a baby. You’re probably still packing extra weight. You’re sleep-deprived and covered in sour breast milk. Are you really going to provide the kind of sexual activity my son is accustomed to?”
My whole body trembles in disgust and shame. I’m a giant bullseye and his words are arrows, each accusation hitting its aim. Because even though I told Billy I could have sex, he hasn’t gotten near me all week.
And while I hate Mr. Babcock for talking to me this way, I’m more troubled by the truth of his claims.
Because Iamheavier. Iamcovered in puke. Iama hot mess.
And I’m not entirely sure Billy wants me in his bed anymore.
Did he really go home with Samantha Saturday night?
“Get the fuck out of my house.” I stand and point to the door. “If you set foot on my doorstep again, I’m calling the police. How would those ‘optics’ look?”
He drops a stack of paper on the coffee table. “You’re upset right now, but think it over. Once you calm down, I’m sure you’ll reconsider. My offer still stands. Think of it as a parting gift.” Turning away, he pauses, then faces me again. “And before you go running to Billy to tell him about his big bad father, ask yourself if you want to be responsible for ruining our relationship. He and I have not had the easiest time getting along. Until now. So think long and hard about that.”
Then that asshole strolls out of my apartment like he hasn’t just upended my world.
51
BILLY
Exhaustion makes my eyelids heavy,but I still need to finish an assignment before I can crash. I trudge up the stairs to our apartment. It’s late, so I quietly unlock the door. The living room is dark, so I flip the lights on.
“Holy shit, Rox. You scared me.” I hold my hand to my chest. “Why are you sitting there in the dark?”
She gives me the strangest look. “Just wondering when you were getting home.”
“I told you I had a study group for psych class.” I drop my backpack and gym bag by the door. I’m about to head over to the kitchen to grab some water when her words make me freeze.
“You had a study group from eight to ten. It’s almost midnight.”
I guess it is kinda late. “I went for a burger with people after we finished studying for that test next week.”
“Oh. Did you bring me something? A doggy bag maybe?”
Shit. “No, sorry, biscuit. I didn’t think you’d be up this late. You’re usually asleep by now.” When I get closer, I realize her eyes are red-rimmed and swollen. “What’s going on? Is everything okay? Is the baby all right?”
“Marley’s fine.” Her voice is raspy. “I can’t say the same about myself.”
After I sit next to her, I grab her hand. It’s cold and clammy. “Babe, what’s wrong?”
She drags her hand back to her lap. “Just wondering where you’ve been. You didn’t answer my texts.”
“My battery died.” I dig it out of my back pocket to show her. “Forgot to charge it last night.”
Her face is blank. Emotionless. “Can I ask who you went to dinner with?”
“The people from our group.”
