My chest aches, but I nod. I know it's true, but it doesn't hurt any less. She's quiet for a minute.
“Do you think, maybe after you've finished school, you and Rylee would move here? Florida is her home after all.”
“Maybe. We haven’t talked much about it, but I’m sure it’s a possibility.”
She looks at me with tears in her eyes. I know what’s coming next. I take her hand and place it on my thigh. My chest becomes tight, and I’m on the verge of crying.
“Don’t give up on him, baby,” she whispers, “I know how much that boy loves you all. What he would sacrifice for you. I don’t think he’s thinking clearly. I have seen his pictures with that tramp. He’s not happy. It’s clear in the eyes, baby.”
I shake my head, then wipe my eyes and grunt. “It’s fine. I’ll be okay. Someday. I have Rylee, and the others. We will figure out a way to move on. We have to. He made his choice. It wasn’t us.” My voice cracks and she pulls me into her arms.
I let her hold me as I break apart for the last time. After this, Lennox Crane is dead to me for all intents and purposes.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ihate my life. Every day seems to drag on, with no end in sight. Missi is loosening the reins a little, meaning I can now shower alone, and even walk around the house occasionally without her shadow.
Though that's not going to last long. She's decided, since we have such a big, empty place, to invite her friends to move in.
She's even been talking about my dad coming to stay while we plan for the engagement party.
An engagement I've been forced into. But even though I'm miserable, there is one tiny thing that keeps me going.
My baby.
I never thought I would love a child incubated by the devil, but every time I hear its heartbeat on the doppler, I fall a little more.
Missi tricked me into this, but it’s not my baby's fault.
They are innocent in all this, and though it kills me to be stuck here in this hell, I will give that kid the best life possible.
“There you are,” Missi says as she enters the kitchen. My eyes widen and my stomach churns.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” I growl.
She sashays over to me with a wide grin on her lips.
“Do you like? I found it in your closet.”
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes for a second. “Take it off, Missi.”
The green satin dress I'd bought for Rylee, to surprise her with a dinner date, is now on the woman I despise.
“No. Actually, I think I will wear this to the premiere tomorrow. Needs a little adjusting, but it's perfect. Won't be able to wear panties though.” She winks and bile rises in my throat. I’ve been successful in pushing off her advances in the bedroom. Thank fuck. I still don’t even know how I could have slept with her at all.
Missi pulls out her phone and takes a few pictures before texting someone. Her phone chimes a few seconds later and she laughs.
“Daddy agrees. Thank you, Lenny!” she squeals, and wraps her arms around my neck in a chokehold.
I know she knows that I didn’t buy this for her, but if she wants to play dumb then so be it. It's better than fighting. I’m so sick of the screaming and abuse.
Releasing me, she presses a kiss to my cheek and I hold still. The last time I reacted to her touch, she tried to take it further, and when I turned her down, I ended up with a black eye.
Her mood swings have gotten increasingly worse, and her doctor mentioned her blood pressure at the last checkup.
I don't care about her. If I could, I would set her fake ass on fire, but I love my child.
She leaves the room and I sigh, pulling out my phone. She answers on the first ring, and I'm grateful.
