Reid
Ican’t avoid my girlfriend forever.
Or can I?
Finding projects to work on to keep Moonlit Gables running is a never-ending quest. There’s always something to do. It’s not odd for me to spend long hours in the management office doing tedious tasks like paying bills or handling rent payments. Plus, maintenance around here is a full-time job. Each time I get a coat of paint on something, it’s chipping off something else.
There’s no need to feel guilty about my long hours away from the townhome we now share. I’m not actually avoiding her. Amara’s busy anyway pulling tons of shifts cleaning for the elite on the good side of town. I’m busy with property management. It’s just how relationships go at times when you’re both busting your ass to make a living.
Like with Brayden’s mom, Joni? What about Maria or Clarissa or Sherry?
With all of them, even my son’s mother, there was a distinct moment in each of those relationships where I’d gone from aching to take care of them with every fiber of my being to…full on resentment. I’d then pour myself into work to avoid dealing with the resentment.
There’s something wrong with me.
A good man would suck it up. That’s kind of our point in life, right? To get with a woman you love and make certain unspoken vows between you to ensure all her needs and wants are met. The desire to take care of her isn’t something that should just vanish into thin air one day.
And yet, it always does.
I should give my buddy, Easton, a call. Being a preacher, he’ll no doubt have sound advice. Maybe he can just tell me to get my head out of my ass and be a real man for once—in a “man of God” kind of way, of course. Hell, I’ll even drag myself up to the old church on Sunday and meet with him in person.
What if he can’t fix me?
Overworking myself to avoid a painful conversation isn’t something I can do forever.
Having that conversation would mean telling her to pack up and leave. Honestly, it shouldn’t be that hard. It’s not like it would come as any surprise. We haven’t had sex in far too long and I don’t even care anymore. Things just haven’t been the same since I letthem move into Gordon’s old unit and Amara broke her promise to pay rent.
WhydidI let them move into that unit?
Because you’re a sucker, man.
And, because Amara has a daughter.
That’s where things get tricky. If it were just Amara, I think I could stand firm in my decision. But, knowing they have nowhere to go, and I’d be putting not one but two people out on the street? Yeah, I can’t do it.
Fuck.
A gust of cool air rushes through the management building and swirls into my office, indicating a visitor. Since the mailroom is up front, I get a steady stream of visitors each day. Well, aside from the beer bros. Kevin and Tyler, being the little drunkard princes they are, have to be reminded to pick up theirs usually after about a week.
“Hey, Dad.”
All the angst and turmoil bleed out of me the second Brayden saunters into my office. Pride fills my chest at the sight of him. He’s grown so much in the past six months. Not only did he graduate high school, but now he’s got his own kid on the way. Unlike myself, Brayden was able to man-up and treats Casey like a queen.
Meanwhile, his dad is hiding in his office like a pussy, so he doesn’t have to see his own woman.
“Bray,” I say, grinning at my son. “What’s new? Haven’t seen you in a few days.”
Brayden plops down in the chair across fromme and arches a dark eyebrow at me. “About that… Where’veyoubeen?”
He may’ve moved out, but he didn’t go far since he lives with our neighbor.
I guess it’s crystal clear why I’m avoiding home.
“Been busy.” I shift my gaze to a faded tattoo on my thumb.Brayden.His name written in script was the first tattoo I got right after his birth. Been getting them ever since and have a badass sleeve of them on my right arm I’m proud of. “You know, sincesomeoneleft me high and dry.”
Brayden snorts out a laugh. “I’m a phone call away if you need help. You know I’ll drop everything.”
It’s true. Even though he’s working on renovating his own property to lease, he still does whatever I need for him to.
