I bark out a harsh laugh. “First, you’re accusing me of being some sort of pedophile. Now you’re saying I treat her too much like my own kid. Which is it, Amara? What’s my sin here?”
She doesn’t know about what I did upstairs.
Thank fuck.
She purses her lips. “We were supposed to get married. You and me. But you got tired of us.”
Not her. Just you.
“Now I’m doing what I can to take care of my girl. What I always do.”
“Found some other sucker to pay your bills?”
She lets out a huff. “Why does it matter? We broke up, remember? I’m not your problem anymore.”
I shake my head with anger. “You know what, never mind. Just go before I say something regrettable.”
“Gladly,” she hisses. “And when Emma learns you kicked us out, her heart will be broken. I’m sick of this hero shit she has with you. You’re just another disappointing man.”
She turns and stalks toward the stairs. I storm after her. As she begins packing her bags, I pace the floor in front of my bed.
“I did everything for you, you know,” I choke out. “Treating me this way is a dick move, Amara.”
Not bothering to answer, she leaves the bedroom and stops in the bathroom to grab a bunch of her crap. I stand in the doorway, watching her with my arms crossed over my chest. With each thing she packs up, I feel as though a vise is tightening around my heart.
And it’s not because Amara is finally fucking leaving.
It’s Emma.
What happens with Emma?
Amara slings her bag over her shoulder and then waits for me to move aside. Once I’m out of her way, she stomps down the stairs.
“I’m so tired of being unhappy,” Amara says, voice wobbly. “I’m going somewhere where I’m appreciated and adored and loved.”
I stare at her blankly. I’ve cared for her, but never those things she’s supposedly going to receive elsewhere. And from whom? What am I missing here?
“I still need you to pick Emma up.” Her tone is softer this time as she flashes me a pitiful look I’m used to. “Do you think you can do that one last thing for me?”
“Of course I’ll get her,” I grumble, losing some of my fire. “And she doesn’t have to leave this place. It can remain her home.”
Amara frowns and looks away. “I may need to takeyou up on that a least until I can secure her a place with me.”
“Done. You know she’s safe here.”
She has the decency to nod. “I guess this is goodbye then.”
“Yup.”
Without another word, she flings open the door and steps out. Brayden is lingering on the porch, worry twisting his features.
“Excuse me,” Amara says hotly as she passes him. “I’m in a hurry.”
He moves out of her way and we both watch her shove her bags into her trunk. Then, with tires peeling, my girlfriend is officially gone.
“We broke up,” I mutter.
Brayden snorts out a laugh. “Yeah. I heard. I think the whole complex heard.”
