Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“Just so happens, I was never picked. I paid them a nice sum to make sure it was all destroyed. I’m telling you this so you understand. I… I never meant to have a child with anyone.
“I wouldn’t even date for the first few years. Addison… she… she caught me on a bad night. Your birthday was a few days before and I was going crazy missing you.
“I had made my mark. I had enough money to take care of you. I just wanted to hold you in my arms, but I made that fucking promise. I had a few drinks and at the time… I just needed to hold someone.” He pauses.
I don’t speak. I can’t. I don’t know if I want to hear this, but I feel like I need to.
“I should have ended it after that first time. I let her know I wasn’t looking for more than what it was. Things changed… she changed. I saw it becoming a problem, so I started to create distance.
“That wasn’t enough, she didn’t respect my boundaries. She… I had transferred her here. A few months passed and I found out about the baby. I didn’t believe her at first.
“I hadn’t touched her or so I thought. When I found out Chloe was mine, I felt like I hit a new low. I hadn’t planned to get married or have a family if it wasn’t with you.
“My name is Clooney Gregor Hennessey Jr. Brodi is my nickname. Clay couldn’t say Gregor when he was little, so he called me Brodi. I never lied. When we met, everyone close to me called me by that name,” he says, releasing a long sigh.
“Did you love her?”
“Have you heard a word I’ve said? Addison was manipulative and drove me insane. I didn’t even know she was sick. I found out in the hospital as she lay there dying. If it didn’t involve my daughter, I didn’t interact with her,” he replies.
“Tell me about her,” I say like a glutton for punishment.
“Addison?”
“No, Chloe.”
* * *
Gregor
Hope bloomed when Cee asked about my little girl. I’ve been rambling about her since. I’ve told her everything I know about my chubby little angel.
When I notice how silent she’s become, I stop. I chide myself for going on and on. This can’t be easy for her.
“Please tell me where to start? I was prepared for a different battle, baby. I’m still here to fight for you, but I’m drowning in figuring out how,” I breathe.
She’s silent still. I hold my breath waiting for her reply. I look down to make sure she’s not sleeping. She’s staring at her hands.
“I honestly don’t think you can. At least, I don’t know what or how to tell you. You want me, Brodi, figure it out. You did this. You fix it,” she finally says.
“Challenge excepted, Cee. I just need you to be willing to let me try,” I murmur.
“Yeah, I’ll think about that.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
Chapter 17
Another Mill
Chloe
I lift my lids and sense something is different about the room. My fingertips meet the cool sheets beside me. I know what’s missing right away.
I shouldn’t feel so disappointed that he’s gone. It makes me think of something my mother once told me when I was younger. You always crave the source of your greatest pain.
It’s as if you want to show it you can survive it. Sometimes you want to prove to yourself that you can change its outcome. Most times you’re just drawn to the high of the pain itself.
When it comes to Brodi, I haven’t figured out which category I fall into. I want to hate him for the rest of my life, but he’s not making that easy. They say actions speak louder than words.
In this case, they do. I hear everything he has told me. I’m listening to the words, saving them for when I’m ready to dissect them. However, it’s his actions that are pulling at my attention.
Brodi is so much bigger than me, but he let me attack him. I know he allowed it. The man I remember from the past wouldn’t even allow me to so much as curse in his direction.
However, he stood there and took that ass whipping. I saw the anger in his eyes. I know he could have stopped me if he wanted. Yet, he didn’t.
He has taken care of me when I couldn’t care to do it for myself. If I’m honest, it felt good to have that. After what I had to do all those years ago, I didn’t have an ounce of that same support. I needed it. I just didn’t have it.
Still, I’m so afraid of allowing myself to trust him. That’s something he has to earn, and it won’t be easy. I can see myself on the next episode of Snapped if he ever hurts me again.