Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“Please, have a seat,” I say in a stilted voice. Cyrus doesn’t move though. He’s huge, his black head almost touching the ceiling of our living room and so gorgeous that my insides melt all over again. But I steel myself because his actions brought me indescribable pain, and I can’t forget that.
I focus on breathing as I take a seat myself. Then I lift my chin to look up at him.
“Josie,” he says, his voice deep with emotion.
I’m surprised because Cyrus appears upset and angry, which is clear from the sharp set of his jaw, but it’s more than that. He looks disheveled and, honestly, just as bad as I’ve felt this past week. His five o’clock shadow is almost an actual beard at this point, and there are dark circles under his eyes. Plus, that bright blue gaze is dull right now, and there’s agony churning in them.
But I steel my heart once more because he deserves it. This man broke my heart with his playboy ways, and now, it’s me and my child who will suffer. Plus, there’s nothing he could say to make this situation better. Instead, I just have to manage the hand that life has dealt me, and survive this conversation before saying goodbye to Cyrus North for the rest of my life.
11
Cyrus
Seeing Josie in front of me right now is overwhelming. This whole situation with my ex-wife has been nothing short of infuriating, and I have to admit I’m pissed that it’s come to this. I’m angry that Candace blatantly lied during her Instagram video; I’m angry that she named me as the father of her child; and I’m angry that Josie ran out without even giving me a chance to explain. But right now, after finally seeing her in person after a week apart, I just want to pull her into my arms and never let go.
The curvy girl’s been crying, certainly, judging from the puffiness of her eyes and the redness I see around them. Her hair appears a mess of tangled curls and she’s wearing raggedy sweats, but no one’s ever appeared more beautiful to me. She’s lush and gorgeous as always, and I wish to god that this hadn’t happened.
But the woman I love crosses her arms over her chest and stares at me like I should be grateful I’m not burning in Hell right now. I know she’s putting up a front. My woman has a soft heart and is merely trying to hide her pain by masking it with anger, although I’m sure there’s plenty of that swirling about as well.
“What do you want, Cyrus?” Her words are clipped, but there’s a slight tremor at the edge that belies her stern tone.
“What do I want?” I move closer to her and pin her with my eyes. “I want to know why you took off.”
Her eyes go wide and she lets out an unladylike snort. “You’ve got to be joking.”
I take a deep breath. “Do I look like I’m joking? We are in a relationship, Josie, which means we need to work through things. Together. You can’t just run away because you were upset. That isn’t how relationships work.”
She drops her arms and turns away from me for a moment, but when her head swivels back, she has her jaw set and glares at me. “Oh really? And pray tell, what’s your idea of a functioning relationship? Sleeping with your ex and knocking her up? Letting her announce her pregnancy to the whole wide world on Instagram? Is that how a relationship is supposed to work? Gee Cyrus, you really seem to be a pro at this,” she quips sarcastically. “Thanks for showing me the way.”
Anger fills me until I unleash, slamming my right fist into the the cupped fingers of my left. The sound is loud even though it’s just flesh on flesh, and Josie’s eyes pop wide open as she breathes hard.
“Candace is a fucking liar, Josie! I haven’t touched her in over a year, and things between her and I ended well before our divorce was finalized. She was lying on that Instagram, and I have no idea why she thinks I’m the father of her child.”
Josie won’t look at me for a moment, and I get desperate. I take a deep breath before trying again. “Baby, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have raised my voice like that. I just … well, when you disappeared, I lost it and I haven’t been the same since. But I’m not angry with you, Josie, because none of this is your fault. Candace is the one I’m pissed at.”
The curvy girl turns on the sofa so she’s looking at me again, but her face is shuttered.
“I just don’t understand. Why would Candace lie about her pregnancy to the world? Is she even pregnant?”