Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“Really? And why is that?” I leaned forward, bracing my elbows on my knees.
“Because when Brianna called and said she thought you were really moving on, I realized that I needed to be here.” Her eyes searched mine for something I couldn’t give her.
My stomach twisted. “You’re home for Finley, right? Because that’s the only relationship you can improve.”
She drew back and blinked quickly, looking away.
Shit. The hardest thing about arguing with Claire was not knowing if she was showing her real emotions or acting.
“Claire. Tell me you’re here for Finley,” I repeated, softening my tone.
“I don’t want another woman raising my child,” she admitted, not meeting my eyes.
Morgan. This was all about Morgan.
“I am in full support of you helping to raise Finley,” I told her honestly. “You’re her mother.”
She brought her gaze to mine, and the vulnerability there caught me off guard.
“I know I’m Finley’s mother. What am I to you?”
Shit.
“You’re Fin’s mom. That’s it, Claire.” I gentled the words as much as possible, but she flinched.
“You used to love me,” she argued.
“Yeah, I did. But I don’t anymore. I care for you deeply, and I always will. But there’s no chance for us. If you’re staying in Cape Hatteras, you have to accept that.” Each word was clear in the hopes that my meaning was, too.
“But…” She shook her head. “This is what you wanted!” Her legs slid off the couch, and she leaned toward me. “You told me you’d wait for me! That I could come home and we’d be a family again!”
“You left five years ago!” I cringed, then got a grip on my temper and my tone. “Finley was two the last time I told you that. I held onto the hope that you’d come home for years, Claire. But eventually, I let you go.”
“I never let you go!”
My eyes flew wide, and I stood. “We can’t do this. Not today. Not with Fin right upstairs.”
“Jax, please!” She got up and came toward me. “I gave it all up for you, for us! So we could be the family you wanted. Are you seriously telling me that you don’t want Finley to have her mom and dad under the same roof? Happy? In love again?”
That’s exactly what I’d wanted. What I’d prayed for. But not anymore.
“You’re too late,” I said simply and backed away from her. There was zero chance I was getting into any position with Claire that I’d have to defend to Morgan. None. “What Finley needs are a mom and dad who are happy and love her. Loving each other isn’t an option anymore.”
“You really mean that?” Her face crumpled, and a single tear slid down her left cheek. My jaw ticked. That was the side she cried out of for every play I’d ever seen her in.
“Yeah. I do, and I’m sorry if it hurts you, but you need to know the truth.”
Her tears dried as she studied my face. “You’ll change your mind.”
“I won’t. Now, if you’d like to discuss a schedule to see Fin so she knows when she’ll see you, then let’s do that. But this topic is closed.”
She took a steadying breath. “Okay. Why don’t we just split time? One week at my house, one week at yours?”
I blanched. “Out of the question.”
“I’m her mother!”
“Claire, I can’t even trust you to show up to Mother’s Day tea on time, and you think I’m going to give you every other week with her?” I turned and walked into the kitchen, knowing she’d follow me, which she did.
“Of course your little girlfriend would run and tell you that.”
“Actually, it was your daughter who filled me in.”
“You know that I’ve never been good with appointments. In fact, you used to love that I was impetuous and impulsive, remember?” She leaned against my doorway.
“Yeah, and I also thought futons made great beds and ramen was a food group, because we were in college. I grew up because you can’t be careless with a kid, Claire!”
I grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, twisted the top, and chugged. Then I offered her one, because she gave me my favorite human on the planet.
“No, thanks. From what I remember, you used to like a beer right around now,” she replied.
“I don’t drink unless Fin is at your mom’s.”
“Because you’re so responsible now?” She crossed her arms.
“Yes! I became a parent. I never put myself in a situation where I can’t take care of her.”
“Are you ever going to stop taking digs at me?” she fired back. “I’m here now. Isn’t that what matters?”
Fuck, this was exhausting. I finished the water, hoping it would cool my temper. “You can have every other weekend and every other holiday.” My heart screamed at the thought of not having Fin on Christmas morning, but wasn’t this what adults did?