ass one of those days, John. Have fun, but don’t lose yourself in it. Mistakes happen, mistakes you can’t take back,” my father warned.
I groan remembering that talk. I’m sure Mom coaxed him into giving it. She may not say it out loud, but Mom fears that my brothers and I will never settle down and start families.
This has to be my punishment for all the shit I’ve done. My father was right, this shit is biting me in the ass. I pay for Missy’s doctor appointments and the birth control she’s on.
It was a part of the agreement. This has never happened before. Why the hell is this happening now?
“I’m just as shocked as you, John, but you’re—,” Missy starts.
I pin her with a glare. I bite back my temper because, at this point, I want to lose it. It’s not fair to her. Missy has always been honest with me in the past—yet.
Don’t be a dick, John.
I shake my head clear, not letting the doubts that rise take root. I’ve never had a reason before not to trust her. This is just my frustration trying to cloud my head.
This type of relationship requires trust. I want to believe she didn’t break that, so I hold back the questions that rush my head, pushing at the surface.
“This is… wow, fuck.”
“I know, but is it such a bad thing? I’ve always wanted a family and you’re always so supportive of your family. We could make this work,” she says, her voice sounding like white noise to me.
If only she knew, I’d come here to end this relationship, our arrangement is almost up. I had wanted to end it early actually, not change its terms and get in deeper. What a fucking mess.
“I need to think,” I say as I start for the door.
“You don’t want to stay and talk?”
“No.”
With that, I’m out the door. I pass by her disheveled roommate as I leave. She looks a lot like Missy did when I observed her.
I push that thought aside and focus on my own issues. Something doesn’t feel right about this to me. I’m not trying to be a dick, but it doesn’t sit well with me at all.
Of all the women I’ve been with, Missy is the last one I would want to start a family with. I’ve stayed friends with a lot of my old Subs, and I’d marry one of them before I’d even think about such a thing with Missy. The main reason this was over for me weeks ago. Hell, this is the first time I’ve seen her in almost three weeks.
“Aw, fuck.”
Chapter 3
Goodbye
Roni
I look up at the sky wondering if my father is looking down on me. Does he know about all of the unanswered questions I have? There are so many that I’ll never have the answer to.
He’s gone.
Tears spill as I take in a breath and start for the waiting limo. My heels sink into the soil beneath me, causing me to walk awkwardly. I grind my teeth when someone wraps their hand under my arm to steady me.
I don’t have to look to see that it’s Darius. I haven’t forgotten what I overheard, and he still doesn’t know that I heard it. He’s been trying to console me and cozy up.
However, now I can see right through the act. I’ve been allowing him to think it’s my grief causing my need for distance. It’s more a matter of me wanting to know what he and his brother have planned.
“We should go back to my place. I can draw you a bath and we can have a talk about what you want to do next,” he says with that smile that used to be charming.
I fight not to roll my eyes. Stopping once we arrive at the car, I tug my arm from his hold and take a step away from him. He creases his brows as he searches my face, my sunglasses blocking his view of my eyes.
“I’m going home. As a matter of fact, I think this should be the last time we see each other,” I reply.
“What?” He almost growls but catches himself and closes the distance between us. “You are upset about your father. That is understandable. Don’t do this. We can talk.”
“Talk about what?”
“Cherone,” he says in warning.
“Yeah, about that. I hate it when you call me that. My name is Roni.”
“I will call you anything you like. Just stop this. Come home with me. We can work