“Thank you.” I smile awkwardly, then I turn and pay the cab driver, not hanging around to watch him as he drives off into the distance.
Cameron’s going to lose his shit, and I close my eyes because I know I deserve it.
I walk up the front steps and knock on the door. Owen bounces in to view through the glass. “Hi, Momma.” He waves.
I smile as relief fills me. He’s safe. Thank God, he’s safe.
Cameron opens the door and glares at me.
“Hello.” I smile as I bend and take Owen into my arms. “I’m so sorry. I got blocked in and I couldn’t get a cab.”
Cameron holds his arm out for me to come inside, and I walk in sheepishly.
“Momma, Dad picked me up and I made him a painting today.” He smiles happily as he leads me through to the kitchen and shows me his painting in its prime position on the fridge.
Cameron is in navy suit pants and a white shirt. His tie and suit jacket have been discarded, and my eyes fall to his biceps and shoulders that I can see through his shirt.
Why does he have to be so fucking gorgeous?
Owen is drinking hot chocolate and there’s cartoons on the television.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” I ask.
Cameron glances at Owen.
“Alone,” I add.
He points to the stairs. “Let’s go upstairs.”
I gulp. Shit. “Okay.” I turn to Owen. “I’m just going to talk to Daddy for a moment, darling. Watch your cartoons and then we will get going, okay?”
“Alright,” he calls, distracted by the television.
Cameron walks upstairs and I follow him like a naughty child.
Fuck’s sake.
He walks to his bedroom and I follow him in as he closes the door behind me.
“Cameron, it was a nightmare. I got blocked in by some inconsiderate asshole, and then my bloody phone was dead and I couldn’t get a cab. I didn’t know anyone’s number by heart.”
He glares at me. “Do you have any fucking idea how angry I am with you?”
“I know.” I shake my head. “I’m angry with myself.”
“He was there by himself. You should have seen his face. He was so worried.”
My face falls.
“Why was your phone dead?”
“Because I plugged it in and forgot to turn the power point on.”
“Because you haven’t slept,” he says, his tone eerily calm. “How the hell, do you expect to parent when you’re not sleeping?”
My eyes fill with tears. “It was just a mistake.”
“No, Ashley. It wasn’t a fucking mistake. It was a choice to go to the club last night and get naked for other men. It was a fucking choice to neglect Owen today.”
“This has nothing to do with last night.”
“It has everything to do with last night!” he yells, making me jump.
My eyes narrow as tears form—guilty tears.
He puts his hands on his hips and drops his head as he tries to calm himself down. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on with you.” He sneers. “But you better get your fucking act together real quick.”
He leaves the room in a rush and I stand still as the weight of his words swirl around me.
I hate that this happened. I hate that I let this happen.
I slowly walk downstairs and back out to the kitchen to see Cameron pick up Owen off the sofa and put him on his hip. “Come on, mate. I’m going to drive you both home. Mom’s not fit to drive tonight.”
My eyes close with regret because he’s right… I’m not.
Cameron
“What days do you go to preschool, Owie?” I ask as my eyes find his in the rear-view mirror. It’s Saturday morning and I have just picked him up for the day.
Ashley’s greeting was as icy as ever, but I don’t care. I’m off her. She fucking shits me. She can hate me all she wants.
“Tuesdays and Thursdays,” he replies as he looks out the window. “But I don’t really like it.”
“Why not?” I ask.
“Ryan is mean to me.”
I frown as I watch him. “What do you mean?”
He shrugs. “He takes my toys and won’t let me play chase.”
“Well, you just tell him you’re playing.”
“Yesterday he told me he was going to punch me in the dick.”
What the hell? “What?” I snap. “When did he say that?”
“Alison said I could play chase, and then he said if I did he was going to punch me.”
“And what did you do?”
He shrugs as he looks out the window. “I just went away.”