The Man Who Has No Sight - Victoria Quinn Page 0,23
the same, but he obviously thought Derek and I were more important since he’d brought us on this trip.
We headed back to the city then got into the elevator once we arrived at the building.
“How long am I going to stay with you?” Derek asked.
Deacon slipped his phone into his pocket, sighing at the thought of his ex-wife. “Not sure.”
“I don’t want to go back to Mom’s,” Derek said from in between us.
Deacon sighed again. “I don’t want you to go back either…” The doors opened, and we headed to the residence. When we stepped inside, it’d been cleaned by the maid, so it didn’t seem like Thanksgiving had been hosted just days ago. The silverware and dishes had been packed up, and the serving dishes and bowls had been placed in storage.
Derek went into his room with his things.
Deacon pulled out his phone and stared at the screen. “I guess I should call Valerie…”
I really had no idea what to do. I’d been surprised she hadn’t blown up his phone over the weekend. “Maybe you should wait for her to call you.”
He shrugged. “No matter what I do, I lose.” He hit the button on the screen and made the call.
She answered, her voice audible. “Yes?”
“I can keep Derek as long as you want, but I wanted to know if you’d like him back since I’ve had him all weekend.” He couldn’t control his tone, hide his annoyance. Now that he didn’t have to, he probably had no reason to keep his civility. He just got to the point of the conversation, keeping it short and simple.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?”
Both of his eyebrows rose as she screamed over the phone. “Alright…I’ll keep him.”
“You assault my boyfriend in the fucking lobby?” she snapped. “I’ve wanted to rip Cleo’s eyes out once or twice, but I’ve never actually done it.”
She was a prime example of a toxic person, someone who was unable to have any kind of normal life. Everything was dramatic. Everything was chaos. If a situation was perfect, she sabotaged it.
“If he didn’t want me to kick his ass, he shouldn’t have spoken to me,” Deacon said calmly. “I won’t apologize for it. Couldn’t care less.”
“This is unacceptable, Deacon—”
“It’s over. I’m tired of you blaming every little thing on me. He provoked me by talking shit, which I’m sure he omitted from his version of the story, but I really don’t care anyway. We only talk about Derek from now. Text me when you want him back, and I’ll drop him off.”
“Deacon—”
He hung up.
I wanted to clap.
He shoved his phone into his pocket.
“That’s progress.”
“I never want to go to court with her and put Derek through that, but at least I have a chance if I have to. If she pushes me, I’ll do it. But I imagine she won’t. Hopefully, she focuses her energy on this new relationship and stops focusing on the one she had with me.”
I was really tired of Valerie’s presence in our relationship. If she didn’t exist, our lives would be so simple. It would be like staying at the cabin every single day. Just peaceful. No drama. No chaos. “Give it time.”
Derek stepped out of the hallway. “Were you talking to Mom?”
I turned to Deacon.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Do I have to go back?” Derek asked.
He shook his head. “No.”
Derek threw both hands in the air. “Yes!” Then he went back to his room.
Deacon sighed as he dragged his hand down his face. “I don’t want my son to hate his mother, but it’s her doing. So, whatever.”
“You tried…”
He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. “Honestly, I think you’re a better mother figure for him than she could ever be.” He leaned against the counter and twisted off the cap.
It was a great compliment, but it also made me sad, because that wasn’t how it should be. I had no experience…and I wasn’t his mother. But I loved him like my own, would give up my life to save his.
“And sometimes…” He let his words trail away. “Never mind.”
“You wonder if she even loves him…”
He bowed his head like he was ashamed of even thinking it.
“She tricked me into getting pregnant to control me, and now that she can’t use him to control me…I just worry how that relationship will be. Will he be useless to her? I have to believe she does love him, but it seems like he’s just a bargaining chip to her.”