Montana Cowboy Daddy (Wyatt Brothers of Montana #3) - Jane Porter Page 0,29

you’re twisting my words.”

“I just want us to have an honest conversation.”

“Let’s do it. Tell me what’s upset you.”

“I thought you’d said last Sunday that if I came along, and helped care for Beck, it would be a win-win, but so far, it’s just a win for you. There is no win for me.”

“Because I haven’t paid you yet?”

“No, and I don’t want to be paid for spending time with Beck. But I do want you to take your share of childcare so I can take care of my job, which is writing my dissertation. I have not had any time this week to do it. Or the week before, or the week before that.”

“You can’t write when he naps?”

“I maybe could if he had a set nap schedule, but it’s constantly changing and it’s not easy to sit down and focus on cue. I’d get a lot more done if I knew that he’d be taken care of for three hours, or four hours, and then maybe I wouldn’t worry about him, or worry about being interrupted, and I could actually get something accomplished.”

“I don’t know that I can give you four hours uninterrupted every day—”

“Why not?”

“The point is I can help, but you have to be flexible—”

“I have to be flexible? Billy, all I am is flexible! You’re the one that sets the schedule, a schedule we all have to revolve around.”

“I don’t want to do this. I’ve no desire to keep fighting. If you’re this unhappy, let’s not try to make this work.”

“Fine. I’m out. Good luck, Billy. You’ll need it.”

It didn’t take her long to pack, not when she just threw everything in a heap into the middle of her suitcase. It took even less time to gather her computer, her books and papers, shoving them into her big leather satchel. Erika stalked to the motel room door, pausing on the threshold to look at Beck, lying on his back on a blanket on the floor, playing with a soft fabric book. Her heart squeezed tight. She wanted to go over and kiss him goodbye but knew she couldn’t handle it. She’d fall apart. And she was not going to cry in front of Billy Dickhead Wyatt.

Instead, head high, she walked out the motel door, stepping pointedly around Billy who stood like an ice sculpture outside the room, and headed for the parking lot, where she put her suitcase in the trunk of her car, climbed behind the steering wheel, and drove away without a glance back.

Billy was now on his own.

*

The fight was stupid. Billy hadn’t even seen it coming. One minute they were talking about logistics, and how to make things work, and the next minute, hard, brutal things were being said, and then Erika was grabbing her things and leaving.

And leaving Beck behind.

It was a shock, and her knee-jerk reaction made him livid, but in that moment she marched out to her car and drove away, Billy was glad.

He was glad to be rid of her, and rid of her opinions, and her endless pious, Miss Perfect judgment. He didn’t need her to make him feel worse. He was already trying to sort through all of his emotions, as it was a lot to take in over a few days. Learning that he was a dad. Learning that April had died in such a tragic accident. Learning that he’d have to overnight become a single parent to a child he’d had no relationship with.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it, either. It was just that it took some adjusting to. Mentally. He needed time to wrap his head around, well, everything.

And if she—this want-to-be therapist—couldn’t give him time to adjust, then she wasn’t cut out to be a therapist, never mind a friend.

Erika had had a month to come to terms with everything he’d only just learned this past week. She had a month. She’d given him what… days?

It wasn’t just unfair, it was unrealistic. And this was why he didn’t like therapists. He didn’t like the whole get analyzed and explore all your feelings and relive a painful childhood. Everyone had a painful childhood. Everyone got beat up. Everyone was hurt and disappointed. Dammit, people were people and they failed each other all the time.

Best way to deal with disappointment was to grow up and get some perspective. Life could be shitty, but it could also be beautiful and exciting and that was the challenge. Balance the bad with the good, and