I carefully get up and adjust her in the bed, dragging the covers over her before I go to the bathroom. Once again, I didn’t use a condom, and although I know I shouldn’t want her to get pregnant before she has my ring on her finger and my last name, I’d secretly be thrilled if it happened, which goes to show just how far gone I am.
I clean myself up then take a rag to the bed and do the same for her before tossing the cloth toward the bathroom and getting back into bed. Once I’m settled, she seeks me out, burrowing into my side, and I curve my arm around her back then reach up to shut out the light and follow her off to sleep.
_______________
“It’s Sunday. I’m not going! I’m hanging at home with Dad and December,” I hear Mitchell shout, and I stop the treadmill and hop off, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat off my face.
“You can’t keep avoiding me!” Beth shouts back as I step around the corner into the living room, where she and Mitchell are facing off. Max is sitting on the couch, with Sloth at his feet and December is standing at the edge of the hall that leads to our bedroom.
“Beth, maybe—” December starts, and Beth turns on her, holding her hand up and cutting her off.
“You are not in this, bitch.”
“Mom!” Max cries as Mitchell growls, “Don’t talk to December like that.”
“I can talk to her however I want!”
“No, you absolutely can-fucking-not,” I say and she turns, narrowing her eyes on me.
“Mitchell is my son, Gareth. Your girlfriend is not involved in my relationship with him.”
“When you’re in her house, it’s most definitely her business, and when it comes to the boys, she has the right to share how she feels. And—” I lean forward to emphasize my point. “—if I ever hear something like that come out your mouth toward her again, you and I are going to have issues.”
“Is she living here with you and my kids?”
“Your kids?” Mitchell’s voice is full of disgust, and Beth turns away to look at him. “We aren’t yours.”
She plants her hands on her hips. “I gave birth to you, Mitchell, so as much as you might not like it, you’re still my kid.”
“Being a mom is more than giving birth to a child.” He shakes his head. “You’d get that if you ever stuck around for more than a few weeks at a time.”
“I have a career that keeps me on the road, Mitchell,” she says defensively.
“You’re a glorified bartender for washed up rock stars. You’re not working for the government trying to accomplish world peace,” he fires at her.
Shit, I know it’s wrong, but I still feel my lips twitch.
“I can’t believe—” She turns, pointing at me. “—you are allowing him to speak to me like this.”
“He has a right to tell you how he feels, Beth. And sometimes, the truth is a hard pill to swallow.”
“You’ve brainwashed him.” She glares at me then points at December. “You and her have turned him against me!”
“No they haven’t.” Max shoots up from the couch, and Sloth stands with him, barking once. “Dad wouldn’t do that, and neither would December.”
“Max.” She points at him. “You need to stay out of this.”
“Why?” he asks, moving to stand next to his brother. “Mitchell is right. You’re not around; you’re never around.”
“Are you going to tell me she has been? You don’t even know her.”
“This isn’t about December,” Mitchell states, crossing his arms over his chest and looking much older than he is. “This is about you and the fact that you have been out of our lives more than you’ve been in them.”
“I’m trying to change that. Why do you think I’m moving back to town? I want to work on my relationship with you boys.”
“I heard you,” Max whispers sadly, and my muscles seize from the pain I hear in his voice. “I heard you last night, when you thought I was sleeping. You said that you were leaving here soon and that you couldn’t wait to get back out on the road.”
“I….” She steps toward him, and he steps back. “You misheard me. I’m just leaving for a few weeks, and then I’ll be back.”
“I know,” he agrees. “You always come back. I also know you always leave again. It’s okay; I get it. It’s who you are.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” she snaps, and I see his