Page 64 of Unleashed

“Fifty-five right here.” Greg squeezes my shoulder. This only gets worse.

Running a hand through his gray hair, Dad is flustered, and it reminds me of how he treated my mother, smacking her once or twice in front of me. I’ll never forgive him. And that’s why he must pay. “Simone, see how he’s disrespecting me?”

“He’s twenty-nine, Dad. Okay?”

“A little old for you, isn’t he?”

“I’m twenty-three!”

“Where did you meet?”

Before I answer, Greg says, “She bought a tank of gas and a box of rubbers, which she told me she didn’t know how to use. I took her into the bathroom and demonstrated. I guess you could say I filled both her tanks that night.” Greg giggles, and I suck in a squealing breath, but it only fuels Greg. He grabs my hand from my lap. “We fell madly in love. Next thing I know, I’m proposing to her next to the beer and ice cream. I guess saying that aloud makes it sound kinda trashy.”

As I hold Greg’s hand, frozen with what to do now and hating how I love holding his hand again, Dad gawks at a grinning Greg, and I consider damage control, but it’s pointless. My father doesn’t care and will only believe what he sees.

Turning to me, Dad asks, “Has your mother met him?”

I nod and cross my arms as I consider running away to a new country. “Yep. When Finn’s wife, Hadley, gave birth to their daughter, Mom met Greg at the hospital. He charmed Mom.” Me, not so much.

He holds up his index finger like he’s making a decree. “Julie will get an earful from me.”

I mutter, “I bet.”

“You think this is funny? You’re an adult, but you’re acting like a clueless child. Did you ever consider the risks? Finn takes risks more seriously than you do, apparently.”

“Not true. I’m not stupid—”

“Perhaps Greg saw a wealthy young lady and jumped at the opportunity. You did not sign a prenup.”

I screech, “I’m not wealthy!”

“But you benefit from me, my dear.”

Greg’s fake smile drops. “Are you kidding me? I don’t want your damn money.”

“Then why did you marry my daughter, Mr. Rodwell?”

“Because...I wanted to. And she said yes. So stop insulting my wife. I don’t care who you are.” His wife. Damn, Greg works magic with his mouth in some places, but once he talks, it all goes to hell.

Letting go of my hand, Greg stands, and I look at him. “Simone, your dad sees me as a worthless bum. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. But it says a lot that you’re not saying shit. You and I had a fight. So damn what? We got married for one reason, which has nothing to do with your dad. That’s the truth.” I’m not sure what that is anymore.

He’s not only not helping me, but he’s being a dick. He’s taking all this too far into a wrong turn and backward. But I started it. I’m so disoriented I’m not sure what I’m supposed to want.

Greg and I glare at each other. What the fuck is he doing to me?

Taking a deep breath, I need to be a big girl and rip off the Band-Aid. I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I’m struggling with a capital fuck me.

Dad closes his eyes and inhales with his chin on his chest. When he looks up, he’s more determined. “Simone, you don’t appear to possess proper feelings for this man. I will not fund this farce. End this charade, or I will. If not, you can ruminate on that at the financial aid office.” The bastard thinks he owns me. I hate he does. What the hell is ruminate?

Greg looks at me and mouths, “End it. I dare you.” His taunting brown eyes fucking twinkle in the living room light. He did not just throw Finn at me. Fuck him. Fuck Dad. Fuck all of this.

I’m stuck in this hellhole I dug myself, but I’m not opposed to slashing tires or throats without a second thought. They both betrayed me. Dad wants me out of this marriage while Greg is out of the marriage, but wants to shove me back into it to suffer more.

I’m a strong young woman. I’m also full of shit.

With Greg and Dad waiting for an answer, I stand and curl my arm around Greg’s. Criminy. Has he been lifting bigger weights or jacking off extra since I left? Or maybe he doesn’t need to and sleeps with a new bimbo every night.

It takes everything in me to gaze up at Greg’s face with a smile. “Let’s put this behind us. I’m calling Hadley and Rhonda. We’re going to Craze tonight, baby. You grab Nico.”

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