Page 83 of Mister Mom

His lips turn up. Mine remain straight. His flirtatiousness won’t work on me anymore.

“I saw the tabloids.” He shrugs.

“You saw what?” The press haven’t been able to get a visual of Vance besides the back of his head yet. Hence the reason his lie lasted so long.

“When I saw you were seeing someone… I didn’t like it. The fact he turned out to be the guy who got you fired and so you tossed his ass was just a bonus.”

I clench my teeth together. This man has some nerve after everything he’s put me through. Did he give any thought to how I might feel as his wife when he was balls deep in other women? “I’m not going to discuss my personal life with you. Regardless, you’re a father of two children—you better start acting like it. Payne feels uncomfortable around you.”

“Why? I’m his father.”

My hand smacks the table. “Donating sperm doesn’t mean that you’re forever in his heart. You have to be here, Carver. Spend time with him, kiss his boo-boos, play superheroes with him, plan birthday gifts, take him to the movies, read him books, make him feel like he matters. That’s being a father.”

I take a deep breath after letting all the frustration that’s been welling up inside me for months escape. Carter looks on wide-eyed, knowing better than to try to interject when I’m like this.

“I know this industry makes some things impossible, that there’ll be times you’re away filming, but you’re not even trying.”

He picks at the label of his beer bottle, staring at his handiwork for a moment after removing it without any residue.

“Carver.” I sigh.

“I know. I know.” He breathes in deeply again, and his eyes finally meet mine. “I know.”

“You can’t have it both ways.” Needing a drink of my own, I grab a wine glass and a bottle from the refrigerator, pouring myself a healthy amount.

Carver comes up behind me, his hands on my waist, his lips on my neck. For a moment I remember how much I once loved him. But now his lips feel cold and his hands make me shrink.

I slip away from him.

“What the fuck?” he says.

His head tilts to the side, a questioning look on his face. He’s gorgeous, there’s no refuting, but he doesn’t have an honest bone in his body. At least when it comes to me. Quite simply, he’s not the type of man I need or want in my life.

“I thought maybe with that jackass out of the picture, we could give it another go.” He approaches and I step back until the cool metal of the fridge hits my back. “We were good together. Hollywood’s number one up-and-coming couple. Fans rooted for us.” He cages me in, his arms on either side of my head while he peers down at me. “You haven’t forgotten how good we were in bed, have you?” He bends down again, but I crouch under his arm and grab my wine glass from the counter.

“Not happening, Carver. I’m with—”

“No, you’re not. That jackass killed your career. Do you not remember how many nights you cried after you were fired from that part? That was going to be a great opportunity for you.”

I do remember. It was going to be my first big break as an adult outside of the typecast roles of a pretty, gum-popping teenager from my youth.

“It’s none of your business,” I snip.

My phone dings on the table and I start walking over to get it, but Carver beats me there and swipes it off the table.

“Give it to me, Carver. What are you, twelve?”

“Jackass says he’s sorry and he wants to talk. That guy needs to get a family of his own. No way he’s going to sneak in and grab my family out from under me.” He drops my phone on the table and I pick it up.

“I hate to break it to you, but you’re not a part of this family. You haven’t been home in months.”

He grabs my free hand. “I’m here now. Let’s try this.”

“Mommy?”

We both turn to see Payne standing in the doorway. I pull my hand from Carver’s.

“Where’s Vance?” he asks.

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