Page 98 of The One I Left Behind

“How much are you going to offer him?”

“As much as it takes. I’m sure ten grand will do. Guys like him are shortsighted.” I’d pay him ten times that to go away forever, but I don’t say that. We can discuss it if it comes to that.

“Ten grand? Ben?” She shakes her head. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Listen, one day when you forgive me and you agree to marry me, my money will be your money. So you can consider it an investment in our future.” I grin at her.

“That cocky smirk. Who said I was going to forgive you, let alone marry you?”

I shrug. “Call it a gut feeling.”

She inhales and stares at me. “I have to talk to Clayton.”

“Okay. You talk to him and let me know.” I turn to go to the door. “I’ll be waiting for you, Gillian, always.” I grab the doorknob.

“Noughton.”

I shake my head and turn back around.

“We do things together. We’ll talk to Clayton together.”

My lips turn up. I want to run to her, but she’s still closed off, so I stay put.

“He’s going to be home in a couple of minutes. Do you want to wait?” she asks.

“I’d love to.” I sit on the couch, unsure where we fit right now.

Thankfully, Clayton comes home shortly, stopping in the doorway and staring at us. “What now?”

“We need to talk,” Gillian says.

“Is Ben my new daddy?” He says it in a voice that makes me want to laugh.

“Cute. Sit.” Gillian points at the spot next to me.

He sits and tosses his phone on the coffee table.

“Ben has a solution for Waylon. He came here to ask my permission before he did it, and I told him we make decisions together now and there aren’t secrets, right?”

Clayton nods.

“Go ahead, Ben.” Gillian puts out her hand for me to talk.

“Me?” I ask, thumbing my chest.

“Yes.” Gillian sits back in the chair, crossing her arms.

“I was telling your mom that Sheriff Watson heard your… Waylon talking about how he thinks you’re the next big thing and that you’re going to make him rich. How talented you are and that you’re his son.”

A look of disgust forms on Clayton’s face.

I take a deep breath. “I want to offer him money to sign papers that says he’s giving up any rights to you. Obviously, I’d like him to stay away for good, and I hope he doesn’t bother you after you turn eighteen. But this gets him out of you and your mom?—”

“Our,” Gillian says.

“What?” I look at her.

“It’s not just Clayton and me. It’s your life too. Our life.”

---