Page 56 of Beauty Of Her

A hint of concern flickered across Michael's face before he nodded. "Alright then. Look, I don’t think Peter will drag you to court. But to be safe, we can always prepare for the worst."

“Woah, woah, woah.” I held up a shaky hand as a lump threatened to block my throat. “You’re making this sound pretty serious for something you said just a minute ago wasn’t.”

“I’m just covering our bases.” Michael shrugged. “I always told you Peter was the type who wouldn’t make anything easy for you.” He pursed his lips.

“I don’t want to do this.” I slumped forward, all the air deflating from my tired body. “There has to be another way, Michael.”

“Call the prick. I bet he’ll even pick up.”

“You think?” My brow lifted.

“There’s only one way to find out.” Michael swiveled his chair and fiddled with his Rolex watch, nodding to the phone on his desk. “Oh, and next time you see Amelia, say hi for me, okay? She hasn’t returned my last few calls.”

I did a double-take, wanting to know the gossip, but of course, because of Peter, I had no fucking time.

An hour later, I kind of followed Michael’s advice. However, I decided not to call Peter. I showed up at his garden apartment doorstep, pissed as fucking hot hell. Storming up the masonry path to Peter’s door, I believed I’d remain cordial and classy. Still, that idea disappeared when my fist punched the red-stained door.

The door swung open, revealing Peter, sporting red puffy eyes and exhausted. I had never seen Peter so disheveled and vulnerable. Not even when we broke up. And thinking about how he walked all over me every single second of our days together and apart made me want to hurt him just as he hurt me.

“You look like crap,” I said, inching closer until we were toe to toe.

He wiped his nose with his hand but didn’t utter a syllable.

“What’s wrong?” I asked the obvious dumb question.

Peter forced out a nod, biting his lower trembling limp. “Joel and I broke up.” He slapped his hip before covering his eyes and all the tears falling from them with his hand. Peter took two steps back, opened the entryway, and motioned for me to enter.

I hesitated a moment, unsure of what to do. I initially intended to confront Peter about his threats and reason with him. While the old Julia would have faltered and let the anger seep from her skin to morph into the safety net, the new me wanted him to share my pain.

Taking a deep breath, I barged into his apartment. It had been at least a year since I set foot there. Peter's sweet aftershave lingered in the air, mingling with the faint smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen. Peter closed the door behind me, his shoulders slumped and defeated. I watched as he made his way to the worn-out couch, sinking into it with a heavy sigh. Without thinking, I followed suit and sat in the chair adjacent, the silence between us growing heavier by the second.

"So, Joel dumped you?" I sat on my sweaty palms, hoping to stop the fidgeting.

He glared at me before shifting his gaze to an invisible point in the distance. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. Joel always had a wandering eye, and let’s just say it wandered and then some.” A heavy sigh released from his body, and when he shifted to lock eyes with me, all I wanted to do was gouge those pathetic orbs into his head until his skull collapsed. “I know why you’re here.”

“You do.” The words left my mouth as a statement. “Can you tell me why you’re doing this, Peter?” I asked through gritted teeth. “How dare you use our kids against me. To spite me. You’re fucking low. Lower than I ever thought you’d go.”

“You know I’m not doing that,” Peter scowled.

“That’s exactly what the fuck you’re doing. Custody cuts both ways, Peter. And if you really want to go to war with me, you’ll lose.” The fight in me raged as my gut heated up, and every sense in my body jolted into high alert.

Peter's scowl deepened, his eyes flashing with frustration and resentment. "I'm not trying to spite you, Julia," he retorted sharply. "But things have changed so fast. How can you expect me to just stand back and let some younger guy waltz into our girls' lives? I have concerns, legitimate concerns."

“Your concerns? Now you’re concerned about your kids? Wow. Just wow.” My fingers dug into my jeans, threatening to break the fabric.

“Would you stop taunting me!” Peter shouted.

“Nope. Not a chance.” I leaned back in the chair, enjoying Peter squirming.

“Did you come here just to upset me more?” Peter banged his chest.

“Why are you doing this to me? Tell me now before I take you to court. Because I’m one phone call away.”

“I can see it now. I’m going to be replaced, and then I’ll have nothing!” Peter screamed, his bloodshot eyes bulging. I had never seen him unravel before. This broken. Seeing Peter in this state reminded me of how I was when Peter told me he was leaving our marriage for Joel. Completely broken and a mess.

“Maybe you wouldn’t feel like you were going to be replaced if you actually showed up when you said you would. Like the first day of school. Or canceling on the girls for dinner because your plans took priority.” Peter looked so small on the couch, sitting alone, unable to make eye contact with me. How the fuck was I ever married to this man?

“Brad is always at the house now.” Peter motions to the empty air ahead.

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