Page 21 of Deceitful Dreams

My mom pauses, unnerved by the question before clearing her throat. “He wanted more kids. And I… didn’t want any.”

Something like despair flickers in my chest. “But he left me.”

My mom swallows, tossing her cigarette onto the ground and squishing it before running a hand through her hair. “Your father… you have to understand I gave up so much for him. It was never enough. And I even had a kid for him when I never wanted any, and at the end of the day, he still left me.” She exhales slowly and shakes her head. “I couldn’t let it go. He deserved to have everything he ever wanted taken from him.”

My mouth dries, my stomach clenching in hurt and confusion.

“What are you saying? That you kept my father from me?” I nearly flinch at the pained hoarseness in my voice.

Her jaw tics. “I’m sorry, Sophie. It wasn’t fair on you, but he just didn’t get to live his perfect life while leaving me behind. He wasn’t going to get his perfect daughter too.”

I push onto shaky legs. “Are you saying he wanted me? And you said no out of spite?”

“It’s not that simple. He wasn’t willing to compromise.”

“Compromise on what?” I ask, clutching my laptop to my chest.

“Money. Visitation.” She shrugs. “The more time he wanted to spend with you, the less money he was willing to give. Just because we were young didn’t mean I didn’t deserve alimony for what I put up with. You’ll see when you get older and marry the wrong man. You deserve every cent coming to you.”

I blink at her, angry and frustrated that she doesn’t see what she’s saying or how she sounds.

“No, I don’t think I will.”

Her eyebrows furrow. “What?”

“If I was in a court battle, and it came down to my child or money, I’d always choose my child because I know what it looks like to have a mother that chooses money,” I spit out.

Her eyes widen. “Sophie!”

I wipe the lone tear that falls and stomp past her into the house. Wyatt is standing in the kitchen as I come through the door. His face is pale and his fist is clenched where he’s leaning on the counter. His gaze latches onto mine, a mixture of fury and pity swirling in them.

“Baby,” he whispers softly, and my eyes water more. I shake my head and scurry past him towards my room.

He catches up to me on the stairs, his hand curling around my elbow. “Hey, don’t run from me.”

I turn, pushing my face into his chest. “I just want to be alone.”

Wyatt lifts me into his arms the next second, carrying me up the remaining stairs and to my bedroom. “Let it out, sweetheart. Whatever you’re feeling.” He settles us on my mattress, and I’m clinging to him as I start to sob.

“I don’t know why I’m so upset,” I get out between hiccups.

“Sometimes there’s not an answer for why it hurts, it just does,” he says softly, pulling me closer. Wyatt lets me cry, cradled in his arms till I fall asleep.

His fingers comb through my hair till my breathing calms, and my eyelids are heavy. I don’t know how long it is till I’m jostled as he gets up, draping a blanket over me. He presses a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll be back later, okay? Get some rest.”

My chest aches for an entirely different reason as he leaves me, a reminder that at the end of the day, I’m still alone.

Chapter Twelve

Sophie

Turning onto my stomach, I untie the strings of my bikini top. I don’t actually care about tan lines, but when in Rome, or your backyard I guess, you might as well take advantage. It feels weird to be swimming and lounging around the pool on a random Tuesday afternoon, but that’s life post-graduation. I’m giving myself a few weeks to relax before I look for a job. One of my professors hooked me up with a reference to an old colleague of his, so I’m not too worried.

“Hey,” Wyatt says as he sits on the chair next to mine. He’s been MIA the past few days, and I realized I don’t even have his phone number to contact him.

I lift my head, blinking at him as I fold my arms in front of me so I can rest my chin on them. “Hey.”

His lips twitch. “Having a relaxing day?”

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