Page 94 of Pelvic Flaws

“Yes, actually I do. You always take their side over everything. They never have to clean the lounge or do chores just to get a lift. They always get whatever they want for takeaway tea. They get to speak back to you. They-.”

“Hey, Annie.” Dex’s deep voice broke in. “How about you cut your mom a break.”

He said it without any edge to his tone, but I knew that he was being serious – and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. He was right, she needed to be told to stop talking back at me, but that was my job. This was the first time we’d been out with the kids, his first proper meeting with Annie, and I really didn’t like him speaking to her in that way.

I looked at Annie, who was staring at Dex with her mouth open, and if I knew my daughter as well as I thought I did, she was preparing to tell Dex that he had no right speaking to her that way, and I agreed with her. It riled me to think that Dex thought it was okay to chastise my daughter. That was my job, if necessary, and certainly not his and I could feel the anger bubbling inside of me.

I leaned closer to Dex and whispered in his ear.

“You got a minute outside?”

He nodded, pushed out of his chair, and followed me out into the car park.

“Before you say anything,” he started, with his hands on his hips. “I get that I have no right, I’m not their dad, but I hate disrespect and she was disrespecting you. Don’t matter whether she’s your daughter or a stranger on the street, I’d say the same.”

I sighed and blinked slowly. “I appreciate you have your viewpoint, but I really don’t want you telling my kids how to behave. I’m quite capable of doing that, thank you. If she needs to be told to stop acting like a princess, I neither want nor need you to do it for me.”

“Well then, we have a problem,” he said. “Because I’m gonna kinda find it difficult to keep my counsel if I hear you being disrespected. I can keep quiet with all the other stuff – that’s down to you and Carl – but manners and respect mean a lot to me, and I’m not sure I can keep my mouth shut. It was how I was brought up darlin’ and there’s nothing changing that.”

“So what you’re saying is, you don’t think I can educate my own kids on manners, or maybe you don’t think they have good manners to start with?”

“I never said that.” He shook his head. “I like your kids, they’re great kids. I just think Annie needs to realize she ain’t as badly done by as she thinks.”

And that raised my hackles even higher. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what I said. No hidden meaning darlin’.”

“Well it sounds like you’re calling her spoiled.”

“Nope.”

“Doesn’t sound like it to me.”

“Well not sure what else I can say to make you understand,” Dex sighed. “I like you, I like your kids, I hate disrespect, and that’s the only time I’d ever grouch at your kids. If that’s a problem for you, well I’m not sure how we progress with that.”

I stared at him, my mouth gaping and my breathing competing with the rapid thud of my heart.

He was ending things, because I didn’t agree with him disciplining my kids – for whatever reason.

I swallowed and nodded.

“Okay. I understand. I’ll give your apologies, no need for you to come back in.”

Dex took a step back and furrowed his brow.

“Katie-.”

“No, Dex, it’s fine. This is something we’re always going to disagree on. I hope it doesn’t affect Isaac in any way, but it’s obvious we’ve got differing opinions that are going to clash big time if we carry this on.”

“Oh come on,” Dex cried. “I would never jeopardize his future, but don’t you think you’re over reacting?”

“No Dex, I’m not. I’ve loved my time with you, but I can’t and won’t change my mind on this.”

As I looked at Dex’s handsome face, every moment we’d spent together flashed in front of my eyes. It had been a short time we’d been together, but it’d been pretty much perfect. I felt my throat prickle and tears start to brim, knowing that those moments of perfection were ended. With my heart drumming and my hands shaking, I took a deep breath and walked away from what I knew would have been the best relationship of my life.

Dex

I was in a real fucking mood and nothing was shaking me from it. It had been two days since Katie had kicked me to the curb, and after lord knew how many ignored calls, I was getting the idea she wasn’t bending, or gonna cool down. She was being as stubborn as shit over one damn comment. All that being said, I wouldn’t be backing down either. I wouldn’t allow anyone to disrespect her – I didn’t care who it was.

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