Page 77 of Anything To Be With You

"Leave."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t want you here." I seethe.

His body tenses. "He’s my son, Daniella."

I step up to him. "Then where the hell have you been the last sixteen years, huh? You fuck off after Mason's first birthday party and I don't hear from you until your father called a week later."

Josh pushes off the door, causing me to take a step back. "You know why I had to leave." He snarls.

"Yeah, because daddy said so. That’s such bullshit!" I shout.

His face flushes and his hands curl into fists at his sides. I’m pushing it, but I don’t care. This fuckwit doesn’t scare me anymore.

"If you actually cared about Mason, you would have found a way to see him." I say.

"I’m here now."

"Yeah, sixteen years too late. Do you know what it’s like to explain to your child that his daddy left after his first birthday party because he was told to drop us. The looks of pity and heartbreak from neighbours and friends. You have no right to Mason."

Josh steps closer. "I want to see my son, Daniella."

Knowing that he’s not going to leave until he gets what he wants, I back up and bang on the door. "Mason!"

The lock clicks and the door opens slowly. "Yeah?"

"Come meet your father." I force out.

"Nope. Not happening."

"He won’t leave until you do."

Mason curses under his breath and steps out, straightening to his full height and towering over his father.

"Jesus," Josh mutters as he steps back. "He’s ah," he clears his throat, "he’s a big boy."

Mason drops a heavy arm over my shoulders.

"He is." I cross my arms.

Josh smiles as he glances up at Mason. "Play hockey, son?"

"No." Mason answers.

Josh’s smile drops. "Why’s that?"

Mason shrugs. "Don’t want to."

Josh shifts his eyes towards me. "Is that because you don’t want him to be like his old man." He points an accusing finger at me.

"I put him in hockey, football, and baseball. He didn’t like any of them." I pat Mason’s chest.

"Can I go now, Ma? I’ve got company." Mason asks and drops his arm.

"Go ahead. Who’s over?"

"Clay and Axe."

---