Page 43 of Love Not Qualified

I huffed. “Nonsense? Kai, you don’t care about anyone else but you and your wife. You don’t care your dad died, you don’t care that I turned into a fucking alcoholic. As long as you are good, the rest doesn’t matter?—”

“Enough,” Esmeray intervened.

“You are a selfish bastard,” I spit out. “I guess you always preferred Mom, even after what she did to Ryker, and as long as she’s alive, you don’t give a shit that Dad is gone.”

He came to me, gluing to my chest in a second. I almost fell on the ground, but managed to keep my feet straight. His eyes were filled with anger.

Good. I was angry too.

“Kai,” Esmeray pleaded.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Tristan?Iwas the one who found Dad in his office.Iwas the one who almost had his marriage ended because of how I treated Esmeray after.Iam the one who is living in this house. Do you think I enjoy it, you fucking prick? I’m doing it for Lacey because she needs a stable home.” He pushed into my chest and I fell onto the chair. I didn’t bother rising back up. Kai placed a hand on the armrests, looking me dead in the eye. “And yes, I care more about Esmeray because she’s my goddamn wife and she’s the one who got me out of the hell I’ve been through. Fucking hell, Tristan, if I’m selfish, then what the fuck you are for not noticing any of this?” With those last words, he turned around and marched to the stairs, not once looking back at me.

Esmeray cleared her throat, throwing me a disappointed glance. “You have no idea what Kai has been through. Did you know he still has nightmares?” She got up as well. “Did you know that every single month, on the day Callum died, I find him dead drunk in his office? Did you know that every morning, I find him at the doorstep of Callum’s office, staring at the chair where he gave his last breath?” Esmeray continued. “You are clueless about those around you, so don’t lash at others for grieving in silence.”

It was official. I was the biggest dick in the world.

Esmeray and I barely talked, so if she spoke to me like that it was enough to confirm I made a terrible mistake.

I didn’t know any of these because Kai didn’t tell me anything. Every time we talked it was about Ryker. Lately, we had nothing else to talk about but him. But then, how could I judge him for going radio silent when I did the same? I kept it to myself and didn’t tell anyone, so it wasn’t fair of me to judge him for it.

He didn’t text to ask how I was, but I didn’t text either.

We both completely let go of our relationship after Dad was gone.

God, I shouldn’t have drank tonight.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” I said, threading a hand through my hair.

She shook her head. “Good night, Ryker.” And with that, she turned on her heels and went after her husband.

What these two had was worth being jealous of. They always had each other’s back and they were there for each other through good and bad. It wasn’t Kai’s fault I hadn’t found that someone yet just like he did.

I looked at Ryker to my left and expected him to say something, but just like the others, he simply left for his room.

I deserved that.

There had to be a way I could make up for it the next morning. I had to show them I knew I was a total dick tonight.

Without realizing, I got my phone out of my pocket and texted Haelyn.

Me

How do you make up for a mistake?

I didn’t really expect her to reply, but two seconds later, my phone buzzed.

Haelyn Ross

you mean how to make up for ghosting me?

Shit. I was so preoccupied by her presence at the Graves Company this last week that I forgot about the stupid fucking app.

Me

That too.

Haelyn Ross

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