Page 80 of Mending Scars

Her eyes watered as she rested a hand against the middle of her chest. “Ryker, I would never-”

Unable to contain my rage anymore, I cut off her words, shouting over her. “Yeah, that’s what she said! And look what happened!”

Tears poured down her cheeks. “I’m not Molly, Ryker! I’m not cheating on you!” she cried.

She’s lying. Don’t be fooled again.

I stood up and paced in front of the couch. “How do I know that, huh? You’ve been acting strange for the past few months. Secretly looking at your phone, angling the screen away from me so I can’t see it, and getting calls from “wrong” numbers. Not to mention you added a password lock on your phone so I can’t get in it.”

Her face was blotchy as she looked up at me. “Here take it.” She thrust her phone at me. “The password is Hayden’s due date,” she sobbed.

I stilled, starting to question my accusations.

Maybe she’s not cheating. Maybe I’m just overreacting.

Don’t be weak.

“It’s too late for that now.” I paused and took a deep breath before forcing myself to say the next sentence, even though it tore me up inside. “We’re through.”

The look of devastation that took over Kaiya’s face constricted my heart, making me start to regret my words.

“Ryker, please. Let me explain,” Kaiya pleaded desperately as she got up off the couch and grabbed my hands.

So she is hiding something. What else would there be to explain?

The coldness snaked back in as I steeled myself, preparing to do the hardest thing I’d ever done. I wasn’t going to let her hurt me more than she already had. I was done letting my love for her blind me.

Forcing my steps, I made my way to the door. “Save it!” I yelled as I grabbed my keys from the hook. “I don’t want to hear your lies.”

My chest tightened as I forcefully opened the door.

Don’t go.

“Ryker, wait!” Kaiya started to beg. “Please don’t g—”

I almost stopped, my love for her screaming for me to stay, to forget everything and take her in my arms, stop both of us from hurting. But I didn’t. I walked out the door, slamming it behind me and cutting off Kaiya’s sobs.

I had to get some air, and make sense of everything, make sure I was making the right decision.

You are.

As I got to my truck, I stopped. Every part of me, except my stubborn pride, told me to go back upstairs and quit being such a paranoid asshole.

Kaiya is eight months pregnant with your son. Don’t leave her.

I almost went back, but what happened with Molly and me kept replaying in my mind. The way Kaiya had been acting over the past several months was similar to how Molly had acted before I’d found out about her and my brother.

I clenched my fists before punching the window of my driver’s side door. Pain immediately shot up my arm, but I ignored it and got in my truck.

I should’ve never trusted her. I knew all women were the same.

I put the keys in the ignition, then stopped and gripped the steering wheel. Resting my head against it, I exhaled a heavy breath and closed my eyes.

Kaiya loves you. Go back up there and quit being a jackass.

Tightening my grip on the steering wheel, I started banging my forehead against it. “Fuck!”

You’re letting your love for her blind you, just like you did with Molly. Don’t be made a fool twice.

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