Page 14 of Anchor

“I thought I was staying here Friday and Saturday night while you work. And what does he mean by good luck?” he asks in confusion while ensuring our son gets in the truck okay.

I try not to flinch because, let’s face it, the man will kill me if he knows I’m working at a strip club some of his brothers frequent.

He looks my way but jumps back at my glare, and he asks, “What, uh, why do you look like you want to kill me?”

I raise a brow and put my hands on my hips, and I snap, “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because I picked up my new prescription for my birth control this morning….”

He freezes, his eyes widening as he stutters, “I uh, I don’t know what you uh, I mean…. Are you pregnant?”

Hope radiates from him, and I growl at the jackass.

“No, I am not,” I snap. “I started my period yesterday, but if I were, you’d be a corpse right now!”

“Oh,” he murmurs sadly.

“Seriously!” I snap.

“What?” he answers innocently, lifting his hands.

I shake my head and sigh, “We are no longer together, Travis; why in the hell did you think it was a good idea to mess with my birth control?!”

He looks toward the truck before looking back at me, and admits, “Because I want my wife back.”

I scoff. “And what, you thought a baby would bring me back? Because, news flash, we already have a son, and we’re still getting a divorce.”

He scowls at me and snaps, “We are not getting a divorce, Heaven. You are my wife, and I want my family back, andI willget you back.”

“It’s never going to happen,” I shout back. “You cheated on me our first wedding anniversary!”

He growls, “I made a fucking mistaketen years ago. I get it. I took you for granted, I fucked up with Ginger of all people, I said shit I don’t even remember saying, but you know you’re my one and only, and like fuck am I going to lose you because you’re being stubborn!”

That said, he storms out of the house, and I growl with frustration.

It’s been ten years, and yet he won’t give in. I know sleeping with him a few times over the years hasn’t helped his mindsetabout us getting back together, but I’m only human, and as a woman, I have needs—needs I just don’t feel comfortable getting from elsewhere.

I really hope this date goes well tonight; it’s time we both move on because it won’t be together, not when I see him screwing her every time I close my eyes….

With my heart in my throat, I go down the hallway to my room to get ready for my exam, and now, my nerves are taking over again.

Great.

5

Anchor

“Okay, boys, five laps around the field, let’s go,” Coach Taylor shouts, and the kids all groan but drop their helmets and take off, and I chuckle at the scowl on my son’s face.

Fuck, he’s so much like me it’s unbelievable, right down to his expressions, but he has his mom’s heart and, most importantly, her eyes.

I sigh and drop my head, looking at my feet as I lean my arms on my bent knees.

I didn’t mean to snap at Heaven, but fuck, there’s only so much I can take. I’m lying to my club, the boys believing I’m texting women all over when, in reality, I’m trying to get Heaven to give me another chance. I’m also dealing with a pissed off mother who believes my wife should just roll over and show me her stomach like a dog. My son can’t understand why his mother and I aren’t together, especially when he knows I have his mom’s name tatted on the inside of my forearm. Then there’smy girl, refusing to give in and give me a second chance, even ten years later.

I’ve done everything for her to prove she’s my all, but she won’t fucking budge.

“What’s up, brother?” I hear to my right and look at Steal as he sits beside me, dropping a water bottle by my feet.

“I didn’t hear you pull up,” I admit, and he hums.

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