Page 259 of As The Shifter World Turns

He tapped, then spread his fingers, finally handing it back to me. “There. Read it out loud.”

I took it back and it was a bullet point on the local gossip beat. “New found fame had this sexy daddy forgetting all about his family and finding himself on the party side of town where he was spotted kissing someone who was very much not his mate. Who is this mysterious kissing bandit and what does this mean for this daddy’s future?”

I looked back up at him trying to figure out why he was so upset and saw the tears on his face. Shit. He thought this was about me.

“This isn’t me,” my voice quivered. “I would never kiss another. Never. I’ve been wrong and made mistakes, so many mistakes. But I did not do this. I promise you.”

He shook his head and turned around. At first I thought he was walking away from me, but he was just getting a tissue.

“Please believe me,” I pleaded. “This isn’t me.”

“New found fame? Sexy daddy? Party side of town? What part of that doesn’t sound like you?” He had a point and I fucking hated it. “I knew you were going out, but I always assumed… I’m your mate.”

“And I love you… for always. The other night was everything. I would never risk that. Never.” Except I already had with all the crap I’d pulled lately. And for what? My stupid fat bank account. A lot of good that did me if I didn’t have a family to spend it on.

“I want to believe you.” He blew his nose again and I just stood there not sure what else to do. “But I need to clear my head.”

“You want to take a shower and I’ll listen for Charlie?” I offered.

“No. I think I want—no need. You can leave.”

“Okay.” I started toward the door, hating walking away from him. “Call me when you want to talk?”

He gave a single nod and I left, going back to my empty apartment where I too began to cry. Just when things were looking up, they crumbled. And this time I wasn’t sure there was any way of coming back.

117

MEET ME HALFWAY

Neil

I paced the kitchen floor and chewed on my nails. Toby was at school and Daire had taken Charlie to the park so I could, in theory, make as much noise as I wanted. Nate might have something to say about that if I jumped up and down considering he was at home on the first floor, one floor below me.

We were at a crossroads. And by we I meant me and Martin. We could either agree to part and live separate lives—not that that was possible because of our boys—or we could work on what was left of our relationship. Right now, it was in tatters.

We’d fought over so many things and at this point, I’d given him the benefit of the doubt regarding the blind item and him being caught kissing someone. I couldn’t put faith in a gossip columnist over my mate and father of our kids.

I hadn’t even known what a blind item was until Ivor explained it was something a gossip columnist wrote that didn’t name anyone. It might be true, or false or something in between. Habitual gossip readers loved trying to work out who the people were in a blind item.

What I hadn’t been prepared for was the rage and jealousy I’d experienced when I read that titbit of gossip and it had me wondering how many lives had been torn apart by unknown and unseen gossip bloggers sharing truths, half-truths and lies.

Our family was not going to be one of them. If Martin and I decided to part, it would be after we had worked on our relationship.

“Knock, knock.” The door was open and his voice as he stood at the entrance to his former home was more timid than I’d heard it in a while. Maybe since those early days when wefirst dated.

“Coffee?”

“Please.”

He closed the door which was a good idea because again, Nate probably didn’t want to hear us discussing the state of our relationship. I wasn't looking forward to it and it wasmylife.

Deciding to get straight to the point, I asked, “Do you want to be with me? To be my mate and for us to be a family?”

He fisted both hands on the kitchen table. “Why are you asking me that?”

And we were off to a bad start. “Please Martin, I’m just asking for clarity. Fine, I’ll go first. I’ve given this a lot of thought and yes, I want us to be together. I love you.” I grabbed a cookie from a packet and shoved it in my mouth, before pushing the packet toward my mate. Munching on a cookie was a good distraction while I waited for Martin to reply.

“Yes. I miss you and being with our sons. I want my old life back.”

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