Page 12 of The Promise
I stare at the door, my heart racing and my palms sweating. I want to see him so badly; I want to tell him everything, but I know he doesn’t deservethat.
“Addison, I have a key, but I’d prefer not to useit.”
I take a deep breath and make my way over. I pull the handle down and open the door an inch. My breath catches the second my eyes lock onto his deep blue ones. Without any words, I can tell he’s begging for me to hear him out—to believe him—just from the look inthem.
I pull the door open and stand back to allow him in. “Thank you for the flowers. They’rebeautiful.”
“You’rewelcome.”
“Would you like adrink?”
“Coffee,please.”
“I turn and head into the kitchen area. “Oh, I haven’t beenshop—”
“Cupboard above the kettle,” Blakeinterrupts.
“Oh.” I open the cupboard he said and find everything I could need. There’s even mini marshmallows. I grab them and make myself a hotchocolate.
Nothing’s said the whole time I make the drinks, but I can feel his eyes burning into myback.
I place the mugs down on the coffee table and sit on the edge of the sofa. I gesture for him to join me but he staysstanding.
I continue watching him as he lets out a couple of huge breaths and runs his hands through his hair. He then paces to the other end of the room and looks away from me when he begins speaking. “When Kayleigh died, everything was a mess. I was working as an electrician for a small company. They were brilliant to start with, but that could only last so long. I understood that. I was having time off dealing with all the arrangements, and I had to have time off with Sinead, who was totally confused by everything. After a couple of months, I sat down with my boss to try to work something out but it soon became apparent that my life as a single dad meant I didn’t fit with the company anymore. Even with Mum and Addy’s help, it wasn’t going towork.
“By this time, I was already behind on our mortgage payments. Things were tight with both of us working so with only me bringing in a wage, it was impossible. I knew I had to find a job that would work around Sinead, so I started up my company, thinking I could pick and choose when I took jobs, fit as many as possible into school hours, and some in the evenings and weekends when I had ababysitter.
“As with all new businesses, it was slow to start. I had jobs here and there and it did start to pick up once word got out around town that I could do most things, but it wasn’t enough. I needed money to keep a roof over our heads, and I love my parents dearly, but I wasnotmoving backhome.
“Jason had been banging on for ages about the amount of money he was making and how easy the work was, so the next time he offered to speak to his boss for me, I took him up on it. I wasn’t happy about it—hell, I hated it, but if it meant I could keep our house and put decent food on the table, it was worth it. The only thing that mattered was Sinead, so I went forit.”
My heart pounds as ideas start to form in my head. I know that, no matter what, I’m not going to like it. “But Jason’s a plasterer,” I mutter, hoping he’ll get to the pointfaster.
“During the day, yes, but at night, he’s anescort.”
“An escort,” I repeat. Of course he fucking is. My entire body heats up as the anger I’ve been harbouring over the last two weeks reignites. “So you’ve been shagging women for money and didn’t think to mentionit.”
“No,I—”
“I’d just left my husband because I found him cheating on me, Blake. Then, I come here and find you, only to discover you’re no fucking better. You told me I was the only one since Kayleigh, you promised me you wouldn’t lie to me, and you made me think you were better than him,” Ishout.
“No, it’s not like that.Please—”
“No, Blake. I’m done, I’ve listened, and I’m done. You need toleave.”
“Let mefinish.”
I ignore his pleas, walking to the door and holding it open for him. “Leave. Now,Blake.”
The second I slam the door behind him, my sobs erupt. I fall back against the door, slide down to the floor, andcry.
“Addison, please,” I hear him beg. “I never slept with them, not one of them. Addison.” I hear a thud, like he’s just punched thewall.
No. He doesn’t get to beangry.
I jump up from the floor and pull the door open. “Don’tAddison, pleaseme, Blake. I thought we had something. You led me to believe we did, yet I have to deal with my mother seeing you with some other woman. I told her she must’ve been mistaken, that she was wrong, but she made me see for myself what a cheating bastard you really are. Get off me! No!” I squeal, when he grasps my arms to stop me from lashing out at him. He pulls me so my back is to his front and wraps his arms around me, keeping mestill.
“Calm down,” he whispers in my ear, and damn my fucking body because it reacts to him the way it always hasdone.
