Page 61 of Game Changer
I gnaw briefly on my bottom lip.“Yeah, I guess that’s so.”
“Go ahead.”He curves both hands around his glass, watching me.
“Why did you and Mom get a divorce?”
His lips tighten, but he nods.“Your mom and I agreed that we wouldn’t talk to you kids about the reasons.”Then he sighs.“But that was years ago when you were teenagers.The truth is, I made some mistakes in our marriage and…” He drops his gaze briefly.“I was too focused on my career and not enough on my marriage.”One corner of his mouth kicks up in a glum smile.“Don’t make that mistake.”
“Not a worry, since I’m not getting married.”
“You will, one day.”
“Nope.”I pause, then I say it.“I know you cheated on her.”
Dad’s jaw drops, and his eyes burst wide open.“What?”
“I overheard Mom talking one day after you left.I think she was talking to Betsy.”Her friend.“She said you’d betrayed her.”
Dad’s head moves side to side and he genuinely appears shocked.“I never cheated on her.”Then he grimaces.“I understand why she might have thought that, since I was hardly ever home.But I didn’t.”Now his eyes narrow.“Were those her exact words?”
“Yeah.I think so.It was a while ago.”
“She may have felt betrayed, but it wasn’t because of another woman.”
I don’t know what to do with this.Do I believe him?I’ve spent my entire adult life thinking he’s a cheater.
“If it wasn’t that…couldn’t you have worked things out?”Christ, I sound like a hurt little boy, still hoping for his parents to reconcile.
“We tried.We went for counseling.It helped us communicate better.Well, somewhat.It helped your mom.Actually, she didn’t need help.She’s a great communicator.”
“Itiskind of her job.”
“Yeah.”His smile is wistful.“She’s the smartest woman I’ve ever known.”
Jesus.I blink at him.He sounds like he still cares.Is that possible?
“I wasn’t great at talking about my feelings.In the end, Mom wanted different things and I wasn’t…ready to give those to her.”
“What did she want?”
“Only things that she shouldn’t have had to ask for.”Dad’s lips droop and he turns his beer glass in his hands.“It was never her fault.I want you to know that.”
I huff out a sigh.“I never thought it was her fault.But I thought…”
“You thought I cheated on her.”
“Yeah.”My chest feels like I’m being squeezed by giant bear paws.My face heats and I take a fast gulp of lager.My mind is scrambled.I don’t know what to think.I don’t know how I feel.
“Well.I have to say that explains a lot.”Dad’s voice is quiet.“And it kinda hurts, Jax.”
“I know,” I choke out.I can’t even meet Dad’s eyes.My armpits prickle and sweat trickles down my spine.
“I’ve never claimed to be perfect,” he says.“But I at least hoped that I’d demonstrated honesty and integrity to my kids.But then…” He pauses.“I wasn’t around as much as I should have been.Especially after the divorce.”For a moment, neither of us speak.Then he says, “I guess I deserve your animosity.”
“No.”I swipe a hand over my damp brow.“No, you don’t deserve it.I’m sorry.”
“I wish we’d had this talk years ago.But I’m not blaming you for that.You were a kid.I’m your father.I’m sorry, too.”
I swallow thickly, my face tight.
