Page 63 of Connected By Love
She looks at the floor, not wanting to meet my eyes. “Then it will get messy for me.”
“Fuck, Addy. We aren’t talking about just pills anymore, are we?”
I can tell from the look on her face that I’m right. “I’m done, though, Travis. Once I pay them back, I’m done. I love my career, you know that. I gave upeverythingfor it. I’ve been late to a few photo shoots, and my agent told me if I don’t get my shit together, then I’m out.”
I stare at her, unsure whether to trust her or not. I know more than anyone how much she loves her career, so maybe this is the wake-up call she needs to get her life together.
“If I do this, you pay off your debt, and then you get yourself clean. If you need help doing that, we will figure out a way to get you some.”
“I will. I promise,” she says, nodding her head. She steps forward and places her hand on my chest. I immediately back away from her touch.
“Don’t, Addy. I’m doing this because you’re Max’s mother, not because I still have feelings for you.”
Her eyes roam my body, making me wish I had a shirt on. “Maybe we could try again? I’m established in my career now. We could be a family. LA has a ton of art galleries. You would make so much more money than you ever will in this small town. I’m sure Max would love it out there.”
“Are you fucking serious right now? It’s never been about the fame and money for me. I have a life that I love here. Max loves it here. How would you even know what he would like? You know nothing about him. He doesn’t even know who you are.” I feel my anger return, bringing me right back to the day she told me she was leaving.
“I was young and had just started getting my name out there. When I landed the job in LA, I had to take it. I worked too hard to let it all go. You wouldn’t move to LA with me to help with Max, and I couldn’t do it alone, so I had to make a choice. Besides, you know how messed up my mom was, and obviously, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because here Iam asking for money. I’m in the same kind of trouble she always found herself in. Trust me, he’s better off without me.”
“You have the choice to do better than their parents did. You tell yourself whatever you need to for you to be able to sleep at night but the truth is you didn’t want Max. You never did.”
“Fuck you, Travis.” Her eyes burn with fire. “I did what I thought was best. You really think you can be happy with ateacher living in this small town for the rest of your life? You’ll be bored within a year.”
I feel my anger rise at the mention of Sophia’s name coming out of her mouth. “That teacherwill be my wife one day if God willing, she will have me. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me and Max.” I stare at her hard, daring her to say anything more about Sophia.
The person in front of me is a stranger—a shell of the person I once loved and would have done anything for. I’ve spent the last five years beating myself up over not being enough for her to stay for Max. Now I thank God she didn’t. My unanswered prayer gave me Sophia.
She breaks eye contact and says nothing more, knowing she pushed me too far.
“I’ll get my checkbook, and then you can leave. I think we’re done here.” I turn and walk down the hall toward my office. I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone to check the time. Sophia should be here any minute. I need to get her out of here and explain everything to Sophia when she gets here. I want it all out and in the past so I never have to think about her again.
I rummage through my drawer and finally find what I’m looking for. I write out the check and stop in my bedroom to put on a t-shirt, not wanting her eyes on me anymore. I hear muffled voices that stop once I enter the livingroom again.
“Was someone at the door? I thought I heard voices.” Panic runs through me that Sophia is here before I have a chance to explain everything.
“No, I was listening to a voicemail.” Her voice is clipped, and I can tell she’s still pissed at me. I breathe a sigh of relief that it wasn’t Sophia. I hand her the check, and she takes it before putting it in her purse.
“I’ll pay you back. Just give me a little time.”
I nod at her. “Remember what I said, Addy. I won’t be doing this again. Pay off your debt, get clean, and focus on what’s important to you…your career. The offer still stands if you need to get some help. I owe it to Max to make sure you’re safe.”
“Thanks. I guess this is goodbye again.”
I walk over to the front door and open it for her. “Goodbye, Addy.”
She nods and walks out the door before driving away. I close the door and take a deep breath. One thought enters my mind, and it breaks me to the core. She never once asked to see Max or ask how he was doing. I think of my mom and how she would do anything for me and my siblings.
For once, though, instead of letting that sadness and anger take hold of me, I release it. Max does have someone who would do anything for him. I’ve seen the way she looks at him, and it’s obvious how much she already loves him.
I glance at my phone again. She should be here by now. I try calling her, but it goes to voicemail after several rings. Pacing the floor, I try again as panic sets in. My gut is telling me something is wrong. It’s been over an hour, and I know she would have picked up her phone for me.
I search my contacts for the number I need, thanking God I put her number in after the tattoos. Bella answers on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Bella, it’s Travis. Have you heard from Sophia lately? She was supposed to be here by now, and she’s not answering her phone.” I try to keep the panic out of my voice, but I don’t do a good job of it. I’m freaking the fuck out right now.
“I haven’t talked to her today. Is everything okay?” I can hear the worry in her voice, and I hate that I put it there. “Let me try calling her real quick. Just a second.”
