Page 102 of Devious Temptation
“You gonna let me in?” I ignore her question and press forward, not waiting for her to invite me into the home I pay for. “Where is Rhys?”
“I don’t know,” she lies.
The stale stench of alcohol permeates the house, and the liquor cart in the dining room is stocked to the brim with various bottles and mixers, all of which are nearly empty.
“He’s distraught, and can you blame him? Jesus, Lawson, what were you thinking?”
Huffing a laugh, I turn to face her. Charlotte’s cheeks are gaunt, and hair hangs limp around her face even though it looks clean. There’s a hollowness in her frame like she’s living off drinking and the misery she inflicts upon herself.
She looks like shit, so I tell her as much.
“Fuck you,” she spits, her bright cerulean eyes flickering with hatred. “What, Law? You think that because you managed to talk some young, dumb pussy into bed, you’re hot shit? Newsflash, you’ve seen better days. Lucy’s more stupid than I thought if she thinks you’re a catch.”
For some reason, her words hurt. Most likely because I know Lucy deserves better, but my rainbow chose me. She’s been choosing me since day one, and it’s about damn time she knows I choose her, too.
Slapping the envelope on the kitchen table, I pull out a seat as Charlotte pours herself a drink. “This will go as easy as you want it to.” I unfasten the metal clasp and dump the stack of divorce papers on the imported walnut. “It doesn’t have to be messy. You can stay here, and I will continue paying the bills for this house. I get full custody of River. He only has a few years left in school, anyway. If he wants to visit, I won’t stop him, but when he’s here, you’ll clean your act up, or I’ll put an end to any visitation rights. Do you understand me?”
Charlotte keeps her back to me, but I don’t miss the shiver that racks her frame. “Clean my act up?” she scoffs. “Are you implying I have a problem, Lawson?”
I cross my legs as I lean back in the chair. “Not implying. It’s clear you do. This place smells like a distillery. You look like an addict, and our son has even mentioned that all you do is drink when he’s here. I’m putting my foot down like I should have a long time ago. Charlotte, you have a problem. And I take responsibility for my part in it.”
She turns to lean against the cart and looks at me in surprise. I motion for her to sit, and when she does, she leaves her drink on the table.
“I let our family break a long time ago. And I know it’s too late to fix it, but it isn’t too late to start making things right.” I slide the papers over to her. “Starting with this.”
Charlotte eyes them, nostrils flaring as she shakes her head. “You think I’m just going to settle for the house? Youthink I don’t know what you’re worth? You owe me, Lawson. It’s why you haven’t bothered to leave me yet. You should be asking yourself if she’s really worth it because I won’t sit idly by and let you?—”
“If you’d read the damn papers, you’ll see that you’re getting more than your fair share,” I interrupt. “And Lucy is worth all of it and more. But a judge won’t grant you a dime more than I’m offering. You’ll likely get less if you try to fight it.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do. Because I know what the papers say. If you want a lawyer to look it over, you’re welcome to do so. But I’m expecting them to be signed within the week.” I think I hear the sound of a car door outside, but a huff from Charlotte covers it.
“Why now? Why not just let your little fantasy play out until Lucy figures out you’re not what she wants?” She smirks, but when I don’t answer her, the corners of her lips pull down. Our eyes remain locked as she realizes my intentions. “Are you serious, Lawson? Rhys will hate you forever.”
“I will deal with Rhys. Starting with him taking responsibility for what he’s done.” Bile rises in my throat as I think about the inevitable discussion I came here for.
Serving Charlotte with the divorce papers is just a bonus, but as soon as River let it slip that Rhys had run off to hide with their mother, I knew what I had to do.
“Like hell, you will! You can take the blame for it!” Charlotte snarls, her once pretty features twisting into a grotesque mask that only I have the displeasure of viewing.
“I almost lost my job. What the hell do you think thatmeans? Ididtake the blame for it!” My palm slams on the table to emphasize my ire. “And Lucy quit, which means she’s out of a job. Her parents are talking about pressing charges. This is a serious fucking matter! This isn’t something that we can sweep under the rug. It’s a severe offense that could mean jail time. And that cushy new job he just landed at U of C? He can kiss it goodbye.”
“So rein in your little girlfriend and make sure she doesn’t press charges!” Charlotte screams, tears filling her eyes at the possibility of her little boy getting locked up.
“I’m not going to do that. Lucy’s been humiliated in the worst way possible. She’s within her right to go after him for what he did.” It kills me to say it, but it’s true. And I will stand by them both through it all if it’s what Lucy decides.
“What kind of a father are you?” Charlotte grabs her drink roughly and liquor spills over the rim.
I start to argue, but a throat clearing makes me pause. Rhys is standing in the doorway, looking guilty as fuck. “He’s right, Mom.”
I blink.
“You don’t know what you’re saying, honey,” Charlotte sputters as she gets up and wraps her hands around his shoulders. “Let’s not speak nonsense, alright?”
Rhys gently removes her hands, folding them between his own as he stares directly into her eyes. “What I did wasn’t okay. Lucy deserves an apology.”
She deserves a hell of a lot more than that.
