Page 64 of Entwined
He sighed, his frustration clear as he ran a hand down his face. “I’m not asking for things to be like they were. But this… this is my child too, Joey. I can’t just stand by and watch you shut me out.”
I met his gaze, my heart twisting painfully. “You shut me out first. You used me, manipulated me to get what you wanted, and damaged my reputation. Do you really expect me to forget all that? To let you waltz back in like nothing happened?”
He didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might walk away. But instead, he took a deep breath and looked at me with a seriousness that sent a chill down my spine.
We stared each other down, neither of us willing to back down, the tension between us thicker than the autumn air.
Vaughn exhaled loudly. “What do you want to hear?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Hear?”
“What do you want me to say? That I fucked up? That I was scared if I let down my façade it would make me look weak?”
I didn’t understand. “What are you taking about?”
“I was so hopelessly in love with you for so many years that when I got what I wanted, I was afraid.” He paused for a moment. “When I’m with you I turn into someone I don’t know. I was scared of losing myself.”
“And that would be a bad thing? You spent so much of your life being an arrogant asshole that you were afraid to show whoyou’d become when you were with me? So you decided to hurt me in the worst way? Ruin me?”
Vaughn scrubbed his face. “I did what I know.”
“And you ruined us in the process. Why didn’t you ask.”
He met my gaze. “I did ask. You wouldn’t give in.”
“It was how you asked. Like I should just give up everything because you wanted it. You’ve spent so much time getting what you want that when you didn’t you resort to manipulation. I loved you, Vaughn.”
I didn’t realize tears were coursing down my face until Vaughn reached out to wipe my tears.
“I’m not leaving. I’ll stay here until you let me into your life again.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “And what about Ashworth?”
“I can run it from wherever. You know that.”
I did. Colson ran Ashworth until he was too incapacitated to make decisions and that was only the last two weeks of his life.
I nodded. “You can. But you took away what was given to me. I don’t understand why you did what you did.”
Vaughn got down on his knees. “I’ll do anything you say to make it up to you…anything. Just say the word, Joey.”
I smirked and pointed at the leaves. “I could use some help raking the leaves.”
“Why don’t you sit down and let me do it.”
I raised my eyebrows. “I thought you would give me a hard time. Vaughn Ashworth doing manual labor?”
He began raking. “If that’s what it takes.”
Vaughn hissed through clenched teeth as I dabbed disinfectant over the raw blisters on his palm. He’d worked hard, clearing most of the leaves in the front yard, a sight I hadn’t expected to see—him knee-deep in leaves, struggling like an ordinary person. I eyed the backyard, the one leading down to the river, and decided I’d spare him the ordeal. I’d hire someone else for that.
As I carefully placed Band-Aids over his wounds, Vaughn ran a hand through his damp hair, pushing it back with a frustrated sigh. "I could use a shoulder massage. My arms feel like they're about to fall off."
I chuckled softly, glancing up at him. "I bet you haven’t done anything like this in a long time."
He straightened, puffing his chest out a bit. "I work out almost every day."
I couldn’t help but smile at his pride. It was true, he looked different—leaner, more rugged than the polished man I’d known. But this wasn’t about a day of yard work or his physique. If Vaughn wanted to be part of our son’s life, he’d need to do a lot more than rake some leaves. I wouldn’t let him off that easily.
