Page 97 of Fight For Us
My throat tightened but I forced words out. “I don’t understand you. I’ve shared so much of my past. You can trust me. Please. I promise I’m fine, you don’t have to keep things from me.”
“You’re fine?” he said. “I don’t know if you realize how often you say those words but you’re anything but fine. I wish you’d admit that for once.”
My cheeks heated like I’d been slapped but I ignored him. He was hurting and didn’t mean it. And a part of me knew he was right, I did hide behind a wall of “I’m fine.”
“Maybe it would help to write your feelings out. You can even text me or email if it’s too hard to talk.”
A dry laugh left his lips. My heart beat so fast I thought I’d pass out. “Fucking texting. You want to know something, Tiger? I’ll tell you something. My fucking cellphone is the reason my best friend is dead. Why I lost my leg and my entire life crumbled to nothing. You keep pushing and pushing that fucking phone on me and you know what, I’m done.”
He got up and stormed into the bedroom while I sat on the couch frozen. I’d never heard him use that tone with me or anyone else. He was like a different person, a stranger.
He came back into the room with his phone in hand. “Wes, please calm down.”
“This is what I think about phones.” He dropped it on the floor and smashed his foot against the screen until the glass shattered. He kept going, crunching the pieces into the hardwood floor.
His face was flushed and fists clenched at his side as he stomped. I couldn’t watch anymore. Forcing myself up from the couch, I jogged into the bedroom and shut the door, lockingit behind me. Tears streamed down my face, obscuring my vision.
This wasn’t Wes. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but seeing him lash out like that scared me. My hands shook as I pulled the duvet down and climbed into bed. It was clear that Wes didn’t want my help. I could give and give, but it took two to foster a relationship. Communication was the most important thing other than trust and the way he acted today had me questioning everything.
If it weren’t for Alex and Lilly, I’d have been packing my stuff and getting the hell out of there. I would have to wait until morning.
With the duvet pulled up to my neck, I listened for movement outside the door but heard nothing. After tossing and turning for at least an hour, I fell into a fitful sleep against my tear soaked pillow.
Wes was already gone when I woke up. No note, no message left with the kids. I figured he went into work early, but the way I was feeling, I didn’t care. Falling asleep sobbing brought me back to my teenage years. Those were the darkest and most difficult times of my life and I’d worked so hard in therapy over the years to grow stronger. Maybe I was wrong in opening my heart. I needed to remember that being the best mom to Alexwas most important and that meant caring for my mental health above all else.
I went about my morning, getting the kids off to school. As soon as I was alone again, I called Val. After a few rings, her voicemail picked up.
“Hey Val, I’m so sorry to call you like this but I’m going to need you to get Lilly after school. Alex and I are going to stay at my old place for a while.” A lump in my throat made it difficult to get the rest of my words out but I pushed through. “Thank you for everything. I’m so lucky to have been a part of your family.”
Shit.I hated this. Why couldn’t Wes freaking talk to me? I’d be willing to work through our issues but I needed him to try.
I thought about calling Mia or even my mother, but I didn’t want to bother them.I was fine.I’d go home and pack up our necessities while Alex was at school.
With a short-term plan in mind, I pushed back tears, turned up my stereo and drove along the coast towards the bungalow I called home.
Chapter 38
Wes
I fucked up.
I didn’t think I’d ever get the picture of Olivia’s face as I lost it last night out of my mind. And maybe that’s what I deserved. I sure as fuck didn’t deserve her. Replaying her devastated expression would be my constant reminder of that.
I left the house before five, hitting the gym for an intense workout before going to Sunshine. It didn’t help my spiraling mind in the way I’d hoped it would. Derek and Thea took one look at me when I came into the kitchen to prep and steered clear. I pulled an all-nighter when I already looked like shit, so I was sure I looked scary as fuck.
I threw myself into prepping our daily special and when customers trickled in, instead of going to my office and lettingDerek do his job, I stayed on the line to cook. Anything to keep my mind busy.
During a lull between the breakfast and lunch crowd, my old man came in and took his usual seat at the counter. He had his eyes trained on me, likely assessing my mental state. Funny how both he and my mother were absent yesterday other than my mother coming over to watch the kids.
“Wesley, can we talk in the office?” my father finally asked through the window when he caught me looking at him.
I ran my palms over my chef’s jacket and groaned. I didn’t need his guilt trip. I was already beating myself up enough. Derek stepped to my side and nodded.
“I got this, why don’t you go take a break, Boss?” He took over sauteing onions and mushrooms for the burger I was making.
“Fine, I’ll only be a minute.”
My father was sitting in my chair when I walked into my office. It was his office for years, so it didn’t shock me that he’d take up his old spot.
