Page 115 of Rival
“Same here,” Jaxon adds.
I’ve already told her where I stand, and a bit of me feels bad putting her on the spot, but the bigger part wants her to know she’s got all of us behind her.
Edith sucks in a broken breath, and does it again, then once more.
Softly, her question comes out as a plea. “Why are you playing with me? None of you…noneof you were on board before I left.” Meeting my eyes, she drills into my soul with her next words. “Griffin, you called this baby astupidmistake.” Twisting toward Mason, she says, “You didn’t say a word when I told you, not even when my father lit me up for being a-a whore.” Then to Jaxon. “And you. You told me you wanted nothing to do with this baby, and if you were her father, the most I could count on was some money. Which Idon’twant, by the way.”
Jaxon is falling toward her immediately, dropping to his knees at her feet. “Edith, please listen to me when I tell you I didn’t mean a fuckingwordwhen I said that. I was angry about who your father was. It caught me off guard and I was reeling after learning Clayborn was in any way related to you. I was so messed up with that in my head when I lashed out at you, and I hate I ever uttered a single word of the shit I spewed. I’m so unbelievably sorry for what I said.”
“That baby isnota stupid mistake,” I bite out. Jaxon is cupping her face, but I can’t bite my tongue any longer. “I said what I said to deescalate the situation when he was goin’ after you. But she’s not a mistake, goddamnit. She’s perfect.You’reperfect. I got shit to apologize for, but that’snotone of them.”I’m so frustrated she’s thought I felt that way this entire time. I want to tell her I shouldn’t have left the morning after we were together, but knowingthisis what has been eating at her guts me.
“It’s gonna take you a bit to believe any of us, but you need to know I wasn’t upset when you told me about the baby. I was shocked. I wasn’t expectin’ the news. I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am that my head blanked out like that. If I had known…” Mason trails off, sounding defeated that he was there when Clayborn dragged her away. “I’d have killed him on the spot, and I won’t apologize forthat. I was shocked…”
Pressing a kiss to her forehead, then lips, Jaxon rests his head against hers for a moment before letting go. “I’m so sorry, Edith.” Then he lowers his hand to her stomach and my hand clenches, wanting to touch her as well. “I didn’t mean a word of it,” he whispers before getting up and finding his seat again.
Edith is staring at her hands, wringing them together after listening to what we’ve had to say. Then, slowly, she starts to speak.
“I don’t know if Mrs. Danielson told you, but I’ve been working with a therapist ever since I left. She’s, uhhh… she’s helped me to work through a lot of my feelings about what happened with my father, and with all of you.”
Mason leans forward, bracing his elbows on his thighs as he gives her his full attention, and I know she’s got Jaxon just as invested. I’m here too, still wishing like hell she didn’t go five months thinking I considered the baby a mistake.
“She said in every situation I’ve had to deal with, like my father for example, there’s a villain, a hero, and a victim. My father was the villain, obviously. At least in my story.” Glancing over to Jaxon, she adds, “In yours, as well. I know that.” She tilts her head to me. “At times, all of you were my hero. Griffin, you saved my life that day. I’ll never discredit or minimize whatyou did that day. I’m so thankful you were there to stop him. And Mason,” she says, turning to him. “Even though I was just a pawn in your game to mess with him, you gave me purpose and my animals a place of refuge.”
We’re all silent, not knowing where she’s going with this and honestly, I’m worried it’s not going to end well.
“Jaxon, you were my hero in so many ways. You gave me the freedom to share my passions and secrets. You were my friend.”
“Were?” he croaks out, his voice laced with pain.
She nods solemnly. “Were. And I trusted you. All of you, in a sense. But what am I supposed to do now? I have a baby who has no father and I don’t know how I’m—”
“That little girl hasthreefathers. That ain’t gonna to change,” Mason bites out, cutting her off.
Surprised by his statement, she whispers, “I don’t know if that’s really true, Mason. I’m not trying to hurt any of you, but you have to know that inmystory, you’ve all been my heroandmy villain.”
I don’t even know what to say, but I want to deny it with everything inside of me.
Standing, she looks us over. “I won’t prevent you from being a part of this, if you want. I’ll let you know when my appointments are. But I have to think of me and my baby.She’sgoing to love me like I love her already. I love her more than anything in this world,” she hiccups. “I hope you can love her, too.”
I’ve never felt lower than this moment, learning I’ve been a villain in her story.
Edith runs a hand over her stomach, watching as she does it with a sad smile. “I’m going to head back to the house. Thank you so,somuch for all the work you’ve done. I’m so thankful for it. I have an appointment on Friday. If any of you’d like to go,you’re welcome. Thank you for understanding where I’m coming from.”
With that, she turns and leaves us to ruminate. All of us stare as she walks away, feeling awful and defeated.
It’s not until Mason whispers, “We’re gonna prove to her she’s wrong. I’m not her fuckin’ villain, and none of you either.”
Neither Jaxon nor I agree, but we both nod that we heard him. Apparently, our new mission is to be her heroes once again.
Chapter Fifty
Mason
Griffin and Jaxon are following me closely as I hurry over to the spot where Edith just parked. Glaring at the pile of rust, I consider all the ways I can make this piece of shit car disappear andnothave her pissed at me.
“There’s no way that thing is safe,” I growl, pleased when both of them grunt their agreement. Unfortunately, none of us have a leg to stand on at the moment. That’s going to change as soon as I can get her to believe my concern comes from a good place, not just me being a controlling asshole.
She’s barely turned off the engine before I’m pulling the door open and offering her a hand to help her out. I feel my lip twitch into a brief smile when she eyes it, then me warily before accepting with a sigh.
