I scrape my hands down my face. “Fuckin’ hell.”
“Son, you need to keep yourself in check. It’s not your job to keep the peace, it’s mine.”
Yeah, but where were you when he was all over Liv? How far would it have gone if I didn’t step in?
I grip the door handle to steady myself. “Thanks for the personal delivery.”
“Get a lawyer, Jerry.” He turns and ambles down the porch steps.
Yeah, ’cause I can afford one.
He turns when he reaches the dusty Police four-wheel drive. “Maybe it’s time you grew the hell up.”
“Always a pleasure, Len,” I call out.
Smart arse son of a bitch.
I slam the door, turn up the music, and pour another drink.
The Foo Fighters’ greatest hits ringing in my ears, words blur as I read through the paperwork.
I’m in deep shit. This isn’t my first rodeo in the courts, which means they’ll throw the book this time.
It wasn’t in self-defence. Anyone who saw it play out would testify to that. Iwantedto hurt him, to teach the arsehole a lesson, make him think twice before hitting on a woman uninterested in his advances.
I’ll get jail time.
There’ll be no getting out of it by the skin of my teeth like before, spending my penance doing community service. This time, if they don’t fine me through the nose, which will force me to default on the mortgage, they’ll lock me up.
Some father you’re gonna be behind bars.
What makes me think I’m father material? That I can set a good example?
I slam back my drink. When I upend the bottle, there’s barely a splash left.Fuck.
One eye open, I squint at the cheap dusty clock on the wall. I can just make out the hands.
Liv will be home before too long. She’ll come breezing through that door, smiling bright with hope in her heart. No doubt she’s on a high from the appointment today. Seeing the life growing inside of her.
All Liv will see is a drunk arse disappointment.
Will she regret us?
She might say she loves me, but she will do anything to protect her unborn child.
And that might be from me.