Page 324 of Cheaters: A Dark Romance Anthology

JAMES

All I’ve done this past week is sulk, hit things, and slam doors. I’m beyond pissed at the prospect of my best friend hurting my little girl, of him putting his hands on her.

I swear I’ll kill him.

After every single thing I’ve done for him. All the hours I’ve spent with him, all the beers we’ve shared, all the good times, all the bad times. This is how he repays me? By sleeping with my daughter behind my back? She’s barely eighteen; she’s still a baby!

The fucking nerve of this guy.

My fist meets the punching bag with each thought. Sweat is dripping down my back, and I’m out of breath when I hear the garage door open.

The person in the doorway is the last person I ever expected to be standing there.

David.

I fully turn to address him. “I thought I told you to leave and never come back.”

“We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t. You fucked my daughter. You’re lucky you’re not dead yet!” I turn back and take a swing at the bag.

David walks around the bag and sits down on the chair.

“You don’t have to talk. I just need you to listen.” He sighs. “Please, James.”

I nod. I’ll indulge him for a few minutes as I keep swinging, pretending the bag is his face. Fuck, how I’d love to punch him right in the nose.

“We never meant to hurt you. I never meant to hurt you. It just happened.” He pauses, inhaling deeply. “That sounds lame, but it’s true. You know I’m not one for excuses. And I don’t even have one. There is no excuse. There’s only the truth.”

I stop punching the bag and take a step to my right to see him better. I tilt my head and wait for him to continue.

“I promise you, I never touched her until that night. I would never do that. She was eighteen before anything happened. I swear, man.”

“Fine, but why my daughter? Why her?”

“She’s captivated me. I can’t even tell you how. It took me by surprise. I never thought I’d fall for her. I never meant to.”

“Oh, you never meant to? How thoughtful.” I am seething now, taking a threatening step toward him.

David stands up and walks back to the door. He turns around to face me. “I love her.” With that nuclear declaration, he walks out.

A huge scream erupts from my lips, causing ripples throughout my chest.

“Fuck!”

I punch the bag with all my strength, watching everything fade away behind me.

Somewhere close, I hear my name being called, and it pulls me back.

“James… James?”

“What!” I spin around.

Jessica stands behind me with her hands held up. “I’m not the enemy. Don’t snap at me.”

I grunt and pull off my gloves, not answering her, not bothering to even look at her.

She takes a few steps toward me and starts to reach out but thinks better of it and sits down in the same spot where David sat a few minutes earlier.

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