Page 136 of Say You'll Stay

“See,” he caresses my cheek with his head tilted to the side. “That won’t work for me, Al. That’s the job here. Take the unwanted child far enough away that people won’t recognize the bastard child’s eyes. Mark wants Lucas. Vivian wants you gone, so she doesn’t need to be reminded of her husband’s infidelities, and you and I are going to be set for life. Don’t you get it? He’s going to pay for us to live however we want. I just fix some books for him every few months, and then Mark pays for us to live wherever. It’s win-win, Allie, and Jadon gets to go to the best schools.”

My eye twitches while I try to understand why he’s like this. “This is about money?”

Ted shrugs and holds my chin. “I fucked up, okay? I should have taken my shot with you when I had it. Instead, I fucked around, and then you went and gave it up to Lucas.” His eyes darken and Ted’s smile drops when he says Lucas’s name. “Lucas was never supposed to figure it out, and honestly, I didn’t even know that part. I just knew you got pregnant and Mark wanted the foundations set for us. I mean, small world, right? You got pregnant on your father’s property while I tried to get into your half-sister’s pants. It’s all so flipped. Now, she’s going to be with Lucas, and you and I will be what we were always supposed to be.”

I’m sorry, what?

Ted grins. “It’s almost like fate, Allie.”

The color draining from my face is something I don’t need to see in order to feel. I don’t know where he got the audacity, but he needs to put it back.

“Four minutes!” Vivian calls out from the front of the house.

I don’t even know what to grab and I don’t know how to handle this. I make tarts and asparagus wraps with seasonal flowers as garnish on plates, not deal with demented people with guns.

Ted pushes me into the bedroom and leers at the bed when I set Jadon down to grab my suitcase.

“Allie, I know it’s hard right now, but once we get past all of this, and you remember how things were before, it will all be better between us. I promise. We had fun together and we’ll make new memories. I’m sure Jadon is ready to be a big brother now, too.”

I don’t know what I’m grabbing. I’m just trying to look busy in hopes Lucas will show up sooner or I can stall as long as possible. “Ted, how many times did you cheat on me in the last year?”

His half smile fades, and eyes dart to the side. “Never.”

Lie. I just know it by now, and maybe I always did. I soften my voice while shoving t-shirts into the suitcase. “Ted, please. You can be honest with me.”

He sighs and leans against the door, checking his watch. “Allie, you never wanted to give it up for whatever reason. I didn’t want to end up losing my temper or something because you’re a fucking prude.”

He gestures to the bed and scoffs. “Of course, Lucas-fucking-Kennedy comes to town, crooks his finger, and suddenly you’re his whore.”

My jaw drops to the floor. “You can’t say that in front of Jadon, Ted.”

He rolls his eyes while Jadon watches our exchange. I feel ashamed he’s hearing all of this. I tried to set good examples for him, and Ted’s unraveling it all in the span of two minutes.

Ted glowers at the suitcase and sighs. “You’re done here, Allie. Mark will get whatever we need.”

“What? No!”

“Yeah, come on, babe. We have a drive tonight, and I’m taking what’s mine.”

“What’s yours? I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You.” He pushes off the wall, storming toward me while I walk backwards. Ted grabs my hair and pulls while I fail to push him off. “We’re done. Jadon, let’s go.”

Jadon screams and kicks at Ted, and I try to reach for him while Ted pulls me down the hallway.

“Let go of her!”

“Jadon, stop!” I reach for him while tripping over my own feet, hitting the ground. Ted still has my hair in his fist.

“Mommy!”

“What the hell is going on?” Vivian barks. Both hands on her hips, she scowls down at me in her fancy ladies’ suit. Power suit, I guess. “Ted, get the kid in the car.”

Ted drops me and Vivian takes his gun, pointing it at me.

“Jadon!”

Jadon screams and reaches for me, but Ted pushes me down while he carries a kicking Jadon out. Vivian is still pointing that gun, but my heart is out the front door now.

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