I shoved my phone back into my pocket and pasted on my best PTA dad smile. I'd just sent my husband yet another text, but since there'd been no response to the previous dozen or so, I knew better than to hold my breath for this one.

I could understand him not answering the phone if he was busy with a client, but come on. Who doesn't have ten seconds to return a text? Even a fucking thumbs up or sad emoji would be a response. Hell, at this point I’d settle for poop emoji.

Oh, well. There was no reason for the gossipy sharks, a.k.a. the other parents, here at Bella's party to sense any chum in the water that was my marriage. Just like Scarlett O'Hara, I'd have to worry about this one tomorrow.

"Daddy? Is Papa coming, or is he working late again?" Bella looked up at me with a hesitant smile as she stood there wobbling on her rented roller skates.

"You know what, Bella-bear? I know Papa promised he would be here, but I have a feeling those clients of his are stealing his time again. You know he'd rather be here skating with his pretty Princess, right?"

Bella's smile wavered, and I died a little inside as the light dimmed in her eyes. Luckily I was saved from any further questions when the DJ called out for the hokey pokey, and a group of her little friends pulled her back out onto the rink.

"Ethan," my friend Diane said as she pulled me away from the other parents. She let out a false laugh, speaking loudly enough for the others to hear. "I can't believe I let you down! I was supposed to bring the cake, wasn't I? How about I watch things here for a bit, while you run out and pick it up?"

Diane knew damned well my absent husband was supposed to have been here with the cake half an hour ago. Stupid me. I’d thought if I "forgot" Bella's cake at home, he’d be forced to actually show up for one of her birthday parties—at least for a few minutes, if he had to save the day and deliver the cake.

Lowering her voice, Diane continued. "Honeybuns, no offense, but we both know your alpha’s a narcissistic asshole. I know you'd hoped that he'd show today for Bella's sake, but let's be honest — that shit ain't happenin'. Now you run on home and pick up that cake and get your ass back here before we have a dozen pissed-off nine-year-olds to deal with. You and I both know that won’t be pretty, am I right?"

"That's okay, Lady Di," I said, my voice modulated for the other parents to hear. "I'll forgive you for the missing cake, but you get to be on Band-Aid patrol while I'm gone. The ice packs are in the small cooler at my table if anybody falls down again. Or should I say, when someone falls down again. Now let me skedaddle, and I'll be back in three shakes of a lamb's tail."

I leaned in and gave my bestie a hug, whispering in her ear, "Thanks, doll. I'll be back as soon as I can. Don't let the PTA drones get you down while I'm gone. If all else fails, eat a cupcake or something. They're all allergic to sugar and gluten; it's their kryptonite."

Diane laughed as I stepped back and made sure to give me a smack on the ass as I turned to walk away. I slipped through the crowd of kids and parents and firmly pushed on the glass door as I made my escape outside.

I blinked in the bright sun after two hours of artificial lights and disco balls inside the skating rink. I poked my pinkies in my ears as I walked to my car, trying to pop them after the loud music. I could still it hear out in the parking lot, albeit slightly muted.

There was nothing like a skating rink or bowling alley to take me back to my own childhood. And even the awful PTA drones in there weren't enough to make me regret giving this to my Bella. I didn't even care that it would probably be a couple of washings before the popcorn smell came out of our clothes.

Anything was worth putting a smile on my baby girl's face. Especially as cute of a smile as she had going on right now, with those missing front teeth and that freckled, upturned nose.

I lifted my door handle with the hem of my shirt, regretting having parked in full sunlight in the middle of an August afternoon. The inside of the car was like the seventh level of hell. If I had more time, I would've stood outside the open door and let some of the hot air out before sliding in. At least I was wearing jeans today. Shit, just the idea of trying to sit on the ass-scorching vinyl seat in shorts was enough to make me cringe.

Once I had the car started and the AC blasting, I double checked my mirrors and zipped out of the parking spot. Next stop, home.

As soon as I pulled in the driveway and saw Milton's midlife crisis already parked there, my hopes of him coming to the party rose. Had I jumped the gun? Was this the one time Milton was actually going to show up for Bella? Had I ruined it by not trusting him? I mean, he didn't have the best track record of showing up, and he hadn't returned my texts… Or phone calls for that matter. But still. Maybe his phone was dead.

I jumped out of the car and dashed up to the front door, prepared to give my husband of a decade the benefit of the doubt. People changed—maybe Milton was ready to step up and actually be a father for once. The door was unlocked as I turned the knob and let myself in.

The lights were off, and it didn't look like anyone was home. Hmm. Maybe he had stopped to use the bathroom. I gave a mental shrug and went to pull Bella's cake out of the refrigerator. The large, half-sheet cake was store-bought, naturally, and decorated with icy blue frosting and little figures from Frozen — Bella's favorite movie of all time.

After I'd set the cake by the front door, I decided to go find Milton and see if I couldn't get him to ride back to the party with me. It would be good for Bella to see her dads as a united couple for a change. Not to mention, it would be nice to finally put away some of the nasty infidelity rumors that had been floating around recently.

Not that I believed any of them. After all, an alpha needed to have a sex drive before you had to worry about him cheating. And my husband hadn't been interested in sex since before Bella started kindergarten.

No, Milton's claim to fame was his disappearing acts. The first time he'd checked out on me was when I'd been six months pregnant with Bella. He had disappeared overnight.

Even though he'd explained later that he'd gotten caught up in an all-night poker game, it had still been hard for an eighteen year-old omega who was still learning to live apart from his parents. When Milton and I had eloped the night of my high school graduation, I was already two months pregnant and terrified my parents would find out.

My mom was a cultured lady; she taught art to children, for crying out loud. Telling her I'd gotten pregnant by a thirty year-old alpha before I'd even graduated high school, killing her plans for my college education? That had definitely not been high on my to-do list… but I still regretted the way I'd handled it.

It was all water under the bridge now. Bella was the light of my mother's life, especially since my father had passed. It was just too bad Milton didn't get along with Mom. My mother was never anything but cordial to him, but I was pretty sure she didn't like him. Not because of our age difference as much as the fact our marriage didn't look that great from the outside looking in.

Hell, it wasn't all that great here on the inside either, not that I had anything to compare it to. It didn't matter though. All that mattered to me was my daughter's happiness and giving her a secure childhood.

Which was why I worked two jobs—to give everything to my daughter. I delivered pizzas at night and the Buford Chronicle on Sundays. It didn’t give me a lot of money, but it was enough to pay for the extras Milton’s job as a car salesman couldn’t always provide. Extras like pricey birthday parties at the local skating rink.

As I wandered through the house, I still didn't see Milton anywhere. I started to wonder if he’d caught a ride from a friend and forgotten to lock the front door when I heard a soft moan coming from our bedroom.

Oh, shit. Was Milton sick? Now I really felt like an asshole for assuming the worst of him today. I pushed open the bedroom door and stood frozen in the doorway.

I was greeted by the sight of Milton's hairy ass as he pounded into some twinky omega skank. It took several seconds for my brain to compute what I was seeing. Not only was Milton cheating on me, but he had his slut in our bed? While I was hosting our daughter's birthday party? Oh, hell no.

As the anger settled in and shoved betrayal to the wayside, I knew what I had to do. I didn't care he hadn't fucked me in almost five years. And quite honestly? I didn't even care what he was doing right now, except for the fact that it was disrespectful as hell to be doing it here.

No, I was fucking pissed he was doing this instead of attending our daughter's birthday party like he’d promised. Let me down? Fine. I'm an adult. I can deal. Letting our daughter down, however, was a whole other story.

I slipped into Bella's room across the hall and grabbed her big pink suitcase from the back of the closet. Moving mechanically, I packed her clothes, shoes, and a few favorite toys. The rest could be sent for later.

Then I grabbed her Frozen backpack and filled it with her favorite books, handheld video game and cartridges, and art supplies. I looked around her room to see if there was anything else that absolutely needed to come with us, which reminded me to grab her Frozen pillow and blanket. She would need those for the long car ride home. My mom lived about seven hours away, and Bella would probably sleep most of the way.

Satisfied, I turned off her light and carried her things outside to my car. I put the suitcase in the trunk and set her neatly-folded blanket and pillow on the back seat with her backpack. I started the car so the AC could run while I finished what I was doing inside.

I noticed the cake as soon as I walked in the door, so I grabbed it and ran it out to the passenger seat. Then I took a deep, fortifying breath and went back inside. I walked straight into my room, ignoring the rutting couple on the bed.

The omega made a squeaking sound of surprise when I walked right past them and yanked open the closet door. I pulled out my own suitcase and began filling it with my own clothing.

"Fuck, what the hell are you doing home? Aren’t you supposed to be at the kid's party?" Milton asked with a grunt. I didn't bother sparing him a glance as I tucked my shoes into the suitcase and moved to my dresser.

"Don't be a baby, Ethan,” he continued, when I didn’t say anything. “You know you don't put out. If I wasn't knotted into Nicky right now, we could talk. Why don't you give us a little bit of privacy, and you and I can discuss this later."

I looked over then, almost sad to realize this Nicky person was just a kid. Barely legal, unless I was mistaken. I shook my head and spoke to the kid, ignoring the fact that he was currently being fucked by my loser husband.

"Nicky, don't believe his lies. And definitely don't waste ten years of your life with him, either. Learn from my mistakes, kid."

Turning my attention to my cheating bastard of a husband, I took in his florid complexion and weak chin. I studied him almost clinically, wondering how I'd ever been so stupid as to buy into his false charm when I was a naïve kid. No more of that shit, though. This was the last straw. I wasn’t that kid anymore.

"As for you,” I said, glaring at Milton, “it's hard to put out for someone who isn't interested in receiving, but I don't give a shit about that. Go ahead and shove your weak knot into whoever wants it. I want a divorce. Bella and I will be at my mother's, if you’re interested in seeing her."

I looked around the room dispassionately, making sure I hadn't forgotten anything. Milton sputtered out a laugh as I zipped up my suitcase.

"Go ahead and run home to your bitch of a mother. And file for divorce, unless I beat you to it. But if you think you're gonna find another alpha who will put up with your chubby, whiny, needy ass—especially once you're a single dad with a divorce on your record? You're about to learn some hard life lessons, Ethan."

I rolled my eyes and pulled out the extending handle of my suitcase, rolling it behind me as I walked out the door into my future. I didn't even bother to say goodbye; this asshole wasn't worth the expended oxygen.

I left my house key by the front door and closed it behind me, already feeling a hundred and eighty pounds lighter. At least, I think that's about how much Milton weighed these days. After loading my own suitcase into the trunk next to Bella's, I slammed it shut and got back in the car. I was halfway to the roller rink before I realized I was whistling a happy tune.

As soon as I parked, I shot off a text to both of my bosses and quit both jobs—effective immediately. Once this party was over, I was putting this town in my rearview.

Diane was waiting for me when I walked in with the cake. I could tell immediately she knew something was up by the way she grabbed me by the forearm and yanked me off to the side to speak privately. As soon as I explained what was happening, Diane sighed and shook her head sadly.

"Oh, honeybuns. I'm so sorry. I was afraid the rumors were true, but I was hopin’ they weren't, for your sake. So, you're goin' home to Mama then? I'm glad to hear it. You deserve so much more than what you've been gettin' here. I hate to sound selfish, but I'm gonna miss you so damn much."

I held the cake out to one side as I gave Diane a big hug with my free arm. I stepped back and patted her cheek gently.

"You're worth more than this lame-ass town, too, Lady Di. Mom has plenty of room, if you ever want to forge your own escape plan."

"Careful, honeybuns. You never know when I might just take you up on that kind of an offer." Diane winked as we walked back over to the party area.

Just knowing I was about to be free gave me the strength to make it through the rest of the party with the PTA drones. By the time we left, all the kids were bouncing from sugar highs as Diane and I loaded the bag I'd filled with all of Bella's gifts into my car.

I sent the rest of the cake home with Diane, knowing damn well it would never survive the trip to my mother's. After we exchanged several more hugs, I finally got Bella loaded into the back seat next to her gift bag. We were ready to hit the road.

Bella chattered all the way to the highway, not even coming up for air when I made a quick stop at the Gas & Go to fill up and grab some snacks for the road. It wasn't until we were about five miles out of town that my daughter finally realized something was up.

"Daddy, where we going? You're going the wrong way to go home. And why are my blanket and pillow back here?"

"We're not going home, Bella-bear. Your backpack has plenty of activities if you get bored, so just settle back and relax. You and I are going on a road trip. Next stop? Grandma’s house!"

"Really, Daddy? Do you promise?” Bella’s voice vibrated with excitement as she spoke. “I had an awesome party and now I get to see Grandma, too? Best. Birthday. Ever!"

Bella never once asked me about her father, eventually falling asleep a few hours down the road. The fact that it didn't even enter her mind to wonder why he wasn't with us was all the confirmation I needed to know that I was doing the right thing for our family.

Our family that now consisted of two — me and Bella. That was just enough for me, with a little bit of room left over for my mom to squeeze in.

When I rang Mom's doorbell a little after midnight, she wasn't even fazed by our surprise arrival. She just helped me get a sleepy Bella into the house while I unloaded the car.

Mom waited until I had Bella changed and tucked into bed before taking me aside to ask how long we were staying, so she could make plans for things to do with Bella.

When I explained quietly that I'd left Milton, Mom's only response was to give me a tight hug as she whispered in my ear: "Welcome home, baby."