You can’t rush something you
want to last forever.
- Love Quotes
I pull up to the apartment, noticing a truck parked across a few spots with a trailer attached. The bed and the trailer are packed full of what looks to be my couch amongst other belongings. Weird cause I could’ve sworn our building was full, and it’s even stranger that it looks like my furniture secured under the bungee cords and rope.
If Nightmare replaced my furniture, I’m going to be pissed. That takes a lot of nerve coming to someone’s house and getting rid of their things.
Getting out of my car, I approach the vehicle on my way to my front door, paying closer attention. Yep, there’s my ugly yellow lamp that’s normally on the table beside my bed. But what in the hell is it doing out here, packed up? Did something happen? Oh, God, was there a water leak or something?
Fuck! My heart begins to beat quicker as I jog to the front door. It’s locked, so I find the right key and burst in, drawing Maverick and Nightmare’s gaze and a…puppy?
“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask in a rush, closing the door. The dog runs at me, tail wagging like crazy. “Whose dog?” Bending down, I scratch behind his little floppy ears, because, duh, it’s a puppy, and they’re adorable.
“It’s Maverick’s,” Night replies and Maverick nods his head crazily, a huge smile overtaking his face.
“But we can’t have dogs here.”
“Not my problem.” The broody bastard shrugs, and I bite my tongue from calling him a dick.
I’m going to be the horrible mommy by taking the damn puppy away from my child. Not like I wouldn’t give my son a dog or cat, but they’ll kick us out of here, and a place to live is far more important. Not to mention dog food and vet bills—a luxury I can’t fathom right now.
“We need to talk,” I huff and glance around, noticing my furniture is indeed not here. “Did something happen? Why is everything outside?”
“We packed, Momma!” Mav yells and jumps up, coming to bother the puppy.
“I see that, but why. What happened?” I grin. It's completely fake and forced. I know none of this was my son’s idea, and I won’t take it out on him. Nightmare is in an entirely different boat though.
“You’re moving.” Nightmare shrugs, like I should already know this.
“Ummm…no, we’re not.” My eyebrows rise.
“Pretty sure I told you before; you’re coming to my place.”
“And we get a puppy!” Maverick cheers, making me cringe.
“Shit, shit, shit. This isn’t happening. I told you no. I distinctly remember saying the actual word ‘no’.”
“And like I said, not my problem.”
“It is if you don’t unload that truck and put everything back where I had it all.”
“Nah, it’s only an issue if you don’t come to terms. Me, Maverick and that dog,” he points to my feet at the little puppy wiggling around, “along with the truck full of shit are leaving tomorrow morning. The real question here is, are you coming with us?”
I’m so angry at him right now for putting me in this position, I can’t speak. I storm for the bathroom as tears fill my eyes. I just want to scream and punch him, but I won’t let my child witness me behaving like that. This man is infuriating! What gives him the right to walk in and suddenly think he can change my life however he sees fit?
He’s insane, packing up my apartment while I’m at work. And he bought Maverick a puppy…a fucking puppy! Who does that shit?
Nightmare does, obviously.
This is how my life is going to be, too, for the remainder of time until Maverick turns eighteen and moves out. Fifteen more years of this overbearing alpha taking control of everything. I’m going to go batshit crazy at this rate.
Pulling my phone out, I turn it on and hit the speed dial number for Princess. She’s probably the only person who will understand what’s happening right now, and she’ll let me vent without freaking out over whatever I say.
“What?” It’s Viking. Shit. Not who I was expecting.
Clearing my throat, I huff out, “Is Princess there?”
“Yeah, but she’s busy.”
Dickhead. I’m surrounded by them as of late, it seems. Is it something in the water all of a sudden? Christ!
“Well, will she be un-busy soon-ish?”
“Is it important?” He’s just like speaking to Night, I swear.
“Well, I’m trying not to stab your brother in front of my child at the moment, so I’d say yeah.”
He chuckles. The badass over-the-top Viking, just laughs at my frustration.
“Lemme’ give you some advice, B. Whatever my brother’s doing, just suck it up and go with it.”
“Even if that includes giving up my apartment, my job, and basically what little bit of a life I have?” It leaves me in a dramatic huff, pissed to my core.
“Yep,” he responds, and I hang up the phone. He’s just as nutty as ol’ boy in my living room. Fucking control freaks.
The bathroom door opens, and the small space grows tiny with Nightmare’s overly large presence. He comes in and closes the door behind him, making the fit even tighter.
“You calm the fuck down yet?”
He stares at me like I’m the one being irrational. Thankfully the tears went away speaking to Viking, but the anger not so much. It’s still there. “Calm down? You seriously have some freaking nerve.”
His hand flies up, pointing at my chest. “Oh, I have nerve? How about you look in the mirror, dollface. Pot calling the kettle black, dontcha think?”
“You’re going to hold this over my head for the rest of my life, aren’t you?” I ask outright. Fuck beating around the bush at this point.
He steps closer, my back hitting the counter as his thigh comes between my own. The position is unbelievably intimate, and if I drop from my tippy-toes to standing normally, I’d be pressed against his leg. I can’t handle him touching my clit right now in any form; it’s hard enough with him in the same room.
I draw in a deep breath at his scent surrounding me. It’s the type of manliness that envelops you and makes you forget about anything else. Did I mention before that he has a beard, too? That detail alone makes my insides twirl.
Leaning closer, he brushes his nose up the side of my cheek causing my stomach to tighten up in anticipation. Eventually, his dark gaze comes to mine; the silver line standing out in stark contrast as our noses nearly touch. He grumbles low enough it comes out as a threat, even with grape soda on his breath. He’s serious. “If I have to. I’ll use it for however long I need to.”
Tears form again as I swallow and my throat grows dry. He fights dirty, and he doesn’t care who it affects. I should’ve known him finding out about our son would be a losing battle. In a sense, I did, but I hoped it wouldn’t come to this—him taking control over me and my life.
Swallowing, I whisper as a tear falls. “If you make us leave with you, I’ll never be happy there.”
He backs up, an evil grin coming over his stern features. “Baby, that’s where you think I care about your feelings. I don’t.” He shakes his head as another tear tumbles over my cheek. “You’ll grab your purse, suck it the fuck up, and move your shit. You know why, Bethany? I’ll tell you why. You fuckin’ owe me. That’s why.”
His fingers go to my chin, and he tips my head up so I meet his gaze and he drives it home. “You kept my kid from me for three fucking years, and I’m playing nice. Oh, baby, I’m being so fucking nice to you, you have no clue the hell I could rain down over you.”
His hand drops, and he blinks, glancing away. “Fix your face; it won’t work on me. Be ready at six a.m. Set your phone alarm if you have too. I don’t give a fuck, but Maverick, that dog, and I will be loaded up no later than six fifteen.”
Swallowing again, I nod shortly, my eyes falling to the floor. I can’t look at him right now because, in this moment, I hate him all over again.
He hasn’t changed; he’s still as heartless as he was when I first met him. The beast I thought I’d tame, the broken man, meant for me. I was so fucking wrong.
He leaves the bathroom, and I pull my phone out to set my alarm. I damn sure won’t be letting him go anywhere with my son without me. While I’m at it, I send a text to the day manager, Brenda.
Me: I’m sorry to do this to you on short notice, but I won’t be back to work again. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, giving me a job, working with my schedule and sick days.
Brenda: Oh no, Bethany! I’m sorry to see you go, I hope you’re all right.
Me: I am, my life is just changing and I can’t stop it.
Brenda: Life happens honey, I understand. You and little guy will be in my prayers.
Me: Thank you.
Thank God someone’s praying for me; Lord knows I’m going to need it where I’m going.
I wake up at five a.m. and get the groceries packed and clean the apartment as much as I can. It’s not great, but I’m hopeful the landlord won’t charge too much. He’s been nice, letting me make payments for the deposit and what not in the past, so hopefully, he’ll do the same with whatever bill I have left.
I can’t believe Nightmare’s making me break my lease. This will only add more to my already full load of trying to support Maverick and me. I need to see about getting another job this week. Something where I won’t have to leave Maverick too much but will give me some money to pay the bills I’ll have haunting me with this impromptu move.
Maverick and the puppy ride with Nightmare in whoever’s truck he’s borrowing, and I follow behind in my car, alone. It’s terrible, but secretly, I’m hoping Mav goes on one of his ‘no’ sprees for like an hour straight. I need to get some sort of payback, and while that’s nothing major, it’s enough to bring me a bit of satisfaction. Nightmare is nuts if he thinks it’s going to be all rainbows and sunshine having us in his space.
He’s never dealt with a sick kid who pukes and cries for three days straight or a toddler who decides to make breakfast once a week and destroys the kitchen in the process. He’ll learn, and while he’s figuring it all out, I’ll be saving any money I can. That way when he gets sick of playing daddy, I’m one step ahead and ready. I hope for Maverick’s sake that he never realizes just how much of an asshole his father really is.