Current Day

There comes a point in time. A crack in the universe where nothing seems real, including my own actions. Numbness seizes my body to the point where I just exist. I go through the motions as if on autopilot. As I make the right turn onto my street, I have no recollection how I ended up in my car, driving with the kids. And my precious babies haven’t made a peep. It’s like they know or sense something is wrong. I stay in this haze until the black Mercedes parked in my driveway comes into view. The last person I want to talk to is Carl.

“Are you happy now?” He doesn’t even let me get out of the car before assaulting me with his accusatory tone. “You are now the laughingstock of the internet.”

Way to show your support, asshole.

“The article doesn’t mention the kids or me.”

“It may as well have because everyone knows you’re dating him. People at work. People at school. Everyone.”

The car door closes, and the twins exchange a look. Christ, they’re too small to be worried like this.

“Keep your voice down and watch what you say.” I turn to get Melanie out, and as soon as she’s in my arms, I walk toward the house. “Come on, kids. Let’s go inside. You can grab a snack and drink and play out back if you want.”

Carl follows behind us. His permanent scowl must be the reason why the twins ignore him. Even Trenna hasn’t said a word. And of course, he hasn’t either. I have no idea why he’s so worried about what people are saying about my sex life. He should be worried about people calling him a shitty father.

Once the kids go out to play and Melanie works on her building blocks, Carl finally speaks. “I think you had your fun, but you need to end the charade. Our kids don’t need to be exposed to this type of publicity.”

“This just leaked today. I found out about it forty-five minutes ago. Think you can give me time to process it?” I hate, hate, to jump to conclusions which seems to be a recurring theme between Jax and me. “I don’t even know if it’s true.”

His eyebrows shoot to the roof of his hairline. “You’d seriously believe him if he said it never happened?”

“I don’t know, Carl, but I need to hear him out. If all you’re here for is to tell me how to live my life, then leave.” My hands shake as I walk into the kitchen. I grab a glass and stand in front of the sink. As I wait for the water to fill my cup, he steps behind me and places both hands upon my shoulders. My body tenses from his touch which causes him to exhale.

“I’m sorry if I come across as trying to dictate your life. That was never my intention. We were happy once.” His dejected tone plays into my weakness, and the temptation to surrender any happiness for the sake of being a family again rides strong. I miss the family dynamic, the normalcy it brings. Although Carl isn’t the lead character in the scene. No, a rather complicated, hot mess of a man takes the realm, starring in my mind’s picture.

“‘Happily ever afters’ are for fairy tales,” I finally say. “You were hardly Prince Charming.”

“What do I have to do to win you back?” His hands clamp down, fingers squeezing into my flesh.

“Carl, you’re hurting me.” I shimmy out of his touch and back away from him, but he stalks toward me. I keep stepping backward until my back hits the refrigerator. His hands reach above me and box me in. I wish I never sent the kids outside.

“What do I have to do to convince you he’s not good for you?”

I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“He’s never been good for you. I’m the better choice. I’m the father of your children.”

“Who cheated on me.”

“One mistake.”

“That you made over and over.”

“Yet this guy makes the same mistakes, and you forgive him.”

“Allegedly, Carl. I haven’t talked to him yet.”

His face grows sinister, and he digs his finger into my chest. “If you don’t end things with him, I will take you back to court for custody.”

He turns to leave. I rub my chest where the pain lingers. The tears—the ones that have threatened to spill over since the words Diva’s Disses came to sight—finally release. I slide against the stainless panels and sink to the ground. My kids are my life, and I can’t help but feel I failed them. I should have never gotten involved with Jax. Custody threats and scandals. Yeah, Mother-of-the-Year material right here.