Because (Seven Year Itch #4)(27)

If I were home it wouldn’t look like this. Brandon gives me a once over and then focuses his attention on Ab, while she slides out of her seat and rushes over to hug me. “Mom. Dad said you couldn’t visit today.”

“He did? Well, nothing is going to stop me from seeing my girl. I missed you today.”

“I missed you too. I got all my spelling words right on my test.”

We’d practiced all last week, but I’m still tickled she did well, especially when I’m worried about our situation affecting her schoolwork. “I’m so proud of you. I knew you could do it.”

I stop for a second and take her in. She’s wearing a polka dotted shirt with a pair of striped leggings. Her shoes are open-toed with a slight heel. I’d gotten them from a thrift store for her to play dress up in, not wear to school. “What on earth do you have on, young lady?”

She giggles. “Daddy said I could wear whatever I want.”

I’m not surprised. He’s giving her whatever her little heart desires to get to me. It’s working. I toss him an evil grin and notice he’s already amused. His smirk makes me want to slap it off his face. He’s too handsome for me to focus, and I know if I’m not careful I’m going to fall victim to my own heart.

I peer down at my daughter and look into her beautiful bright eyes. “Why don’t you go play for a bit while I talk to your dad?”

She looks to him as if he’s the boss now. He nods and she goes running out of the room. My hands are on my hips. I’m ready to give him a piece of my mind. He latches his finger in the hem of my khaki pants and pulls me close. I want to fight him, but I can’t seem to do it. I need to know he’s still interested in being with me, and it’s only been one day. “I didn’t come here for this, Bran.” I swat his hand away but remain in the same location. “I want to talk, but it’s going to be across from you at the table. You’re not going to persuade me to come home by touching me.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Unless you’re coming home to stay, I’ve got nothing to say.”

Just like that he’s shutting me out. I don’t know whether to push the topic or walk away from it. One thing is for sure, looking into his eyes and seeing my future is getting harder by the minute.





Chapter 13




I had a shitty day at work, and now she’s here trying to piss me off more. Shayla didn’t show up so we could work things out, or because she misses me. She’s still trying to play these ridiculous head games and I’ve about had it. Instead of sitting, she bends over and meddles through the basket of clothes on the floor. “I don’t know whether these are clean or dirty.”

“They’re clean. Can’t you tell they’re still warm? I refluffed them so they wouldn’t be wrinkled.”

She picks up a few pieces. “These are all different colors. You can’t mix colors with whites.”

“They look fine to me. I needed shirts for work. Don’t scrutinize me, Shay. You weren’t here to take care of it, so I did it myself.”

She tosses the clothing back in the basket and walks over to the sink. Her hands are on either side of the large stainless bowl and she’s staring down at it. “I wish you knew how hard this is for me, Bran.”

“You’re the one who left.”

She refuses to turn around and face me. “I have to do this. Why can’t you understand it’s for the best?”

“Yeah,” I say in a flip way. “I’m sure you’ve got it all figured out. Listen, I’m not going to sit here and waste my time with you tonight. I’m tired, and Ab has a ton of spelling words she needs to learn for next week. I need to get her in bed at a decent hour and prepare to read to her until she falls asleep, then maybe I can get the laundry taken care of and make her lunch for tomorrow.”

“It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” When she speaks it’s with a sarcastic tone. “I’m going to tell Ab goodbye before I go. Do you have a problem with that?”

I motion with my hands. “Do what you need to do. I obviously can’t stop you.”

I don’t get up until she exits the room. When I hear voices I stand between the doorway so I can listen without being discovered.

“But I don’t want you to go. Why can’t you stay here?”

“It’s complicated, sweetie. I’m doing this for our family. I know it doesn’t seem like I am, but it’s true. I just want the fighting to stop.”

She’s whining, but I’m too far away to see how Shayla is reacting. “I don’t want to go to grandma’s house. I want to stay here with Daddy.”

A smile forms on my lips. Aberdeen is doing what she and I talked about. Shayla is going to be pissed, and I’m happy about it. If she thinks she can do this without repercussions, she’s got another thing coming.

“I thought you could come stay with me some nights. We can have sleepovers.”

“No!” Our daughter won’t give in. “I don’t want to leave my dad here alone. You have Grandma and Grandpa, but he’s alone.”

“Honey, lots of kids live in two places so they can see both parents. It’s only a little way down the road. Your dad will be fine for one night.”