Bereft (Seven Year Itch #2)(45)

Stephanie at least had spoken to me a few times. She was always short, speaking more about school than our personal lives. She mentioned staying the night at her mothers and I was glad they had each other, but so damn broken up I couldn’t be a part of their time together.

I missed our life, even the bad parts where we had to struggle. I missed their smiles, and the way I always knew they’d love me.

It was gone now. Stephanie couldn’t look past what I’d done to our family, not to mention her friendship with Kyla. I think for a while she couldn’t believe it really happened. Kyla went to her begging for forgiveness, even throwing the protective order in her face, like I’d done it to spite her. When Stephanie called to ask me about it, I told her everything. I think she believed me, not that she’d say otherwise. Like I mentioned before, she didn’t like to talk to me, not about that especially.

Life was getting to be unbearable, but it wasn’t until an evening visit that I knew it couldn’t get any worse.

A hard knocking was coming from my front door. I called out to hang on, climbed off the couch and went to answer it. Standing on the opposite side was someone I didn’t want to face, not now, not ever. Kyla’s dad had been considered a friend of mine for years. Now, staring him down in my foyer, I knew there was nothing left of that relationship. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, serving my daughter with papers after what you’ve done to her.”

“Phil, you need to hear me out. Kyla is out of control. She’s stalking me.”

“Stalking you? You know what I see, Grayson? I see a grown man who preyed on my daughter. You brainwashed her, forcing her to make decisions she never would have before. Then when you got caught you kicked her to the curb like the trash. This won’t stand, Grayson. I won’t let you bring my daughter down with you.”

“You’ve got this all wrong.”

“No, I don’t think I do.”

“So are you hear to take me down? Are you going to hit me? Shoot me?”

Phil stared me down, I suppose to figure out what his next move would be. “I’m here to tell you to drop the bullshit protective order. She doesn’t need something like that on her record. You and I both know she’s harmless. Don’t ruin her life because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants.”

This guy had every reason to hate me, but he was wrong. “Phil, your daughter came on to me. She seduced me. It wasn’t the other way around. I had to get that order, because she won’t leave me alone.”

I didn’t see his fist coming until it was too late. My nose cracked, and I was certain it was broken. Blood oozed out, pouring down over my shirt, shoes and floor. He pointed to me while I tried to manage the situation. “Stay away from my family, Grayson.”

After making sure Phil left, I rushed into the bathroom to access my situation. It was apparent my nose would need to be reset, so I stuffed it with toilet paper and drove myself to the hospital, where I sat and waited for more pain to be inflicted on me.

In that time, I had a chance to think about my life. Without Rachel I was lost. Maybe I deserved the punch. Maybe I deserved everything.

I just wondered how much more I’d have to go through before things would start to look up – or if they’d ever.





Chapter 25


Rachel


Before I knew it four weeks had gone by. I was only keeping track because that’s how long it took for my furniture to finally be delivered. I’d already paid back the money for the living room set. I just owed for a kitchen table and chairs, and my bed, not that Chad cared. He kept telling me not to worry about it, and hiding the money back in places I wouldn’t discover until later. For all I knew I hadn’t really paid anything back, because somewhere in my things was a wad of cash.

The two of us spent most of our time together, especially after business hours.

I wasn’t even that excited about moving into my own place, because I’d become comfortable staying with him.

Stephanie called me every single day. She was adamant about checking on me, although she still had no clue I was having a hot affair with a younger guy. I’d visited her on the weekends when Chad went out of town, and only told her I was staying in the city with a friend until my place was ready. She didn’t have a clue I was staying with a guy, especially a sexy younger one I happened to be sleeping with.

Then there was my estranged husband. I hated referring to him that way, but it’s exactly what he was. I hadn’t seen him in weeks, and I wasn’t planning on it anytime soon.

My conversations with him were becoming next to none. I had nothing to say to him, so when he called I had to come up with things to discuss. For the most part he was inquiring about bills I’d normally taken care of. Maybe he just needed a reason to pick up the phone. He sounded sad, tortured even. I could tell he regretted what he did. I think a part of me even knew he was sorry for his actions. There was no doubt in my mind that he would have done things differently given the chance again. His remorseful demeanor left me vulnerable. Hearing his voice was becoming unbearable. I hated even being on the phone with the man.

When he did call, my heart ached. It’s how I knew I’d never get over him. No matter how long it had been, I still missed his touch, his face, and most importantly the way he loved me. At the end of every call he still said it, and I’d even catch myself saying it back. It was habit; one I didn’t even consider wrong. I’d made it clear I’d always feel that way about him. For me, I think he was the one true love of my life. Sure, I could have other meaningful relationships, but they’d never be what we had together. They’d never filled the void I had when I thought back to what tore us apart.