One Last Time(87)

Yet, here I sit, having to confront someone I loved. There’s no way I can let this go and pretend it didn’t happen.

“Noah, you flew to France because of this. You left me because someone hates us enough to do this. Someone used my name to publish that, and I’m not going to just sit back and let it slide. I want to know why. I want to know how. And I want to see his face when I tell him none of it matters because I have you anyway.”

He leans over the console and kisses me. “I want to know it, too, but I believe you when you say you didn’t tell anyone. I don’t need anything else. This can go in our past and stay there.”

“I appreciate that, but I need this. I’ve allowed him to control my life, to try to destroy me, and it ends now. I have to confront him and stand my ground.”

I hope he understands what I’m asking. I’ve spent most of my life cowering, that isn’t happening ever again. If I were to sweep this under the rug, he would win. This time, the victory is mine.

His lips touch mine again. “I’ll follow your lead, sweetheart.”

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

Noah was incredible through the whole conversation. Jackson explained that we couldn’t use the information he obtained—illegally—for anything other than confronting Scott. We had to swear we’d never breathe a word about how he got it, which we don’t know the logistics anyway. All he said was he has someone in his office who is very good at getting things without a subpoena. So, really, this is for Noah and me . . . well, me.

“Let’s go.” I release a heavy sigh and exit the car.

Noah meets me up front and takes my hand. We walk up the path while my stomach does flips. I’m not sure how I’m going to get through this, but I know I have to. I choke back the bile that rises as I ring the doorbell.

The door opens, and there’s no turning back.

“Kristin?” Scott’s voice is full of confusion. “What are you doing here? You said you were sick, and I told you I’d bring the kids around six.”

“I needed to talk to you, and it couldn’t wait.” I try to hold back the anger threatening to escape. “Are the kids still with your parents?”

He takes a step outside, pulling the door closed behind him. “Yes, I told you they were twenty minutes ago, why?”

Scott looks to Noah with a scowl and then back to me. “Do you know what an IP address is?” I ask.

“Of course I do.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “I work for a technology company. I’m a little surprised you know what it is, though.”

Yes, the pathetic housewife who knows nothing learned a lot in a few months. Jackass.

I continue on with my questioning as if his comment didn’t happen.

“So, you know they’re traceable?”

“No, Kristin, I must’ve missed that part in my fifteen years with the company.” He huffs. “Is this something your new boyfriend taught you? Are you really here when you’re supposed to be on your deathbed to ask me about an IP address? If you wanted a few extra days with him—”

“Shut up, Scott.”

“I’m in the middle of something. Why don’t you tell me what was so urgent you had to run here right this minute so we can move on?”

Noah squeezes my hand when I move forward, but Scott thinking he can talk to me this way makes me want to choke him. I don’t need his condescending bullshit. “Don’t push me, Scott. I’m doing the best I can not to flip the fuck out.”

“Over what?” He drops his arms and spits the words. “You’re the one who’s acting like a psycho.”

“Watch yourself,” Noah warns, placing his hands on my shoulders.

“Or what? You come to my house and threaten me? Give me a break with this bullshit.” Scott laughs.

Noah has about six inches and thirty pounds of pure muscle on Scott. He’d crush him like a bug. “Talk to her like that again, and you’ll find out.”

Scott blows him off, but I see the flash of fear in his eyes. He turns back to me and huffs. “Now, tell me what the hell you think I’ve done so I can get back to my second mistake inside.”

The fact that he’s going to stand here and try to play stupid and call me names is all I need to go over the edge. I pull out of Noah’s grip and move closer to the man I had children with. The man that I loved against my better judgment. I’ve put up with a lot of shit, but this is the end of the damn road.

“Mistake? I was a mistake? Whatever.”

“I have a fucking headache. Could you get on with it?” He grumbles.

He’s about to have a much bigger one.

“I know, Scott! I know what you did to me! I can’t believe you!” I lose it. “If you know that IP addresses are traceable, how did you think you’d get away with it, huh? Did you think Noah and I would sit back and let you try to ruin us?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Scott steps toward me. “I don’t care about you and your fucking love life. I’m waiting for you to marry your stupid boyfriend so I can stop paying you monthly.”

He’s so concerned about the money all the time, what does he think will happen when I lose my job? Does he think he’ll suddenly pay less? Idiot. “Getting me fired wasn’t the smartest move then, was it? How do you think the courts are going to like it when I have no income and they make you increase the checks each month?”