Resisting Mr. Kane (London Mister #2)(89)

He reaches for my hand, but I snap it away.

I smile sadly at his ignorant optimism. “Money can’t solve every problem, Tristan.”

“Believe me I know that, Elly.” He grips the steel railing of the bed tightly making it shake. “When you get out, you’ll come and live with me where I can look after you.”

What?

My eyes snap up to his. “Is this a sick joke? You want me to stay with you and your ex-wife? Is this to do with some ridiculous guilt you have?”

He pulls back from me. “What?”

“I know you moved Gemina into the townhouse.”

“Did you call at my house?”

I stare at the TV, still showing the football, so he can’t see the fresh tears forming.

“Elly, Gemina and I are not back together.”

I let out an unattractive snort. “Bullshit. This whole time you tell string me along, telling me half the story. What am I? Rebound or a way to make her jealous?” My voice finally breaks.

“Neither,” he says forcefully. “You couldn’t be farther from the truth. Look at me.” His hand takes mine and this time he doesn’t let me snap it away. “She wanted the house, and I gave it to her. I moved out and Daniel and Gemina moved in.”

I force my gaze back to his, blinking. “Gemina said…” What did Gemina say when I visited? I was too distraught to listen.

“It doesn’t matter what Gemina said. I’m telling you the truth. I’ll tell you the full story. Anything you want to know.”

“You’re not back with her?” My voice is so quiet I’m not sure I’ve asked the question out loud.

“No.”

“You’re single?”

“No.” He frowns. “I’m not single. I’m with you.” He takes a deep breath and scrubs his forehead with his hand. “But she did come on to me and I…nearly let it happen. My emotions were all over the place.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. I’m not sure why his words hurts so much since I already thought they were together. But having him say it out loud makes it ten times worse.

“I’m sorry,” he says hoarsely. “It was a moment of poor judgement. Let me make it right.”

“I knew getting involved with you would hurt me too much,” I whimper.

“It doesn’t have to.”

“Did you sleep with her?”

“No,” he says firmly. “Absolutely not. I came close to kissing her but stopped it. That’s all. Let me wipe the slate clean. Even touching Gemina was a fuck-up. Blaming you for what happened with Daniel was a massive fuck-up. I couldn't see the wood from the trees. The fear of losing Daniel made me irrational. I’m sorry.” Guilt flits across his face. “What happened with Daniel wasn’t your fault, it was mine. I should have been watching my own son. I was hurt and lashed out at you. Forgive me, Elly. I don't handle stress related to my son well.”

“I don’t understand. I thought Daniel’s real dad was a one-night stand.” He stiffens when I say real. “But I saw him at the hospital.”

His head drops, shoulders sagging. “I found out something a few weeks before you started Madison. It broke my heart. A couple years ago, I found out Daniel wasn't my son. I had come to terms with that, it didn’t change anything. As long as Daniel's paternal dad was faceless, I could deal with it. I forgave her and for over a year I tried to save my marriage.” He swallows hard in his throat. “But it wasn't just a one-night stand. Gemina lied. She had been having an affair on and off for four years with her mentor. The man I had introduced her to, to get her career moving. He’s the birth father.”

I stare at him for a long beat. No wonder he is so troubled about his son. “But now… she wants you back?”

“Apparently, yes. She doesn’t know what she wants. That’s Gemina. She said she’s made a mistake. She wants us to be a family again. It’s irrelevant. I love you.”

My lips tremble hearing the words for the first time. These are the words I’ve longed to hear but… “Gemina will always have a hold over you. You won’t choose me over Daniel and I don’t expect you too.”

“I’ll figure it out. I can’t be with Gemina just to see my son. Just like we will figure out how to handle your IBD. Together.”

I bite by lip hard to stop my face from screwing up with tears.

A bell rings at reception meaning we have ten minutes left of visiting time.

“It’s probably best that you…” I start.

He nods. “Can I visit you tomorrow?”

“No,” I say in a hard whisper. “You don’t get to waltz in and out of my life whenever you choose. I need time.”

Looking flustered, Tristan rubs the back of his neck. As if for once he has no idea how to handle a situation. Even when Daniel overdosed, he panicked but remained in control. “I’ll give you all the time in the world.”

Silence fills the space.

“Where are you living?” I ask.

His lips twitch. “In one of Jack’s smart apartments. Just until I buy somewhere else.”

“How’s that?”

“Things keep beeping in the kitchen. They’re doing my head in. Less for Natalia to clean though so she’s happy.” Hr nods to my tray of compartmentalised dinner scraps. “How's the food?”