Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Doesn’t change the fact that this is goddamned miserable.
There’s a knowing look in her eyes. If I’m not careful, she’ll call me out for blushing like a kid at prom.
“Well, can I come in?” She doesn’t really ask, brushing past me like she owns the place.
Enough of this shit.
Snarling, I grab her arm. I’m about to push her the hell out of my house when Colt appears at the end of the foyer.
He just stands there, watching us intently.
For a second, he’s not thirteen, he’s five again.
And here I am, manhandling his mother’s arm like she’s a prowler barging in to raid the house.
“Dad?” he asks, his voice small. “Is everything okay?”
Rina lights up in a way I didn’t know she could.
Everything about her is brighter, airier—her eyes under those stupid contacts, her smile, the way she holds out her free arm to him.
“Oh, Colt! Baby!” she croons, beckoning him closer. “I came to see you, honey.”
Colt glances at me and after a second, I release her arm with a sigh that grates my throat.
Rina flings herself forward with her arms outstretched, waiting as he walks toward us. When he’s close enough, she folds him up in the world’s most awkward hug.
He’s almost taller than she is now, and he keeps looking at me over her shoulder for reassurance.
Yeah, this is weird, and not just because two of the three people standing here wish the other one never existed.
Rina’s always been an absentee mother. If it wasn’t for the fact that Colt deserves to have some kind of mom in his life, I would have cut her ass out years ago.
Her very presence rings alarm bells. She’s either decided to be more active in his life or she wants something.
Probably more cash to fund her wanderlust and endless art projects. It wouldn’t be the first time. It’s not alimony ordered by a court, more like fuck off money I send every few years as ex-wife repellent.
But Colt, he’s smiling at her now as she pulls back and pats his cheek affectionately.
“Holy crap, Colton, you’ve gotten so big,” she gushes, tears in her eyes. “When did that happen?”
When you weren’t around to see it. Obviously.
“I’m thirteen, Mom,” Colt says.
“I know that, baby. It’s just, well… it’s like you’re a new person every time I see you. I have to relearn how to hug you, that’s all.” Her smile fades, turning wistful now. I’ve never seen her like this. “Are you holding up okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Holding up? As if I’m not the reason he’s happy and healthy and mostly keeping out of trouble?
“Of course you are! You look great. Your dad looking after you okay? Helping you with schoolwork?” The audacity of her question makes me bristle, and she shoots me a quick, nervous glance before adding, “I’m sure he does.”
“Why are you here, Rina?” I bite off again. We’ve moved past the glaring stage to proper death stare. The front door is still hanging open and I’m happy for it to stay that way. The sooner she leaves, the better. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing’s ‘going on,’ Archer. I told you, I came to see Colt.” She wraps a protective arm around his shoulders, flashing me a pouty look.
What the hell ever.
If she wants to have this talk in front of our son, I can play ball.
I push past her to the great room. The white sofas are all gathered around the glass table and large doors that slide open to the patio. It’s the first time she’s been here since the place was remodeled, and her eyes are wide.
“Shit, Arch.” She laughs as she looks around. “Do you ever slow down and take a break from showing off?”
“I have good taste and watch your language.” I sit on the sofa, folding my legs.
“Dad. It’s not like I haven’t heard it before. You swear all the time.” Colt stops trailing Rina like a puppy and sits beside me.
“Doesn’t mean you need to hear it from your mom.” I know I’m being a flaming hypocritic here. I’ve slipped up and sworn in front of Colt often enough, but the fact that she’s here doing it uninvited pisses me off.
Rina touches a hand to her dark brunette hair, cut short now. It’s stylish, though lost in the dangling orange earrings that look like miniature dreamcatchers.
She’s always been a mix of things, a human tornado in the worst way.
Aside from being half the reason Colt exists, she’s the biggest mistake of my life.
She’s someone I figured out I don’t need around after enough grief. Especially now, when I’m dealing with whatever mess Winnie and her family are about to bring crashing down on my head.
“This is so formal,” Rina says after a moment. She taps her fingers against the white leather. She’s nervous, being here after so long, I realize.