Page 49 of Perfect Chemistry

I couldn’t look at her.

“Kai, please. Our personal grievances shouldn’t be put out for the whole county to read. I know I hurt you, but-”

“Shut your mouth.” I didn’t yell. I didn’t growl. My voice was quiet and calm because I had no emotion left. “You cheated. You used me. You killed a child through gross negligence and selfishness. You defrauded my insurance and aided in another person committing identity theft. You don’t get to decide what I do or don’t do anymore. You don’t get to tell me, sorry, or make up stories for your circle of friends. If they choose to seal the court records, I’ll buy a two page spread in the Sunday Post and print my copies of everything. So shut up.

“What’s the longest I can keep the no contact order,” I turned to ask the judge.

“Two years,” she responded.

“What do I need to file criminal charges?” I asked next, making Jenny gasp.

“The matter has already been turned over to law enforcement,” the judge explained.

“What about insurance fraud?” I asked.

“The charges for the medical appointment billing were forwarded as well,” the judge confirmed.

“I understand that, but she totaled our car a year ago, claiming that she was the driver but her injuries were consistent with her as a passenger. I would like that investigated as well, seeing as how my insurance was billed to cover medical expenses for my then wife and ’her friend.’”

“Your lawyer can escort you down to the police desk on the first floor to make a report,” she informed me.

“Thank you, your honor.”

“I’d offer you a beer, but I don’t want to see you spiral again, dude,” Bradley said, sitting next to me in my parents’ backyard two days later.

Heather’s funeral was today. Jenny was not allowed to attend because of the restraining order against her. I didn’t need to do anything about Timothy because he was arrested for identity theft and a few other unrelated warrants.

It was a simple graveside service. She was buried with Jenny’s maternal great grandmother. I may hate Jenny, but her family had been good to me while we were together. Jenny’s parents paid the cost of having her name engraved on the family stone with a small angel next to her name.

I didn’t have any tears left to cry. I could only replay every interaction with the child I thought was mine. She was loved and happy while I had her. It was the only thing I could hold on to.

Now, I was sitting with my own family and coming to terms with the loss of everything I thought I had in my life. I didn’t have a loving wife. I didn’t have a daughter. I wasn’t a family man.

I was a ship adrift in life, and no idea how the hell I had gotten here. I wasn’t even thirty and my life had imploded.

“I think one beer will be okay,” I replied to Bradley.

He nodded and passed me a nonalcoholic drink. I stared down at the labeling. “You’re a dick.”

He nodded, taking a swig of his beer. “Don’t feel bad. No one is drinking if you’re not.”

That’s when I realized that Bradley and everyone else were drinking nonalcoholic beers or sparkling grape cider. I felt a smirk twitching at my mouth. “Thank you.”

“You don’t ever need to thank me for being your friend, Kai. You’re like my brother; only more dysfunctional so it makes me feel superior being around you,” Bradley continued in his platitudes disguised as insults. This was Bradley.

I couldn’t help the laugh that erupted out of me. “Dude, you’re such an asshole,” I wheezed, laughing. Bradley smiled and tipped his bottle to me. “Thank you,” I whispered when I could stop laughing.

“No ‘thanks’ between friends,” he replied and gave me a hug.

I would move forward from this too.

Chapter 18

Katie’s Point of View

*knock knock*

“Give me a second. I think the pizza guy is here. Shit! Ty is going to call any minute! I will see you when you get here, Andie!” I hung and ran through the apartment looking for my wallet.

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