Page 94 of Relentles
Christopher held Gunner for a time, kissed Meggie’s forehead, then announced he wanted to see Jo.
She’d tried reading to her son but could only curl on the hospital bed and cry, so Rebel promised she’d summon Christopher and rushed out of the room.
Her bad mothering continued because she’d made it to the door and asked Bishop, one of the guys guarding her door, to watch him.
Two minutes later, JJ’s number popped up on her screen, so she’d pulled herself together and answered.
“Megan, sweetheart?”
It hadn’t been her nephew, but his father. Johnnie must’ve known she wouldn’t have answered his call.
“I don’t want to hear anymore.”
“Don’t hang up!” he’d said in a furious whisper. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”
No, he was just trying to drive her crazy.
“I’m in so much pain, sweetheart. Give me a second.”
“I don’t care.”For once, it was the truth.“Do you want to completely destroy me?”
Yes. He did.
“I’m hanging up.”
Idiot move. She should’ve just done it.
“Don’t. I’ll just keep calling back.”
She’d sat up, grabbed the remote, and flipped on the light behind the bed. The lone bathroom light flooding the room no longer sufficed. “Get it over with. Torture me a little more.”
“I hate the tears in your voice.”
“You wouldn’t keep putting them there if that was the truth. What do you want?”
“To spare you. You’re talking to me, so it’s obvious Christopher isn’t with you. Don’t you find that strange?”
“No. We’re at the hospital, jackass. He’s with Jo.”
“Kendall told me her temperature isn’t regulated yet. You spent the afternoon there, so you know that. Christopher isn’t in that nursery for Jo.”
“You’re—”
She still couldn’t think of the right word to describe Johnnie.
“You, Kendall, Zoann, Bunny, and Ophelia spent most of the time in the cafeteria.”
“Christopher told me to wait for him. He was arranging our overnight stay, so Jo wouldn’t be alone.”
“Exactly. He could see her at any time.”
“I know what you’re implying. Christopher wouldn’t cheat on me. I have the utmost faith in him.”
She refused to admit to Johnnie how much his constant barrage of insults and scenarios undermined her confidence.
“He has no time to see another woman. He’s worried about Jo.”
“Since when has he ever put anyone else’s concern over yours? Even your children.”
