Page 62 of Meant to be Falling
Because we’re better than this.
We can get through this—whatever it is.
But only if she’s willing to try.
“Hey,” she says, opening the door wider but not moving to touch me.
Fuck.
“Where are the dogs?”
“Out back.”
Not good.
Any and all hope vanishes as soon as I see her face.She’s already given up.Fury simmers in my veins as I brace for it all.
As I brace for the end.
“Before you say anything, please just listen. I’m exhausted and trying to do the right thing, okay? I know you’re upset—I can tell—and I am too, but I just…I can’t do this, Mason. Between Jacob showing up at the university yesterday and then threatening to file for full custody today?—”
“He what?!”
“He was in the parking lot when I got to work. He knows about you—I don’t know how or how much—but he was furious. He was yelling and I felt like I handled it but, God, I was so shaken up and then I got inside and I talked with Coach Turner and my friend Amara. I filed a police report but?—”
Her voice trails off and it takes everything in me not to scream—to ignore the little voice replaying the fact that she called a friend andnot me.
“And then what happened?” I say carefully, my jaw clenched.
“Today he threatened to petition for custody. He’ll make my life and yours hell, and he has the money. I can’t dothis,” she motions between us, “with you and manage all of that.”
“Don’t.” The word is low and deadly, and I barely recognize the sound of my own voice. She looks away and worries her bottom lip, and I see red becauseIcan’t do this. My entire fucking life has revolved around domestic violence and the way the legal system doesn’t do shit to protect those who need it most.
“Mason, I…”
She sighs and crosses one arm over the other, rubbing her palm over her bicep.
“I said don’t.” Turning her head, she looks at me, defeat written all over her pretty face.
“This isn’t your fight. Jacob has always been an asshole, more so since…”
“Since he found out you were seeing me,” I finish for her.
“Heshowed upat the university, Mason. What if he sees us together? What if he tries to hurt you? God, I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you.”
“Me?” I ask, indignation dripping from my voice.
“Yes, you. I just think it’s best right now if we?—”
“Why? So you can take this guy on by yourself? You think that’s better?Safer?The kids? This is all I know, Lana. That fear—no one knows it better than I do.”
“Mason, please.” Her voice cracks as she says my name, but my walls are already going up, the mask slipping into place, the one I’d never worn with her.
“Just say you don’t fucking want me, Lana.” Defeat slips into my tone, and I don’t bother hiding it.
“That’s not it and you know it.”
“Do I? Every time you let yourself be happy, something happens and you’re right back to running.”
