Page 51 of Small-Town Secrets
Howard could.
At least financially.
Inhaling, I made myself look up again, willing Aaron to say something, anything.
He didn't, though. He only looked at me.
"I can't believe this," he got out after what felt like a small eternity.
"I didn't have proof until—"
"Until Howard wanted custody. I know. Raph told me."
"He did?" My stomach churned. It should have been me who told Aaron. But I'd let every chance to do so pass me by. I hadn't been brave enough. I bit my teeth together. Hadn't I promised myself that I was going to be braver? I took a deep breath and made myself meet Aaron's gaze. "I'm sorry that you had to hear from him. I should have told you way sooner, I just... I didn't know how you were going to react and then we moved in with you and the whole situation got kind of out of hand. I didn't want to create any drama for the kids either. They don't deserve any of this. You can be mad at me all you want, but please, don't take it out on the kids. They have no idea and it's not their fault.
"I know that! How could you even think that I—" Aaron shook his head, growing even more agitated. "I would never—" he started again, but didn't finish that sentence either. "I need to go cool down," he said finally and turned around before I could stop him.
"Aaron!" I called after him, wishing we could justtalk this out.
But I could only stare after him as he left.
23
Aaron
The kids were actually mine.
I don't usually like to curse, but,holy shit.
I'd known that sleeping with Laurence all those years ago had been stupid, but I'd had no idea just how stupid. Laurence gotpregnantfrom me. And then he returned to his ex—who abused him. I wasn't sure what stung more. The fact that Laurence had picked his ex over me or how badly it had all played out.
And now my children thought the piece of scum that Laurence dated was their father.
It was bad enough to know that the asshole had hurt Laurence, but the thought that he might have laid hands on my kids too made me see red. I couldn't think clearly anymore and I sure as hell couldn't have a mature and civilized conversation about it all.
Because the only thing that hurtworsethan the idea that Howard had hurt my omega and my children was that Laurence seemed to think I might be capable of the same. The way he'd pleaded with me not to take it out on the kids...
No, I couldn't stay there and argue with him in the state of mind I was in. In the state of mindhewas in.
I'd had to get out.
Problem was that the moment I stepped out of the house and the cool night air blew around my ears, I had no idea where to go. I hadn't thought that far.
I glanced over at my neighbor's house. There was a light on in Jake's kitchen.
Bailey barked as I walked over and knocked on the door. Jake opened it and greeted me with a curious expression.
"I'm not on duty right now, but you look like you could use some sedative," he said as he stepped aside to let me in. "Raph wouldn't tell me what you two had to discuss, but there's something going on with you, isn't there?"
Bailey walked up to me and I carded my fingers through her soft fur instead of responding to Jake. There was so much to say that I didn't even know where to start. Bailey didn't care about any of that, though. One of the reasons I liked dogs so much. Nothing was complicated with dogs. Dogs were calming.
"There's coffee in the kitchen," Jake said.
Thatwas something I could respond to. "Coffee sounds fantastic."
Jake gave me one more critical once over, and then he led me into his kitchen. "Your fist is shaking," he pointed out as he poured me my coffee.
"I'm just so fucking angry." I made myself sit in one of Jake's kitchen chairs instead of grabbing the thing and throwing it against the wall the way I wanted to. I was an alpha, but I was not a Neanderthal.
