Page 55 of More Than a Friend
“You introduced our kids to yourgirlfriend!”
“I wanted to make you jealous! I don’t want to have to go through another wedding or have more babies. I don’t want to teach someone else how I like my clothes washed or try to impress them. Things with us were comfortable. They were good. I thought I could speed up getting back together if you saw I was getting serious with someone new.”
My mouth drops open at his admission, but I don’t get to respond because there’s a knock at the door. I step around him to open it and find Skylar on the other side.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” I ask, panic clawing at my throat. I don’t want her here to witness the verbal acid and delusions Shea is spouting. I don’t want her anywhere near his homophobic rhetoric.
“I forgot my charger… are you okay?” She leans around me, and her brow furrows when Shea steps up behind me and wraps his arm around my waist. I’m trapped between him and the door, so I can’t escape.
“Ava and I were just talking about getting back together. You can go.” His voice sounds smug, and I want to elbow him in the gut, but it would draw attention from the kids.
I expect Skylar to look hurt or turn and walk away. I wouldn’t blame her. If I didn’t have to be attached to this craziness, I’d get as far away from it as I could.
But I should know my Sky better than that.
She throws her head back andlaughs.Deep and throaty, with a hint of condescension aimed towards my ex.
“I would sooner believe Ava is moving to the moon than she’s getting back together withyou,” Skylar sneers, and relief fills my whole body.
It doesn’t last long though because Shea’s fingers dig painfully into my hip, and he tries to pull me closer.
Shea doesn’t sound as confident when he volleys back, “Well, believe it. The kids need their parents together, and Ava’s realized her mistakes. Your little…flingis over, and she’s coming back to me.”
“The hell I am!” I hiss, ripping myself away from him and joining Skylar in the hall. I might draw some attention from my neighbors, but… oh well.
Skylar intertwines our fingers, the small touch soothing me enough to talk calmly to Shea, who has obviously lost his mind.
“Shea, our marriage was never going to last, even if I never left the church. Maybe we would have stayed together, but we would have been miserable—Iwould have been miserable. We both deserve to be with people who make us happy and fulfilled, and Skylar’s that for me. None of my actions are to spite you, despite what you believe.”
Shea’s face contorts in disbelief and a hint of pain. “I didn’t give up on our marriage, Ava,youdid. Don’t act like I’m the bad guy here when you’re the one who left.”
I shake my head. “You never tried in our marriage, Shea. But I stayed anyway because I thought I had to. You can blame me if it makes you feel better, but it doesn’t change the fact we were always going to end, and I would never come back.”
“But the kids?—”
“Will know love no matter what,” I interrupt him. “We’re always going to be in each other’s lives, so I’d rather not be fighting constantly, but I don’t expect us to be friends.”
Shea shakes head. “You’re making a big mistake, Ava. I’m not going to take you back after this.”
I don’t want you to take me back!I want to scream. I want to drill it into his head. I don'twantorneedhim anymore.
“I don’t need your approval. I’ll see you in two weeks.”
Shea scoffs but leaves, stomping down the hallway like a toddler who didn’t get his way.
I pull Skylar inside, shut the door, and then she’s hugging me. “Are you okay, Ava?”
The tears of frustration I was holding back fall in rapid succession down my cheeks as I nod.
“Will you tell me what just happened? Because I’m ready to follow him to his car and rip him a new one for what he was saying.”
“If you can stay until I get the kids in bed, I’ll tell you everything, but I don’t want to deviate from their routine.”
“Of course I’ll stay, baby.” She gives me a quick kiss on the forehead. “I’ll always stay for you.”
Chapter 27
Skylar
