Chapter 2
It was 2 AM and Jake still wasn’t home.
After his bullshit stunt, dad’s birthday dinner went to hell. I was curled up on the couch, too drained to even move.
Outside, rain kept hitting the windows like some depressing background music.
The sound of his key in the door cut through the dead quiet living room.
Jake stumbled in, soaked to the bone and smelling like a damn brewery.
He totally ignored me sitting there on the couch.
Just tugged at his wet tie and made a beeline for the fridge.
“How is she?”
My voice was flat.
He paused mid-drink and slammed the bottle down on the counter with a loud BANG.
‘Took her to the ER. She’s fine.”
His tone was totally irritated, like my concern was some kind of annoyance.
Jake, we need to talk.”
sat up straight on the couch and clicked on the floor lamp next to me.
The dim light lit up half his annoyed face.
What’s there to talk about?”
le turned around, leaned against the counter, and crossed his arms-full defensive mode.
It’s the middle of the damn night. Can you quit being dramatic for five seconds?”
My anger shot through the roof.
I’M being dramatic? Jake, do you even realize today was my dad’s sixtieth birthday?”
Of course I fucking know!” He got even louder.
But Rachel was stuck there alone with a busted ankle AND a fever. If I don’t help her, who’s gonna? Claire, can you stop being such a bitch about it?”
So some intern matters more than my dad’s birthday?”
‘It’s not about that!” He ran his hands through his hair, totally pissed. “It’s about not being a shitty person!”
‘I swear, being a stay-at-home mom has made you completely nuts.”
‘All you do is sit around overthinking and getting paranoid about me. What the hell else do you even do?”
“Look at yourself-you’re like some nagging housewife. A total buzzkill.”
I stared at him, at this face I’d loved for eight years.
Right now, he felt like a complete stranger.
“Why can’t you be more like Rachel?”
14:10
The Moment I Froze His Black Card Was More Satisfving Than Our Wedding Night
Chapter 2
“She’s just a kid fresh out of college who has to figure everything out on her own, but she’s busting her ass every day and always so upbeat.”
“She’s sweet and genuine, not like you with all this toxic shit running through your head.”
After dropping that bomb, he actually started whistling some tune on his way to the bathroom.
I was up all night. No clue when I finally crashed.
When I woke up on the couch, I heard my son talking to a WOMAN in the house.
“Dude, Rachel, you’re so cool!”
I rubbed my eyes and dragged myself toward the study.
My son Tommy was curled up next to Rachel, totally engrossed in whatever she was showing him.
Jake spotted me and barely looked up.
“Oh hey, Claire. This is Rachel from work.”
Jake’s tone was way too casual, like he’d just brought home some regular coworker.
‘She’s stuck on this project, so I figured I’d help her out here.”
Rachel flashed me this big innocent smile, her eyes crinkling up. “Hi there!”
That sweet, chirpy voice hit me like a sugar-coated bullet straight to the chest.
I forced a fake smile and turned to leave.
Rachel pulled out this fancy wrapped box from her bag.
‘Tommy, I brought you a present!”
t was the latest gaming console.
ust last week I’d told Tommy no way, that he had to wait until his report card came out.
My son let out this excited squeal and threw himself right into Rachel’s arms like they’d known each other forever.
Thanks, Rachel! You’re the BEST!”
ake stood there watching with this huge grin I hadn’t seen in forever-the kind that actually reached his eyes.
He was looking at Rachel and Tommy like they were some perfect little family portrait.
And me? I was just the extra person standing outside the frame.
The living room was soon filled with loud game sounds and all three of them laughing together.
I watched the clock tick by-every single second felt like torture,
“Tommy, it’s nine o’clock. Time for homework.”
My voice cut through all their noise like a knife.
Nobody paid attention to me.
Tommy’s eyes were glued to that screen.
I walked over and spoke louder: “Tommy, turn off the game and go do your homework.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “Come on, let him play a little longer. Look how happy he is.”
Chapter 2
Rachel chimed in with her sweet voice: “Yeah, kids have so much pressure at school. They need to unwind too.”
Perfect teamwork. Like they’d rehearsed it.
Rage shot up from my toes straight to the top of my head, burning away every last bit of my self control.
I reached out and SNATCHED that gaming device right out of his hands.
Then I grabbed Tommy’s math homework from his backpack and shoved it in front of him.
‘NOW. Go do your homework!”
Tommy just stared at me with pure hatred, his little chest heaving up and down. I could see the fury building in his eyes.
uddenly, he ripped the homework right out of my hands. Before I could even blink, he raised his arm and hurled that notebook straight at my face with everything he had.
he sharp corner nailed me right in the cheekbone-a burning, stinging pain shot through my face.
You’re a BAD WOMAN! EVIL MOM! I HATE you! Why don’t you just GET OUT!”
le screamed at me with everything he had, his voice cracking.
I only want Rachel as my mom!”
