“You’re scaring him.”
Tristan grips the steering wheel with white-knuckle force. His eyes fill with tears as he stares straight ahead.
Why did I say that?
Tears well in my eyes, and I angrily wipe them away.
We drive in silence the rest of the way, and he pulls into the driveway. He leaves the car going.
“Are you coming, Tris?” Harry whispers.
“No, buddy,” Tristan replies as he stares straight ahead. “I’ll call you later.”
“No, Tristan,” Patrick begs. “Please come in.” He begins to cry. “Don’t go.” He grabs him over the back of his seat as he begs him not to leave.
Tristan closes his eyes.
I get out of the car, angry that my children would choose him over me. Surely they get my point? Don’t they have any loyalty to their father?
“Get out of the car,” I demand to the boys.
Fletcher gets out.
“Get out of the car,” I snap. Patrick slowly gets out.
Harry sits tight.
“Get out of the car, Harrison.”
“I’m going with Tristan.”
I’m furious. How dare he say that in front of the boys and put me in the position where they think I’m the bad guy? I’m being loyal to their father . . . and so should they.
“You will do no such thing.” I yank the door open and grab his arm as he fights me. “Let me go!” he screams as he kicks at me. “I want to stay with him.”
Tristan pinches the bridge of his nose, overwhelmed by the situation.
I struggle to get him out as the two other boys watch in horror, and I slam the car door hard.
The tires screech as Tristan takes off like a maniac.
I turn to the boys. Tears run down their faces as they glare at me. “I hate you,” Harry cries. “Make him come back.”
He runs inside and slams the door.
“You ruined everything, Mom!” Patrick yells.
They turn and run inside after Harry.
I close my eyes . . . fuck, how the hell did that escalate to this?
Chapter 24
Love is stupid. Love is blind.
Love is a fucking bitch!
I have the shower on full bore to block out the sound of my heart breaking . . . I don’t want the boys to see me cry. I stand under the hot water as the tears run down my face. The lump in my throat is big, the hole in my heart a giant crevasse.