Page 32 of Nothing to This

The kids ran around the end of the hallway as JD turned to walk away.“Mommy!”they hollered and threw themselves at her.

She crouched to hug them, unable to take her eyes from JD’s path.Oh, boy, had she overreacted.Jumping to conclusions wasn’t fair.She didn’t like hurting him.In fact, she felt sick.The sensation was similar to what it was to disappoint her kids.

Right then, they were excited and chattering, so she forced herself to smile.Their excitement rubbed off.They’d had the time of their lives and fallen deeper in love with their father, if that was possible.

Yet she’d broken his heart.He should be proud.Looking after two hyper twins, who often decided to dislike each other, wasn’t easy.She’d make it up to him… if she could figure out how.

ELEVEN

After settling the kids with their coloring books in the kitchen, and trying to decide what to make for dinner, she ventured down the hallway and around to the guest room.JD’s room.

The door was open.Although the bed was the same, the linens were fresh.An unfamiliar desk had appeared from somewhere and landed in the corner of the room.

At that desk was where she found JD.

Knocking on the open door, she waited on the threshold until he looked up.“I’m sorry,” she said.“I shouldn’t have… shouted.”

“I love my children, Rylee.Why is it so difficult for you to understand that I love them?”

If he wanted to make her feel worse, he was going the right way about it.“I know you love them, JD.I do know that.I told you, if I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be making this so easy on you.”

Pushing back in the chair, he folded his arms.“Are you making it easy on me?”

“I said I was sorry for shouting.”

“For shouting?”he said.“I don’t give a damn about you raising your voice.I give a shit that you think I’d prioritize sex over my twins.You’re the one who’s been on her back all weekend.”Shocked and insulted, her mouth opened.Had he really just said that?“If you feel guilty, don’t take it out on me.”

“Guilty?”she demanded, storming forward.“How dare you!I haven’t been out whoring myself, I spent the weekend with my boyfriend!Something I only do every two weeks because I spend the rest of the time caring for your children.”

“Mychildren,” he said, thrusting up out the chair, sending it spinning as he stormed around the desk.“That’s right, and I’ve been with them all weekend.When do you think I got the time to seduce a random woman?”

Her contrition dwindled.She didn’t care when he came up close and sure wasn’t going to back off.

“I imagine a man like you has them on speed dial,” she said.“Is there like a central number billionaires use for slut takeout?Hookers for Hotshots Hotline?”

“Right, ‘cause I need to pay for it.”

“You pay for everything else,” she said.“Isn’t that what you’ve been doing with your family for years?”

“Oh, so that’s why you’re pissed?Because I’ve been working to take care of you and our children?”

“Don’t give me that.You did this long before I got pregnant.You love your work, the company, the power.”

Getting closer shouldn’t have been possible, but, somehow, he leaned in to loom.If he was trying to intimidate her, he’d be disappointed.

“Not as much as I love my family!”

“And why the hell should we believe that?We’ve been here for five years, all of us!For five years your mother, your sister, me, your babies, we’ve all been right here, JD!And now we’re the flavor of the month you want us to trust that we can rely on you?”

A frown darkened his expression.“You think you can’t rely on me?You could have called me any minute of any day and I’d have been here for you or the kids.”

He could infuriate her from afar, even in his absence, turned out he was better at doing it in person.

“The point is, we shouldn’t have to call!”she argued.“You should’ve been here for us!”He didn’t retort.Through the silence, their sharp breathing surrendered the adrenaline.“I… I’m sorry.”She exhaled.“I don’t know why I’m in such a bad mood tonight.I missed my babies.I missed being home.It’s no excuse but…”

His hands rose to her shoulders, then slid down her back to pull her against him.“You should’ve come home.”Closing her eyes, she relaxed.“Don’t miss them.Be with them.”

“This was your time.”