Page 70 of Oathbreaker

“Briar.”

Ugh.

He’s not going to let this go, and I just want to go upstairs, cry my eyes out so I can have my shit together for Frankie in the morning.

He turns gentle. “Talk to me, baby.”

Gentle. I can’t handle gentle right now.

Which is why I say something unforgivable.

“Why did you come home now? I was finally doing good, finally over you and moving on a-and now you’ve ruined everything!”

His eyes flash with anger.

And hurt.

More things to feel guilty about.

“Well,” he says evenly. “I’m back and I’m not leaving.”

“Well,” I parrot meanly, “you're no longer welcome to do that with me.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I mean,” I draw out. “You’re not going to be living here. So, we’d better figure out how to co-parent.”

His eyes hold mine.

For a long, long time.

I hold his gaze right back.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

I lift my chin. “I want you out in a week.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

“Briar.”

“I fucking do, Colt. All you’ve done is fuck everything up and I’m done being the one who has to sort through the aftermath.”

His face clouds, but I don’t stick around.

The guilt and hurt is choking me, and I’m about to lose it.

I can’t have him around to see that.

So, I turn on my heels, sprint up the stairs, rush into my bedroom, and shut the door, leaning back against it.

Waiting.

Half expecting him to be right behind me.

Knocking.