Page 123 of The House Guest

He stopped and stood looking at me.

“Should I grab a bat for you or something?” I asked.

He looked around the space. “I’m not here to fuck you up, even if I should.”

“Well, like I said, I wasn’t expecting this confrontation so soon.”

“Yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Neither was I. I thought I’d have more time with her when she got back, more time to convince her that keeping our family together was the right choice. The moment she told me she’d brought you here with her, though? I knew it was over. I knew staying with herwasn’tthe right choice anymore, as hard as that is to admit to myself. There’s no point in prolonging the agony. I probably knew it was over when she never called while she was away, other than to check on Rosie. I’d told her I wasn’t going to give up easily. But if it’s really right, you shouldn’t have to fight to convince someone of that. It should justfeelright for both parties. Being with me never felt right for her. I’ve sensed it, even if I didn’t want to believe it. So, even as much as I love her, I have to accept this.” His eyes met mine. “But here’s what Iwon’taccept…”

I braced myself. “I’m listening.”

“I won’t accept you breaking up my family for nothing, pulling a fast one on her again. I don’t care if you seem to think you had a legitimate reason for it. If you hurt her ever again, you’ll have to answer to me. Iwilluse a bat for that one.”

I had to respect this guy. I nodded. “Understood.”

“And even if that were to happen, she and I are done. I won’t take her back. She doesn’t love me the way you need to love someone. I know that now. So if you fuck up her life, she’s gonna be alone. Or at least not with me.”

“I don’t intend to fuck up anything, Casey.”

“I don’t want you meeting our daughter yet, either. It’s too soon. She needs to get used to me not living at home first.”

“That makes perfect sense.”

Casey began to pace again. “You got anything to drink?”

Okay, this bizarre night just got awhole lotmore bizarre.

“Well, I just moved in, so I haven’t had a chance to stock the place, but let me see if there’s anything in the liquor cabinet.”

As luck would have it, Benjamin’s bottle of whiskey was still there.

I lifted it. “Do you drink whiskey?”

Casey glared at me. “My fiancée is leaving me for the Prince of California. I’d drink Drano if it fucking made me feel better right now.”

“Okay, man.” I went to the kitchen to grab a glass. “But I’m not letting you drive drunk. I’ll take you home.”

“Whatever,” he said, staring out the window.

After I poured Casey a drink, he took it over to the couch and sat in front of the fire. I sat across from him. Ironically, he was in the same spot Primrose had been in when she’d secretly come over here to talk.

He shook his head as he looked down into his glass. “Something was never right with her, from the moment we met. She had this…hidden pain in her eyes. When I would ask what happened, she never wanted to talk about it. I should’ve known I could never get close to someone keeping so much inside. When she finally told me about you, it made a lot of sense.” He downed the drink. “She and I probably wouldn’t have stayed together if she hadn’t gotten pregnant. I’ve denied that for a very long time. But I did the best I could. And Ididlove her. I always will.” He let out a deep sigh. “Someday, way down the line, maybe you and I could be friends.” He turned to me. “But not today. Not tomorrow. Know what I mean?”

I nodded. “I get it.”

He held out his glass. “I’ll have another, please.”

“Yeah.” I stood and grabbed the bottle, pouring him another and setting the bottle next to him.

He pointed the glass in my direction. “I can forgive you for stealing my once soon-to-be wife. But there’s one thing I would never forgive you for.”

“What?”

“You have all the money in the world to buy my daughter’s love. I can’t compete with that. I think you know what I’m saying here…”

The pain in his eyes was palpable, as was his fear. I wished I could convince him I would never try to do that. But only time would show the truth of my good intentions.

“You’re Rosie’s father. That doesn’t change. I can understand why you might worry I’ll use my wealth to my advantage there, but I assure you, I don’t intend to do that.”