“I just walked in on you with the goddamn pool boy. Of course, I’m leaving.”
“We could make this work.”
“I don’t see how that’s possible.” Bianca stops as she’s about to walk past me and says, “Looks like you won’t have to put up with me anymore.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I say, “That’s a pity. I was just beginning to like you.”
Once she’s gone, Elliot turns to me, his rage palpable.
“Why?”
I close the distance between us, standing over him as he wallows on the couch.
Because she doesn’t deserve that, and neither do you.
Instead of telling him what he needs to hear, I cock my hip to the side and plant my hand on it. “It was a dull afternoon for me.”
“You really are an evil bitch,” he grinds out.
“You’re the one leading that poor, pathetic girl on.”
“I wasn’t leading her on! I fully intended to marry her.”
“And lead a double life?”
“No—of course not!”
“Let me give you some advice, baby half-brother: own yourself, because if you don’t, you’ll end up way worse than me.”
Storming back to the main house, I think of all the ways men suck, which is many. Why any woman would choose to partner with one is a fucking mystery. They’re gross, disrespectful, and selfish.
Case in point: my brother!
And to think, I nearly fell for one. Seriously. My desire for Toxic eclipsed my good sense, and now look at me—I’m acting like a lovesick child.
I will not stand for this.
My heart aches as I take out my phone and enter the text thread I have with Toxic.
I’d hesitated before because I know what it’s like to grow up with a missing parent, and I don’t want that for little droid, but as I’d said, this is how women get screwed, literally and figuratively.
And I’m not about to end up like other women.
Samantha:I’m about to get busy and don’t have time for chit-chat. I’ll keep you in the loop regarding upcoming appointments.
NINE
Toxic
One WeekLater
It’s occurred to me that perhaps I’ve overreached with Samantha during our sexting.
I should have been showing her the type of man I can be. The type that deserves the title father—not daddy.
Gone is the flirty banter. In its place, single, one-word responses to occasional questions I only ask because I feel I need to, because I’m afraid that if I’m not careful, I could scare her away.
Despite the setback, my resolve to make Samantha mine has only strengthened, and it’s not because of the baby. I will claim my droid’s momma, no matter the cost.
