“Hell, what’s it to you, son? You said yourself that you won’t touch my money. It’s just sitting there collecting dust. Meanwhile, I’m drowning over here. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
I shake my head, letting out a dry chuckle that stings my throat. Then I fix my cold stare on him. “You wanna know what means something to me?Shedoes. And that money sitting there ‘collecting dust’? You wanna know why I keep it instead of getting rid of it like I want to the second it lands in my account each month?”
His brows lower, and he has the sense to look remorseful.
“Those are backup funds for her, in case something like this”—I flick my finger between us—“ever happens. In case you can’t support her, and I have to. Because you might not owe me a thing, but her? You owe her everything.”
“Watch your mouth—”
“How’d you lose it this time?”
“What?”
“Your money. You gamble it all away?”
He hangs his head, squeezing his eyes shut. “I, uh, no. I’ve been, um ... well, I’ve been seeing ... someone.”
My brows shoot up. “You, what?”
“No, no, not like that. Well, not exactly. They’re ... costly ... and I’ve racked up a bit of debt.”
My body goes rigid. “They?Costly?” My fingers curl into balls at my sides. “You’ve been fucking prostitutes?”
“Jesus, son. They don’t call them that.”
“Shit, wouldescortsmake you feel better?”
Before he has a chance to respond, I stand up and walk to the door, one hand gripping the knob so hard it creaks and bends under the pressure. My eyes sting, my throat closing up, and I hate,hatethat he can still have this kind of effect on me.
Staring blankly ahead, I wipe any emotion from my voice and mutter, “Get out.”
Silence spreads between us, and I can’t fucking take it. Him, being here, while Mom can’t be.
The couch creaks, then he approaches.
“You might be able to pretend to be above me, but you’re still my son, and I know you better than anyone. Don’t forget what I’ve always told you: we’re more alike than you’ll admit.”
You’ll always be just like me.
My blood’s running so hot I’m gonna be sick or get arrested if he doesn’t disappear right now. I yank the door open, and I’m momentarily stunned by the green eyes flickering into view through the darkness.
“Oh. I ...” Blue’s hand is in the air, knuckles curled like she was just about to knock. She drops her arm, then looks from me to the man behind me, a frown forming.
I reluctantly shift my attention back to Conway when he reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a small packet, and tosses it on the side table by the door.
“The hell’s that?”
“Like I said.” He steps onto the threshold. “Excuse me,” he murmurs, and Blue moves aside, but he lingers for a second, watching me with a look I can’t stand. A look that says,I told you so.
I flick my gaze toward the table, and my insides turn cold. Working my jaw, I force my expression to return to blank as I look away from the condoms.
“You’re sick, you know that?” I glance at Blue to see if she’s caught on, but, thankfully, the wall blocks the table.
“Son—”
“Leave.”
Finally, he fades from sight, leaving the black night in his wake, and I shut my eyes. It doesn’t help. My heart thrums in my ears, energy coursing through me with no way out, and the building pressure is too damn much.
