“Clover, don’t. The things he’s saying?—”
“Hello, Mrs. Wagner speaking.”
“Mrs. Wag— Clover? Is that fucking you? How could you?—”
“Excuse me?” I said politely. “I don’t speak to little men who ditch women right before a wedding to run off with a stranger.”
“I didn’t?—”
“And don’t think you can call me and demand any answers. You lost that right when you got handcuffed and fucked around.”
“I—”
“Do not for one second think I will let you back in my life.”
“What about my kid?”
A giant palpitation jumped in my chest. So he had gotten that message. A pressure lifted off my shoulders. I wouldn’t be the one to hide his kid from him. Elijah had to be an adult and think of more than himself. Or not.
“Do you want to see your kid?” There was a pause, and as much as it stung that I’d gotten pregnant by such a poor choice of a dad, I’d capitalize on it. “Do you want to pay for your kid? Are you going to put money away for college for this kid?”
More silence.
Figured. What a jackass. I had seen my siblings pairing off, and I’d wanted to join them so bad I picked a man like Elijah. “I know everything, by the way. Not just the cheating, but the lying. And now you’re just mad because two people you’ve hurt to make yourself feel better teamed up and fixed some of the damage you did. So, unless you want to start paying child support, I would recommend not stepping one foot back into the country. As soon as the sole of your shoe hits US dirt, I’m going to find you, and I’m going to drain your wallet for the next eighteen years. And with Van’s help, I will find you.”
Van smirked, pride radiating across his face.
“What you can do,” I continued, “is email me within forty-eight hours and let me know if you want a role in this kid’s life. Otherwise, it’ll just be mine, and you owe us nothing.”
I didn’t want to take the chance that he’d decide to turn a new leaf in five years or ten years. I wanted all the power if he ever dealt with Bean. I could no longer trust him, and I’d do everything I could to protect us.
“I assume you didn’t lose my email address during your drunken honeymoon?”
“I can’t believe you married my fucking brother.” His seething snaked through the line.
“I can’t believe you’d fuck his girlfriend. Oh wait—I can.”
“He’s lying.” There was that petulant tone, the one Elijah used when he was busted for not being completely truthful. I’d heard it at enough cocktail gatherings.
“Between the guy who left me pregnant and broke at the altar and the one who’s been there for me through everything, I think I know who to believe. Goodbye, Elijah. Tell your new wife she has my condolences.” I hung up and then, for good measure, I blocked his number. We’d communicate in writing from now on and only about Bean.
“Holy shit, Clover.” A cloud blew out of Van’s mouth with his laugh. “You gave him no way to weasel out of his excuses.” He held out his hand, and I gripped it to get out of the car. “I wish I could’ve done that.”
“I had warning, thanks to you.”
His gaze softened. “How’ve you been?”
Lonely. I missed waking up to him. Falling asleep next to him. I even missed the pillow wall since he’d been on the other side. But I’d just told my ex off and got some closure on a shitty situation. Small steps. I could do this.
But I didn’t have to do it completely alone. “By the time this appointment is done, my toast will have burned off. I owe you breakfast this time.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “I could always eat. Since I’m not accountable for meals, I haven’t cooked much.”
“Well then. Let’s go give Joni and the coffee drinkers something to talk about.”
Together, we walked toward the entrance, our shoulders nearly touching.
Chapter Twenty-Two
