Something nags at the back of my mind.
“Did she break up with you, or did you break up with her?”
He doesn’t answer right away, and my stomach sinks.
“Why’s it matter?”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. I’ve spent weeks dreaming about this call, but not like this. I don’t want to be his second choice. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering if he really wants to be with me or if I’m just the one he falls back on. Maybe a few weeks ago this would have been enough, but not now.
“I’m sorry, Casey. I’m not interested in being your back up plan.”
“That’s not what this is.”
“Is it not? You chose her. The only reason you think it’s a mistake now is because she dumped you. I can’t do that to myself. And frankly, I have enough shit on my plate without this drama.”
“You’re not hearing me. It was a mistake. It doesn’t matter who broke up with who. I want my wife back.”
“Well, I’m sorry. I don’t want to be your wife anymore.”
“Where are you? Can we sit down and talk?” He’s getting aggravated, but I don’t care. If anything, this conversation is making me see just how much I don’t want to work things out with him.
“No. I don’t want to talk. And I told you I’m out of town dealing with some family shit.”
“Okay, but where?” His tone’s sharper this time.
“If you have to know, I’m in Ravens Ridge. I’m selling Gran’s house.”
“Huh,” he says like he’s figured out the answer to a riddle.
“What?”
“That’s it, isn’t it? You’re finally getting your big chance to win him back. Is that your plan? To run off into the sunset with him?”
My mouth pops open because I cannot believe we’re having this conversation. I laugh. “Have you lost your mind? I told you what happened with him. How can you even say that?”
“I mean, it looks suspicious.”
“No, it doesn’t. Gran died just before you dumped me. Great timing, by the way. Now, I have to clean out her house. That’s all it is.”
“You’re really gonna do this to me, and to Mag?—”
“No, Casey. You did this. You cheated, and you chose her over us. You made this bed.”
“Yeah, and who suffers for it?”
“Why don’t you let me worry about Maggie,” I spit.
“I’m her father!” he shouts.
I stop, closing my eyes and sucking in a sharp breath before I say something I don’t mean. “If you cared about us, you wouldn’t have cheated in the first place. So, please for fuck’s sake, let it be.” Every word leaves me feeling more exasperated.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think?—”
“No. It seems you don’t think about anyone but you. Do you know how devastated she is every time you don’t show up when you say you will?” I shake my head as a few stray tears sneak their way out of my lashes. I’m so sick of crying.
“Ashton, baby, please let me fix this.”
With that, my heart cracks open. “I don’t think it’s something you can fix. I need time. I need to figure out my own shit, and I can’t do that and fix our marriage at the same time. If you want to fix things, fix them with Maggie. She’s the one that matters.”
