Page 91 of The Scars We Heal

“I said, she’s acting like a no good, fucking who—” Adam didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence before Jake’s fist collided with his mouth.

“Jake!” My hand grasped his bicep, and I pulled him back before he could hit him again. “Don’t. He’s not worth it,” I pleaded, tears already stinging the back of my eyes.

Adam spat blood onto the ground, but the smile on his face was devious. Satisfied. Smug. “You’re going to regret doing that. You don’t think I know who you are? You’ve just been biding your time, haven’t you? I hope you enjoy my sloppy seconds.”

Smoke practically billowed out of Jake’s ears, but my hand gripped him tighter.

“Please. Don’t.” Turning my attention to Adam, I snapped, “You need to leave.”

He laughed to himself, turning over his shoulder before getting to his car. “We’re not done having this conversation, Caity. He’s clearly unhinged, and I don’t believe Whitley is safe with him around.”

“I’m not talking to you about this today. You need to go now.”

Adam pointed at his face then to Jake. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer, you hick.”

Jake crossed his arms, stepping in front of me as though shielding me from my ex-husband. “I look forward to it.”

Dust careened into the air as Adam drove off, leaving the two of us standing in the driveway. Jake’s knuckles were cracked and bloody, and I took a step back from him.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I cried, the adrenaline from the entire encounter finally beginning to wear off. I fought the urge to shove him for being so reckless. “I told you not to come here!”

He scrubbed his uninjured hand through his hair, a guilty expression plastered on his face. “I’m sorry, Cait. I wasn’t thinking.”

“I told you to let me handle it.” Hot tears streaked down my cheeks, and my voice softened to barely a whisper. “Now he has a reason to try to take Whit if he wants to.”

Jake’s face paled, as though he finally realized the weight of the situation. “Fuck, I’m so sorry. When he called you that, I-I just snapped. I wasn’t thinking.”

I shook my head, unable to meet his gaze. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”

“W-what’s a bad idea?”

“This. Us. Whatever is going on right now.”

Jake took a step toward me, his hands resting on the outside of my arms. “Cait.”

“Maybe a relationship between us isn’t the best thing right now. You heard what he said. What if he tries to use this against me and file for a change of custody?” My voice broke, cracking. “I-I can’t lose Whit.”

“I know. You’re a good mother.” He pressed his forehead to mine, our breaths mingling in the sliver of space between us. “Baby, I understand how it looks right now. I’m so sorry for reacting the way I did. I was reckless and emotional, but I need you to understand that I would never hurt you or Whitley.”

“I know,” I whispered, a hollow, heart-shaped ache forming in the center of my chest. “I know you wouldn’t.”

“I understand if this is too much, and I know it’s selfish to ask, but I’m begging, Cait. Fight for this. Fight for us.” A tear beading in the corner of his eye fell, rolling down the side of his nose to the light dusting of hair above his lip.

I reached out to wipe it away, but my thumb and his face blurred as I choked up. “I-I don’t know.”

“You don’t have to decide right now, but I’ll do whatever it takes to prove this is worth it. Choosing to be happy despite being afraid counts as saying no, too.”

I understood what he was saying, but at the same time, I didn’t. “I can’t sacrifice Whitley for my own happiness.”

“I know. I would never ask you to.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Just think about it. You know where to find me, okay? Whenever you’re ready. I’ll be here.” He reached for my hand, squeezing it a couple times.

I nodded, a river of tears continuing to flow down my cheeks.

“I’ll be here, okay?” he promised one more time before hopping in his truck.

And then he was gone, backing out of the drive until a hazy cloud of dust was all that remained.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX