Page 94 of Never Bargain with the Boss

“The hell ‘you’ll let me know’,” she balks, mocking me. “Cameron might’ve fired you, but I didn’t and I expect you to be at my house as soon as you’re ready. Emmett can’t wait to play with his Aunt Riley and show you his new trick. He switched from tummy to sitting all on his own yesterday,” she informs me proudly.

I give her a sad smile. It’s a kind offer, generous even, and maybe I’ll take her up on it for a little bit. But we both know I’ll move on. There’s nothing holding me here now, so it’s time to go.

Again.

CAMERON

The After

I don’t know how long I rage for. Long enough that my whole body hurts, physically and emotionally. But eventually, my walls go back up and I shut down.

Blank and detached from everything, I clean up, making sure there’s no evidence of the thrown mug or tea on the wall. I fix the couch, right the pictures on the wall, and scrub the coffee table Riley already cleaned even though I don’t know why it bothered her in the first place.

And then I go to Cole’s.

It’s late and Grace is already asleep, so they try to get me to leave her for the night, but I can’t. Silently, I refuse and sit on their couch. If Grace stays, I stay. Janey excuses herself, and then it’s me and Cole. He stares at me, waiting for me to tell him something, anything. I stare at him for the same reason.

He fucking knew. Just like Riley.

He knew this threat was out there, and of all people, I would’ve trusted him to tell me something like this. He’s the threat assessor, yet he let me put my daughter, the most precious thing I have, in danger.

“Fuck you,” I snarl at him.

“Where’s Riley?” Her name on his lips is a bullet to my shattered soul and only serves to infuriate me again.

“You’re more worried about her than me and Grace?” I accuse coldly.

“Yes.” His reply is even colder. “You’re fine. Grace is fine.” He waves his hand toward their hallway of bedrooms where Grace is sleeping, emphasizing the point. “Riley…” He lets that trail off, and my heart clenches in my chest. But I can’t let it.

I made a promise nine years ago to Michelle at her funeral that I would take care of Grace for us both and do what she would’ve done. And that’s been my driving force ever since. I got side-tracked, distracted from that goal by the idea that maybe there could be more, but I won’t make that mistake again.

“Gone,” I tell Cole, answering his earlier question. “I don’t know where.”

“What the fuck have you done?” he hisses accusingly, rising to his feet.

I stare at him, shocked by his assumption that I’m the one who’s done anything wrong after all that’s happened tonight. I’m the only one in the right here, wronged by my brother, by some random guy, and mostly, by the woman I loved.

Love. Present tense.

My heart corrects my mind, and it hurts to recognize that it’s true. Even after everything, I do still love Riley. But love isn’t enough. This isn’t some easy love story. It’s life, and it’s complicated and sometimes ugly and hard.

I stare at Cole, eyes cold and teeth clenched, and grit out, “I did what I had to do.”

He shakes his head. “You are a fucking disaster, Cameron.”

He strides from the room, his nose buried in his phone, ignoring me. He’s probably texting Riley. I hope he’s checking on her. Someone should, and I can’t do it. I’m too weak, and I haveto be strong for Grace. Because he’s right—I am a disaster, inside and out, but I’m all Grace has.

You’re all Riley has too.

Had,I correct.

The reminder is salt on the fresh wound of my broken heart, but I don’t let it sway me from doing the right thing, even though it guts me.

The next morning, I wake up to Grace poking me in the cheek. “Dad!” I think she’s trying to whisper, but it’s Grace so it’s more like most peoples’ normal speaking volume.

“Hey,” I greet her, my throat scratchy and voice rough. I don’t know when I fell asleep. Ten minutes ago, maybe? It feels like I haven’t slept for long. Or maybe I just feel like shit to begin with and lack of sleep has nothing to do with it.

After Cole stormed out, I just sat here, staring at the wall blankly. Cold disassociation got me through hell once before, although it had its friends scotch and bourbon to help then. Hopefully, I can get through this again, without the liquor this time.