Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 96046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
I settled on orange chicken from the Chinese restaurant and called it in for delivery.
Ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
But it wasn’t the takeout.
Instead, it was someone I was sure wanted to take me out.
Casey.
CHAPTER 36
* * *
Dorian
“That didn’t take you long,” I said when I opened the door.
“She doesn’t know I’m here. She never gave me the address.” He moved past me into the house without permission.
The door was still open when I turned to him. “How did you know where I lived if she didn’t give you the address?”
“Before she left for California, she told me where you’d been staying when you first came out here. Tonight she mentioned you’d booked the same place. I never forgot the address. Told her I needed some air. Ended up driving here instead.”
I closed the door. “I don’t blame you for wanting to confront me. Not sure I’d be able to wait either, in your situation.”
He squinted. “You know, I thought I’d never seen your face. But now I realize I have. You’re the guy from the supermarket.”
“I’m surprised you recognize me.”
“Well, you’re a good-looking bastard, unfortunately for me. Not the kind of face you forget.”
“Thanks. I think?” I watched as he began to pace. “Anyway, that supermarket run-in wasn’t planned. My friend and I just happened to be there, and I wasn’t sure how to react.”
He stopped and stood looking at me.
“Should I grab a bat for you or something?” I asked.
He looked around the space. “I’m not here to fuck you up, even if I should.”
“Well, like I said, I wasn’t expecting this confrontation so soon.”
“Yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Neither was I. I thought I’d have more time with her when she got back, more time to convince her that keeping our family together was the right choice. The moment she told me she’d brought you here with her, though? I knew it was over. I knew staying with her wasn’t the right choice anymore, as hard as that is to admit to myself. There’s no point in prolonging the agony. I probably knew it was over when she never called while she was away, other than to check on Rosie. I’d told her I wasn’t going to give up easily. But if it’s really right, you shouldn’t have to fight to convince someone of that. It should just feel right for both parties. Being with me never felt right for her. I’ve sensed it, even if I didn’t want to believe it. So, even as much as I love her, I have to accept this.” His eyes met mine. “But here’s what I won’t accept…”
I braced myself. “I’m listening.”
“I won’t accept you breaking up my family for nothing, pulling a fast one on her again. I don’t care if you seem to think you had a legitimate reason for it. If you hurt her ever again, you’ll have to answer to me. I will use a bat for that one.”
I had to respect this guy. I nodded. “Understood.”
“And even if that were to happen, she and I are done. I won’t take her back. She doesn’t love me the way you need to love someone. I know that now. So if you fuck up her life, she’s gonna be alone. Or at least not with me.”
“I don’t intend to fuck up anything, Casey.”
“I don’t want you meeting our daughter yet, either. It’s too soon. She needs to get used to me not living at home first.”
“That makes perfect sense.”
Casey began to pace again. “You got anything to drink?”
Okay, this bizarre night just got a whole lot more bizarre.
“Well, I just moved in, so I haven’t had a chance to stock the place, but let me see if there’s anything in the liquor cabinet.”
As luck would have it, Benjamin’s bottle of whiskey was still there.
I lifted it. “Do you drink whiskey?”
Casey glared at me. “My fiancée is leaving me for the Prince of California. I’d drink Drano if it fucking made me feel better right now.”
“Okay, man.” I went to the kitchen to grab a glass. “But I’m not letting you drive drunk. I’ll take you home.”
“Whatever,” he said, staring out the window.
After I poured Casey a drink, he took it over to the couch and sat in front of the fire. I sat across from him. Ironically, he was in the same spot Primrose had been in when she’d secretly come over here to talk.
He shook his head as he looked down into his glass. “Something was never right with her, from the moment we met. She had this…hidden pain in her eyes. When I would ask what happened, she never wanted to talk about it. I should’ve known I could never get close to someone keeping so much inside. When she finally told me about you, it made a lot of sense.” He downed the drink. “She and I probably wouldn’t have stayed together if she hadn’t gotten pregnant. I’ve denied that for a very long time. But I did the best I could. And I did love her. I always will.” He let out a deep sigh. “Someday, way down the line, maybe you and I could be friends.” He turned to me. “But not today. Not tomorrow. Know what I mean?”