Life After Taylah(30)

“What’s he doing here?” Jacob asks.

“Nate was just jogging past. He stopped in to say hello.”

Nate stares at me, and then turns and stares at my father and Jacob.

“Dad,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady, “this is Nathaniel Alexander.”

“I know who he is,” my father says gruffly.

Nate and my father have a staring match—Nate wins. When they’re done, Nate turns to me and walks over. In front of both my father and Jacob, he wraps his arms around me, then, much to my horror, he presses a kiss to my cheek, far too close to my lips, before turning and muttering, “Good day, gentleman.”

Then he’s gone and I’m left standing with my mouth wide open.

Damned Nate.

“Why was that boy here?” my father asks, his eyes hard.

“He’s my friend.”

“Don’t look like a friend.”

“Jesus, Daddy,” I say, walking to the counter. “It’s hardly your business when you’re never around.”

He looks shocked, probably because it’s a rare occasion I talk to him like that.

“I’m paying your rent, I’m paying your dancing, I pay for your car and I am securing your future. It is my business.”

Was that a threat? My stomach rolls and I glare at him.

“You don’t choose my friends, and that’s all he is. A friend.”

“I’d hope so,” he mutters. “Because you’re standing to lose a lot if he’s anything more.”

“I’ve been with Jacob for over five years,” I snap. “Jesus.”

Jacob is standing by my father, arms crossed and glaring at me. “And I would like to hope you’re loyal.”

Seriously?

“If you two are here to insult me, then leave. I don’t need it today.”

My father’s eyes change quickly, and he drops his arms to his sides.

“I wanted to invite you over for dinner. Maybe we can look at some old photos of your mother.”

I raise my brows. “What?”

“Unless you don’t want to,” he says. “I don’t care, either way.”

Nice.

“I can’t tonight, I have to work. But maybe,” I swallow, “maybe we can do it another day.”

He nods sharply and turns to Jacob. “I have to get back to work.”

“I’ll speak to you later, sir.”

My father nods to me, and then leaves.

That’s it? That’s all he has to say?

My heart breaks a little more.

~*~*~*~

Grunt, grunt, grunt.

I close my eyes, hating that I hate this—but I do. I hate it.

Jacob is inside me, thrusting hard and fast, with no care whatsoever. This is what our sex life is like. He fucks me; he doesn’t make love. And even then it’s not the kind of fucking you dream about. It’s emotionless and cold, and it feels awful. I’ve no doubt Jacob could be a good lover if he actually thought of anyone but himself. It’s not how it works, though. He only cares about getting off and going to sleep.

“Avery,” he grunts. “Are you close?”

Not at all.

“Yes,” I lie.

“I’m going to . . .”

He lets off a ragged, long groan and release himself inside me. I close my eyes, trying to tell myself it’s okay. This is how it’s meant to be. No one ever has sex like the romance books. They don’t. No man ever cares that much.

Jacob rolls off me and slips out of the bed to dispose of the condom. When he’s done, he returns with pajama bottoms on and slips back in. He lies beside me, not holding me, not stroking my hair or telling me how much he loves me. He hasn’t once, not once, asked how I’m dealing with today.

That’s because he doesn’t love me.

I’m just a part of his big plan.





CHAPTER 12


AVERY


I lift a pre-packaged dinner, stare at it, then throw it back before staring around the store. Jacob is out of town, again, with work and I’m alone. I’ve decided to make myself dinner and maybe watch some movies, but I can’t think of anything to have. Sighing, I find some chocolate and throw that into my trolley.

“I thought dancer didn’t eat chocolate,” A voice says from behind me, and I smile.

I turn and see Nate and Macy. Nate is smiling at me, god damn that smile.

“I eat chocolate when no one is watching,” I say, grinning.

“Daddy and me are getting chocolate, too, Avie,” Macy says, smiling up at me.

“That’s good, honey,” I say, ruffling her hair.

“So, how’d you go with your dad the other day?” Nate asks, leaning against his cart and watching me.

I shrug. “He lectured me and then went home.”

Nate frowns. “Charmer.”