I reached out, turning the knob. I regretted it the moment I did it. As soon as I cracked the door open, Graham pushed past me, raking his hand through his hair. Whirling around in the foyer, he growled, “You slept with a teenager? One of the kids from Fairbanks? Are you fucking kidding me?” He grimaced, taking heaving breaths.
I held my hands out, waving my open palms in the air, “Whoa. Slow down. First of all, no, I never slept with any teenager from Fairbanks.” Even after all he put me through I thought the man I’d been married to for almost thirteen years would know me better than that.
He pointed an accusatory finger at the television. “Well, that’s not what’s circulating all around town and all over the news.” Graham looked livid. I couldn’t care less. He’d put me through enough. This wasn’t about him anymore. “You had an affair, Salem… with one of your clients. I’d say that pretty much makes it my business.”
Was he really trying to pull the infidelity card on me?
I narrowed my eyes and pressed my fists to my hips. “Believe what you want, Graham, but in case you’re forgetting, you’re the one who cheated on me. And besides, what business is this of yours?”
Ignoring me, Graham looked at me with disgust and asked accusingly, “How long have you been seeing him?”
I shook my head, biting back a scream. “Again, none of your business.”
Graham threw his hand toward Alexis’s bedroom. “We have a child together, Salem. I have a right to know.”
I took three breaths, waiting until I was somewhat calm and could answer him. Then I took a step toward him so he’d know I was serious. I never really stood up for myself when we were married. It was my turn now. I was taking care of me, and I sure as hell wasn’t letting him stomp all over me now, or ever. “If you want to discuss our child, then please, feel free. Otherwise, get the hell out of my house.”
Graham stood, unmoving. “I’m not leaving without Alexis,” he demanded.
Staring at him, my mouth fell open. How dare he try to put Alexis in the middle of this! I was furious enough with myself for even trying so hard all that time to keep our marriage together. I neglected my own happiness for years, trying to hold our family intact. I cooked and cleaned and scrubbed his piss off the toilet for far too long, and now he wants to come into my house, question me, and demand to take my child? He wants to stomp in here, pointing fingers and making accusations about something he obviously knows nothing about. I sacrificed over a decade of my life to try to stay married to this asshole for the sake of our daughter.
“Get out,” I seethed with anger, pointing toward the door. “Get the hell out of my house right now!”
He glared at me with his piercing eyes that almost made me lose my resolve. “Not without Alexis.” Graham stood his ground while a battle of wills ensued between us.
Just then, a booming voice spoke from around the corner. “I believe she asked you to leave.” Chris stepped through the doorway of the kitchen wearing a hoodie, a Yankees cap, and his favorite sunglasses. I’d forgotten that I’d given him a key to my house a week ago. He must have come through the back door.
“Who are you?” Graham sneered.
Chris took off his sunglasses and slid his hood off the back of his head. “Recognize me now, asshole?”
Graham narrowed his eyes at Chris. “You’re that kid.”
Chris laughed, one of those over-the-top, dramatic guffaws, then quickly recovered. With a cool tone, he smirked, “Hardly.”
“You fucked my wife,” Graham hissed.
Stepping toward him, Chris scoffed, “Pretty sure the court documents state otherwise.”
“Chris, don’t,” I warned. I couldn’t speak for Graham, but I felt sure Chris wouldn’t hesitate to throw a punch.
Chris continued to stare Graham down. Graham didn’t flinch.
“As I said,” Chris repeated coldly, “I believe Salem asked you to leave.”
After a few intense moments of them glaring at each other, unflinching, Graham finally retreated and took a step toward the door.
Just then, Alexis came out of the shadow at the top of the stairs. I didn’t know she’d been listening, and I cringed immediately.
“What’s going on?” she asked innocently as she descended.
Graham gave her a sidelong glance. “Fine,” he said to Chris, still smoldering, “I’ll leave. For Alexis’s sake.” He jutted a finger at me. “But this is not over.”
I wanted to bite that finger off. I wanted to be rid of him forever. Unfortunately, he was still my daughter’s father. Dammit.