Melanie cleared her throat. “Sit back down, John Parker. This is Waylynn’s issue and each of you will let her handle it. Trevor, come sit down and let your sister take care of Jack.”
Trevor looked like he wanted to disobey his mother, but he didn’t. He walked over and took a seat. “This is bullshit. He shows up one day and asks to talk to her. I almost beat his face in the second I saw him.”
“Looks like the heat’s off you for a bit,” Wade said to me.
I tried to laugh, but I could only muster a fake-sounding version of humor.
Melanie stood and motioned for us all to do the same. “Let’s clear the table, y’all, and then cut into some of that pie Corina brought.”
“That sounds like an amazing idea. Lord knows I’m craving apple pie!” Corina said, trying to make light of the heaviness that had settled in the room.
Walking over, Tripp hit me on the back. “Don’t worry, Jonathon. Waylynn would never let him back in. Ever.”
With a nod, I attempted to keep my voice even and calm. “I know she wouldn’t. It was just a surprise, as I’m sure it was to her, as well.”
I wasn’t so sure I believed that. Waylynn hadn’t seemed all that surprised that her ex-husband was waiting for her in another room. In fact, Amelia and Melanie didn’t seem surprised either.
Amelia walked by, and I reached for her arm. “Amelia, can I ask you something?”
She looked around everywhere but at me.
“Did Waylynn know Jack was coming over tonight?”
Her eyes snapped to meet mine. “What? No, of course not.”
“Then why did she not seem surprised? And neither did you, and your mother.”
“The only thing I can say is that none of us knew he would be showing up, but Waylynn mentioned he has been calling her cell phone. She’s been denying the calls, so I guess that’s why we don’t seem surprised he’s here.”
I sighed, my hand pushing through my hair. “She didn’t tell me he’d been calling her.”
“I’m sure it was only because she didn’t care.”
Glancing back over my shoulder, I looked at that hallway that led to the library.
“I know you want to go bursting in there, but you have to let her handle this.”
My stomach rolled and I felt sick. I needed air, a distraction, an escape. “I’m going to head outside for some fresh air.”
Amelia nodded. “Okay, I’ll let Waylynn know where you are.”
As I headed toward the living room, a sinking feeling hit me. Everything had been going too well. Too well. Waylynn had moved past her fears and was giving us a shot.
And now? Now one of her biggest fears was in the room with her, and everything felt wrong and out of place…and I was helpless to stop it.
Chapter Fifteen
Waylynn
I stared at the fireplace for the longest time before I finally spoke.
“Why are you here, Jack?”
“You wouldn’t take my calls. I was desperate to talk to you, sweetheart.”
He touched my arm, and I jerked away. “Don’t touch me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, pumpkin.”
Spinning around, I looked at him with nothing but pure anger. “Do not call me that. I’m not your sweetheart, your pumpkin, your baby. I’m no longer your wife. I’m nothing to you but the woman who stood by your side for years like a damn fool.”
“Don’t say that. Waylynn, we had some amazing times together.”
I scoffed. “Whatever good times we shared vanished when I saw you with your whore of the month.”
He flinched.
“I’m going to ask you again. Why are you here?”
“I want you back.”
His words played in slow motion. When they finally sank in, I laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You paid me a hefty little price tag to disappear from your world—or did you forget? Never mind the fact that your lover is carrying your baby.”
“I don’t love her. She’s not you, Waylynn.”
“No, she’s about ten years younger than me, Jack. What’s wrong? Can’t keep up with her?”
“You’re the one I want. Now that I’ve lost you, my eyes are open. I was a fool, wrong for thinking I could ever live without you. Please, come back to me.”
“I have a life here. This is my hometown, and I’m starting a new business.”
“The dance studio. I know, I know. I’ll give you ten dance studios in New York if you’ll come back.”
Narrowing my eyes, I studied him. “Why are you so desperate for me to come back? Does your new toy not look shiny enough on your arm? Or are your friends turning their back on you, Jack, for what you did to me? Is it not good for your image to have a child out of wedlock?”
He looked away, and I continued. “This is all about your image. This has nothing to do with your feelings for me.”