Robert Bailey was known as his father's son. Everyone was constantly comparing him to his dad and I guess he didn't help the fact by making a scene at Dan's wedding. So to save everyone from heartbreak he fled to the army
Scarlett Rowell has been i...
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Robert's POV Torture.
That's what living with Scarlett was like.
She sleeps in a t-shirt and panties. And even worse the shirt was mine.
She stole one of my shirts.
She wore it so much better than me.
Family therapy was going.
Just going.
We've only had two sessions and things are getting solved but also opening more wounds. For our next session, Wilson had told us to meet him at the gym.
I hate that fucking gym.
Mum had left Hayley and Rosie with Scar. Scar looked a bit nervous about it.
"Welcome to your third session," Wilson says. We all had gym clothes on since he told us to.
"I have training after this, so please tell me I won't be getting sweaty?" Evan asks.
"No," Wilson answers. "You shouldn't anyway."
"What are we doing?" Mum asks.
"A trust exercise," Wilson states. "We are playing soccer."
"Yes," Evan cheers.
Wilson leads us out the back where someone has set up a soccer net and ball. "Robert you're going to go goalie for me," he orders. I nod and go stand in front of the net. "Now Georgie, Cole and Evan you're going to try and score off Robert."
"How is this a trust exercise?" Cole asks.
"Well today we are all getting rid of our anger towards each other," Wilson says. "And in most cases that creates a stronger bond between families."
"So I just kick the ball at Robert pretty much?" Evan asks. "I'm down."
I scowl at him.
"Each one of you will be the goalie," Wilson says. "But when you are kicking the ball you will be yelling out why you are angry at the goalie."
"I'll go first," Evan says. Evan steps back and then runs up kicking the ball. "I hate that you slept with my best friend."
The ball flies past me into the net. I pass it back and mum goes next. "I hate that you left and didn't give us a chance to help you," she says.
"I hate that you broke this family," Cole says.
"Great," Wilson says. "Cole you next."
Cole and I switch places and Mum decides to go first this time. "I hate that you won't leave me alone with Robert."
I step up. "I hate the way you looked at me that night."
"I hate how you smell after you've been painting," Evan says. Both mum and I stare at him and he shrugs. "I couldn't think of anything else."
Mum was the next one to step up to the net.
"I hate your broccoli bake," Evan says. "I've decided that I just don't like broccoli."
Cole lets me go first. "I hate that you stayed with Dad for that long," I say.
Silence washes over everyone.
"Did you just blame Mum?" Evan asks.
"She provided for the both of you," Cole growls. "She did the best she could."
"Roberts's feelings are valid," Wilson says. "Let him explain."
"She went through so much," I say. "I hate that she felt she had to stay because of us."
"So you blame yourself?" Wilson asks.
"I should've told her about what dad was doing," I say. "It's my fault."
"It's not your fault," Evan says. "I could've said something too."
I scoff. "I told you not to and you tended to listen to what I said."
"This is why we are here," Wilson says. "Because Robert just voiced his thoughts and you two both thought the worst in him."
Both Cole and Evan looked ashamed.
"Let's finish this session," Wilson says. "I think we've made huge progress."
* It was a quiet trip back to the apartments. Evan has driven separately so it was me, Cole and Mum in the car.
We get outside their apartment and Cole clears his throat. "Can we talk?" He asks me.
I nod and Mum leaves us alone, heading to mine and Scar's apartment.
That had a nice ring to it.
Cole and I quietly sit on the couch and I wait for him to start. "I'm sorry," he says.
"Okay."
"You were always so mature when I first met you," Cole murmurs. "I feel like it was because you had to grow up quickly, because of what your dad was putting you through."
"Yeah," I say.
"That night," Cole whispers. "You reminded me of myself." Cole's Adam's apple bobs up and down. "When I had come back from being with Angelo."
"You don't have to say anything else," I say.
"No, I do," Cole murmurs. "I fucking hated that people treated me differently when I came back and here I am doing the fucking same to you. That's changing from now on Robert."
"You're lucky Hayley and Rosie aren't here," I murmur.
He chuckles. "I fucking hate that swear jar."
The front door opens and the girls race in, jumping on Cole. "Dad, Scar took us shopping," Hayley gushes.
"That sounds fun," Cole says.
Mum raises an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"
"No," Cole answers. "But it will be."
I nod in agreement. Just needed to make small steps.
