Here And Now

BONUS SCENE 1: How this story came to me

I don't know about you guys but whenever I am feeling down or I am in a reading slump, my solution is to rage read.

Yes, I am a masochist who like the angst and pain that comes along with a book that seems to be written solely to anger the sane half of the population. People like you and me.

A rage bait of sorts.

At least I hope it's a rage bait because if not then that means real people out there cheat and cheat and abuse their loved ones and the loved ones not only forgive them but also normalize and romanticize that shit.

I just couldn't stand it anymore and that's when I decided to rage write.

Anyway I'll stop yapping, here is the scene that first came to of April and Jackson's story that although I love it, I couldn't find any appropriate timeline in the book to put it in.

Because originally April was going to stay with Weston for the kids until Jackson finally broke her walls and made her see that it won't actually help the kids but create a toxic environment for them.

So this chapter is from a timeline, a parallel where even though she stayed with Weston, she was whole heartedly and madly in love with Jackson.

ENJOY!!!

❣️

Weston

My leg keeps bouncing. My knee constant in it's frantic movements. It matches the frenzied shifting of my eyes from the front door to the clock on the wall. Matches the heaviness in my breath.

1:17 a.m.

Where the hell is she?

I scrub a hand over my face and stare at the untouched dinner plates-hers, mine. Candles burned down to pathetic wax islands. The wine's warm now. Everything's still. It's all set, perfect, and none of it matters.

Because she never came home.

I texted her at six. Told her I'd pick up the kids, do bedtime. Even added a goddamn smiley face, like that would make her soften. Like it's not too late. Like I haven't already set fire to everything that used to matter.

She didn't reply. I gave her the whole evening, handed it to her with a fucking bow. And she took it. Not for me though.

In the void of my empty home, I stare at the wall and remember. Remember exactly how I orchestrated this situation.

------------------------------------

She wouldn't even look at me.

Arms crossed, jaw locked, standing at the window like if she turned around, I'd disappear.

I didn't. I stayed seated, elbows on my knees, forcing calm into every inch of me while my mind spun like a goddamn blender.

There were tear tracks on her cheeks, her nose red and eyes swollen. I matched her look. They made it really hard to look at her and not feel incredible shame.

But I can't lose her. I HAVE to make her stay.

"You're really gonna blow up the kids' lives over this?" I said, voice low, steady. I made sure it sounded more hurt, worried and guilty than defensive.

Her head whipped toward me, eyes blazing. "Over this? Me?" she snapped. "You had an affair, Weston. For six months. With her. Don't act like I'm the one blowing anything up."