Trust Me [Book 2]

Chapter 21: Goodbye

Chapter 21  – [November 23rd]

            I would be the first to admit that my communication skills sucked. I ran. I hid. I recognized that. And in my early twenties, I thought that was okay. It was okay to hide from situations- people- that hurt me. Or would hurt me.

            I was the queen of avoidance.

            Now, my life was different. I had to think about Rocky and how my actions affected her. Most situations I could adjust and pick up the slack. Not with Daddy though. And my baby missed her daddy. Not only did she miss him, she was still blaming herself for the fallout two weeks ago. I assured her that she did the right thing but I saw her insecurity growing. She was talking less, yelling more. Smiling less, crying more. And when she had her first huge tantrum since September, I knew it was time to settle my issue with Rick. Whether we were together or not I had to be able to tolerate him.

            First step, I unblocked his number then waited for him to call or text, which I knew he would. And he did. We didn't speak but I let him speak to Rocky. He sent his message through her like we used to do many months ago.

            All those actions led me to stepping off an elevator on the fourth floor. Carpet muffled the rhythmic taps of my heels as I approached the large rounded reception desk.

"Hi," I greeted, smiling. I remembered the blonde, big boobed receptionist from the last time I was here. Her chest really was humongous.  "I'm here for a family counseling appointment with Dr. Tomlinson."

"Yes, your party has already checked in. Please have a seat and he will be with you shortly."

             I turned to go sit in the waiting area but the sight before me made rage race through my body like a volcano. He'd already spotted me and had gotten up. Shaking my head, I headed back to the elevator.

"Sweets wait," Rick called after me.

I quickened my pace. Forget him. Forget this. Forget our marriage. Nobody needed him. Plenty of children grew up without a father. Rocky had three uncles that could be the male figure she needed.

Rick jogged to catch me. "Don't leave," he begged, stepping in front of the elevator and covering the buttons.

"Move." He reached for my hands. I crossed my arms.

"Sweets, please stay." I ignored the dark circles of fatigue under his dim eyes. I couldn't let the slump of his shoulders sway me. The weight and stress of his broken world appeared to be pushing him down but that had nothing to do with me.

Rolling my eyes upward, I bit my lip. "Why is she here?"

"Because I want you to hear the whole truth and I thought that if I brought Skye we could clear the air."

            I swear I didn't mean to punch his arm. It really was involuntary. "I don't want to clear the air with her." I stomped my foot. This man is so frustrating.

"Not you and her. Me and you," he explained, closing the little space between us. "There's a lot of miscommunication and I wanted you to know the truth."

"You can't tell me the truth?"

"I can," he stressed. I stiffened when he tried to touch me again. His hands dropped back to his sides. He opened his mouth then closed it and shook his head instead. "Sweets, I'm trying. I thought it was a good idea."

            I'm doing this for Rocky

            I'm doing this for Rocky