Too Broken to Love

24

Spencers POV.

I never would have imagined that I could be so out of sorts over someone else's reaction or emotions. Yet honestly watching the way Averleigh reacted to the phone call with Chris really brought out a range of emotions. I was angry that he decided to throw it in her face, but more than anything I was hurt. I thought that we were good, that she trusted me enough to talk to me. Clearly I was wrong.

The way she looked at me after she talked to Chris was something I never expected. Maybe it's because I believed that she was over him, or maybe I hoped she was completely over him. When her puffy tear filled eyes snapped onto mine it was like a shock of Deja Vu. It was the same look she had the night of my birthday. Heartbreak.

A part of me knew that I obviously shouldn't be upset about it, I knew all about their break up. I knew that she was still hurt by him, and I knew he would always be in her life. Still watching her cry over him made me sick to my stomach. How could she claim to love me, but feel so broken when her ex finally moves on? I couldn't wrap my head around any of it.

Bailey had arrived shortly after, and once we had cleared up her insulation that I was somehow engaged to another woman she suggested I take the kids to her house. I think her exact words were 'I know this sucks for you too, so take the kids to play and talk to Zac, I'll handle Averleigh'. I wanted to tell her to go away so we could figure things out, but I knew it wouldn't do any good. Averleigh's reaction earlier was more than enough to let me know we couldn't talk this through right now, so I agreed.

Honestly talking with Zac would probably at least help me understand a few things. I also knew that arguing with Averleigh wasn't going to solve anything, especially with her kids upstairs. They had been through enough and probably heard more than their share of arguments, but my voice wouldn't be one they feared, I wouldn't subject them to the same trauma I had went through all those years ago.

I rounded up the munchkins and we headed over to Zacs. Anna and Jacob ran straight into the house when we arrived but Riley walked in with me.
"Spencer?" Rileys little voice said.
"What's up Riley?" I asked as he stopped walking.
"Did mom forget about my birthday party?" He asked.
Shit! I thought. Truthfully we had briefly discussed Riley's birthday, and I knew that with everything going on lately with her injury and this new problem with Chris she probably hadn't thought about it. I crouched down to eye level and took Rileys hands in mine.
"Of course not buddy. Your mom just has a lot going on. I'll have uncle Zac remind the girls to get invitations while they are out. How about you write a list of what you want for your birthday and then when its done just give it to me okay?"
"Okay." He smiled before going into the house and disappearing with all the other kids.

My dad wasn't big on the birthday party scene growing up. He didn't want to waste money on a party unless it had the potential to bring him more business. My mom would usually take me out and spoil me to make up for his absence, usually some work emergency forcing him to stay late or to be out of town. I couldn't do anything about my own shitty father, nor could I change the fact that their own dad was shitty, whether they knew It or not. What I could do was make sure that they were loved and taken care of and I planned to do just that.

I went into the kitchen and stood with Zac while he made dinner. I grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat on the barstool at the counter. I told him what Riley said and he didn't hesitate to tell Bailey to grab invitations. I wondered if Averleigh was okay? If she even knew that Riley was worried she had forgotten his birthday, but mostly I was worried that she wouldn't get over Chris, regardless of how much I loved her.

"Alright bro spill. You look like someone just killed your dog!" He said stirring a pot of chilli.
"Shoot me straight Zac, How much did he mess her up?" I asked. I mean I had watched friends go through breakups through college, none of the girls ever reacted the way she did. Zac sighed before turning the burner around and facing me.
"Look dude I cant tell you what all happened because its not my place, but to answer your question.... A Lot." he replied with a somber look on his face. "We tried to tell her back in high school, but she wouldn't listen."