“Did you see those two at the market earlier? Adrian and Monica with their little girl? It’s about time those two worked out their differences. A child needs both of her parents.”“That little girl looked so ecstatic holding both of their hands. It was picture perfect really,” the women talk amongst themselves. I cringe at the topic. Was Adrian at the farmer's market with Monica and Hailey?“She looks just like her mother. I know she was a bit wild before, but Monica Anderson really did look like a mother with her child today. And the way Adrian Brewer was doting on them. Did you see the way he would smile at his daughter? Monica had stars in her eyes while watching him help the little girl ride that pony in the petting zoo.”“It’s about time they settled down and became a real family. Do you think that wedding bells are coming soon? Is that why Monica was back in town? She hasn’t been back in years.”“Lord, I hope so. Like I said, a child needs both of their parents in their life. Ad
24 hours prior…. Adrian POVMissy’s face as her tears spilled over tore at me the whole way while driving to the bank. I wish I had time to stay and make things better, to kiss away her worries and reassure her that she was the only woman that could ever have my heart, but I can’t let my daughter down. After tomorrow, I will do whatever I can to make this up to her. I believe in us. I believe that we can overcome this. I parked in the lot, and before I went in, I decided to count the money Missy paid me to see exactly how much I needed to withdraw while I was there. I pulled the thick stack of cash from the envelope, my brows pulling inward when I saw it was all hundreds and not twenties like I was expecting. My eyes filled with tears by the third time counting it. She overpaid me. By a lot. Even while pissed at me, she paid me knowing I would need the money for my daughter, and she had made it so I didn’t have to pull another cent from the bank. This, combined with the money I ha
“You have a girlfriend? I thought you said you didn’t?” Monica scoffs. I shrugged, “I didn’t when you asked. It’s a new thing. We started dating this past week. I’ve liked her for a while, but just got brave enough to go for it when I saw other men were interested in her too.”She scrunches her face, tilting her head while thinking. “Wait. Is it that one girl? The one you said was dating Chris?”I said nothing. I didn’t tell her Missy was dating Chris. That was Britt, but I didn’t deny it either. I don’t want to call my sister a liar in front of my ex. “Wow, she making her way through all the decent men in this town?” she huffs, crossing her arms. I glared down at her at the hypocritical and untrue statement. “No. She never dated Chris, but Chris tried. She is not that kind of woman.”She scoffs at me. “So you have some other woman lined up to play mother to my daughter?”Hailey was momentarily distracted while looking at a booth with homemade candies, cookies and other sweets, but
“Yay! I’ll go tell my friends bye,” she cheers, running back to say bye to the group of girls. Monica heads back to the bench to get her jacket and bag while I stand there talking to my sister and dad. “What about Missy?” Brittany hisses at me. “What if she comes? I already told her a few days ago that I would see her there tonight.”I pursued my lips, thinking about that possibility. “Well, I told Monica about Missy. She seems okay with it now, and after what happened with Missy yesterday, I think she will likely give us space tonight. If she does show up, it shouldn’t be a big deal. Monica knows Missy is my girlfriend and not to mess with her.”“You think the witch will listen?” Brittany grumbles. "Don't be an idiot. You know she isn't the type to listen to shit you tell her."I gave her a disapproving look. “You guys will be there and it’s her last day with Hailey. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”My dad huffs loudly. “Well, what’s one more meal? You can play nice for a bi
As soon as we were back at home, I apologized to Hailey, gave her a big kiss on the forehead, then ran to my father’s truck to head straight out to find Missy. He always keeps his keys in the cupholder, so I was out of our driveway, speeding down the gravel road before the rest of my family even had time to fully get out of my truck. Brittany flipped me the bird as I drove past, still pissed at me over letting Monica join us. She didn’t talk to me the whole way home, and took the passenger seat like a brat while my dad drove, forcing me to sit in my own backseat. I didn’t fight with her over it. I know I fucked up and she’s right to be pissed at me. Shit. I forgot my phone was dead. I pulled my phone out to try and call Missy, but it was still off. My dad doesn’t keep a charger in his truck either. I tried going to her house first, but she wasn’t there. No one was. The ugly green Saturn was nowhere to be seen. I don’t know why she didn’t have her car earlier, but it’s not at her h
Missy POVLast night I was a mess. I cried hysterically for hours, sitting in Barry’s car. He drove to a random parking lot in the next town over, and just waited there patiently while I got it all out of my system. Or at least I tried to get it all out of my system. I never actually stopped crying. I didn’t want to go anywhere with him, and under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have, but I was out of options, and I didn’t want to stick around the diner and have it out with Adrian and his ex right there for the whole town to see. Ex my butt. You don’t go around town with your ex, playing family and not tell your girlfriend anything about it. He told me that she stayed over at his house, but said nothing about spending the day with her. He wouldn’t even answer the phone for me at all yesterday, probably hiding me from her. Then, I had to see that display in the window at the diner.How am I supposed to believe nothing happened the night before now?I trusted him. I trusted him more
Monica POV“You didn’t try very hard, did you?” The prick continues to chastise me on the phone. “I thought you said spreading those skinny legs of yours wouldn’t be hard with him?”“You made it sound like he was just sleeping with her. I didn’t expect him to actually love her. There was no getting past his defenses because all he could think about was her. Not my fault.”I was so humiliated yesterday. I never wanted to go back to that stupid little town after I left, but then this freak had to talk me into doing more than just going to the courtroom and signing the fucking adoption papers. It wasn't the lowest point in my life, having Brittany Brewer degrade me like that, but it was definitely not worth the empty promises this dude gave me. If he’s calling me this pissed off, he obviously failed too. I should have known better than to trust a stranger that randomly messaged me on Facebook. On Wednesday, this guy named Barry, claiming to be that Missy girl’s wronged fiance, DMed m
Adrian POV“Pokemon Go? Are you serious?” Missy asks after hearing my story about why I kept rejecting her calls. “I swear. You can go by the farmer’s market today and see the booth if you don’t believe me. Here,” I pull out my phone, showing her the new app on it Hailey made me download. “I don’t know how, but I’m sure there is a way to see when it was downloaded and how long she was playing it yesterday.”She looks at my phone in my outstretched hand speculatively, like she still isn’t sure if she believes me.“I’m telling the truth, Missy.”“Hmm,” is all she says in response. Hmm? What does hmm mean? This is stupidly frustrating. Earlier, when she first got out of the shower and allowed for me to hold her while we had our moment, I thought I had broken through to her, and she was letting me in her defenses.After several minutes, though, she kicked me out of her room and said to wait in the living room while she got dressed and we could talk after. Those defenses went right bac