Bethie snorts. “This is a problem that his wife created.”
“Yes, and if I wasn’t living with a married man, there would be no wife to create anything. Therefore, it’s all on me. I’m such a hypocrite, Bethie.”
Her eyes widen. She lets out a snort. “How the hell are you a hypocrite?”
My gaze flicks to the side and I lift my eyes to look out the window into the back yard. “I don’t even remember my dad. He cheated on my mom, over and over. While she was pregnant with me, he was practically living with another woman and then just one day, never came home and she never saw him again.
“I vowed that I would never be with a married man, not ever. Look at me now. I’m a hypocrite and this is my punishment,” I whimper.
Bethie stands to her feet. Her fists slam down on the card table, causing my head to jerk up. My eyes widen as I look into her blue fiery ones.
“Fuck that,” she spits. “I have heard from Laurent himself that Susan Astor has been cheating and carrying on affairs with men for decades. You are not being punished. She’s just a first-class cunt.”
“Bethie,” I gasp.
She shakes her head, narrowing her eyes. “I’m serious. She really is. Any woman who would do this to another is just that and you are not being punished. She’s going to get hers and you’re going to let Landry give it to her, even if it costs him a million dollars.”
LANDRY
I’m carrying a bag of food and walking through the front door of the house when I hear Bethie’s voice all around me. She’s yelling, they’re in the kitchen, but because we don’t have furniture or anything, her voice is bouncing off of all the walls and echoing everywhere.
My feet move faster throughout the house, until I’m in the kitchen and I see them. I can only see the back of Tennessee’s head, she’s sitting down, but it’s Bethie who is leaning over and her gaze is fierce as she speaks.
“She’s going to get hers and you’re going to let Landry give it to her, even if it costs him a million dollars.”
I can only assume that they’re talking about Susan. My lips twitch at her words. “I would spend a fuck more than a million dollars to give Susan exactly what she deserves,” I growl.
Tennessee turns around quickly, Bethie lifts her head, her eyes finding mine and her face pales. My lips turn up into a smile as I set the bag down on the countertop. Walking over to them, I stand at the side of the table, looking down at Tennessee because it’s her that I’m the most worried about.
“Landry,” she rasps.
I shake my head once, crouching down in front of her. Placing my hands on her thighs, I squeeze them as I look into her green eyes. These eyes of hers, they own me, just like every other part of her body does.
“Susan is doing this out of spite. She thinks that I’ll back down, that I’ll go back to her because it’s easier than divorcing her. I guarantee, if I called her right now and said we could just go back to the way we were, that she would drop this.”
My hands slowly slide up her thighs, wrapping around her waist. “Even if you weren’t sitting right here in front of me, the perfect woman for the moment of time I’m living in, I still wouldn’t take her back. I would rather live alone than to live like that, because that wasn’t living, honey.”
“This is all too much,” she whispers.
I snort. “Fuck that. Nothing is too much for you. Nothing is too much for my happiness either. Absolutely nothing on this earth is too much for Holden.”
“That’s the truth of it, too,” Bethie chimes in. “That boy is innocent and perfect, all rolled into one little sweet blond toddler.”
Flicking my gaze back to meet Tennessee’s, I grin at her, because Bethie is right. Holden is perfect and he’s innocent.
“Susan is a cunt,” she whispers. I choke back a laugh, but Tennessee shakes her head a couple of times, her eyes narrowing as she stares just past me. “She’s willing to force me to hand my baby to my rapist for visitation. A man whose name I don’t even know? What is wrong with her?”
“She’s a narcissist,” I say, shrugging my shoulder.
It’s the truth. One of her many therapists over the years told me that in a family meeting. I didn’t know they were fucking at the time, but he still wasn’t wrong. Susan is a classic narcissist.
It’s why I didn’t want to bother actually divorcing her, I knew that she would do what she’s doing now, to our own children. That she would make their lives hell and it was just easier to move out and pretend that all was fine and that I just had to sleep at the office because I was a workaholic.
“What happens now?” Tennessee asks, her gaze shifting back over to meet my own.
Leaning forward, I touch my lips to hers before I rise to my feet. “Now we’re going to eat some lunch. You and Bethie are going to go shopping for whatever the fuck you want to shop for. Then, you’re going to come home and we’re going to enjoy our evening.”
“How about I buy a couple pairs of shoes?” she asks.
My cock twitches beneath my slacks at the thought of her in more high heels, of her naked, bent over the bed in those high heels.
“Gross. I know what this means and ew,” Bethie announces.
My head turns to the side, and I smirk over at her. Giving her a shrug, I wink at Bethie before I shift my gaze over to Tennessee.
“I’ll buy a pair of shoes and maybe something to wear to court?”
“Fuck, I hope it doesn’t get that far,” I admit as I begin to take the lunch containers out of the bag.
I don’t want it to go to court. I’m hoping that Hansen can dig up enough to get this guy to crawl back in the hole that he came out of. Taking the food over to them, I think about leaving and going back to the office, but I decide to stay. I need to know that she’s okay.
“Bethie, would you come to the family meeting on Wednesday? I think it would be nice to have someone there for support.”
Bethie looks from Tennessee to me for permission. Dipping my chin, I look over to Bethie, nodding my head once in approval.
“It’s really okay?” Bethie asks, looking at me.
Smiling, I shake my head once. “You’re dating Laurent? You’re best friends with Tennessee, you’re family, Bethie. Come to the meeting.”
Bethie’s face flushes, she looks down to her plate then lifts her eyes to meet mine. “You know about me and Laurent?” she rasps.
I laugh and at the same time, Tennessee joins in. “Bethie, I think everyone knows about you and Laurent,” Tennessee giggles.
That’s how our lunch goes. Nobody talks about the court date, the paternity, or Susan. I leave feeling better about everything. I don’t know what the future is going to hold, if we’ll get this thing beat, but I know that we will get through it no matter what and by the end, we’ll be stronger for it all.
Chapter Thirty
TENNESSEE
When Bethie and I went shopping, I really did buy two pairs of new high heels. They’re nowhere near as flashy as the ones that my mother bought me, but they’re still sky-high and I feel sexy as ever in them. It doesn’t hurt that they’re bright red.
Landry hasn’t been able to keep his hands off of me all day long either. We’ve already been together three times today. I do not know how his stamina is as high as it is, but I’m also not about to question it, because I surely am reaping the benefits and the orgasms from it.
The childcare isn’t open in the evenings, so Holden will have to be at this meeting with us. Thankfully, Landry was much more clear-headed than I was with all of this. After dinner, he suggested letting Holden play in his bedroom. He brought toys and a couple of cartoon movies for him to watch.
I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I am never going to take a moment with Landry for granted, not ever. He says that the reason all of this is happening is because of him and I agreed with him, but inside I know that this is my punishment for what I’ve done.
I’m a hypocrite, but I’m Landry’s hypocrite and
I honestly don’t know if I could ever walk away from him. I have fallen head over heels completely in love with the man. I know there are a million things against us, but none of it matters because we just work.
“Honey, you ready?” Landry calls out.
My eyes flick over to the clock on my desk and I cringe. It’s time. Slowly, I lift my head and see Landry and Holden standing next to one another. Taking my phone off my desk, I can’t help but open the camera app and take a picture of them. I don’t know why, but a picture of them together, before all of our worlds change, it just seemed appropriate.
Standing, I gather my things, then take a step toward him and another until Landry lifts his hand and slides his arm along my waist, pulling me against his chest. His lips touch mine in just a brush of a kiss.
“Everything is going to be okay, honey,” he whispers against my mouth.
“I really hope it is,” I sigh.
Landry hums, his tongue sliding along the seam of my lips. Straightening, I smooth my black skirt down as I clear my throat. Lifting my eyes to meet his, a thought crosses my mind.
“All the s.e.x. today, that was to distract me, wasn’t it?”
His lips curve up into a grin. “It was to distract both of us, honey. I’m nervous too.”
My fingers lace with his and together, the three of us make our way toward his private elevator. As it climbs, I wonder if everything is going to change and when it does, will we change with it? I don’t want us to, but this custody stuff, this divorce, I don’t see how we can come out of it unscathed—we’re just too new.
We’re the first ones to arrive, aside from the restaurant that is setting up all of the food. Landry pays them before they leave, but Holden and I go over to the window and watch all of the people and cars beneath us. He loves it. And I just need him being distracted to distract me.
I’m lost. This is just another traumatic experience to add to my list and I’m just about sick and tired of them happening. I want it all to stop, but I also want whoever this man is to sign over all of his rights too.
I’ve been thinking about it for a few days. After some research, I discovered that even if he does a paternity test, he can also sign his rights away and then he won’t have any way to come back and try to get Holden again.
I also looked up the statute of limitations for rape in Arkansas. It’s three years from when the crime was committed. It would be cutting it close, like within days. I may need to figure out the exact date of the party, an event that I’ve been trying to forget since it happened.
I want him to sign over his rights.
No.
I need that.
Not only because I don’t want to have anything to do with the creep, but I don’t want to have a predator raise my son. The bottom line is that I have no clue what else this guy is capable of. If he ever hurt Holden, I couldn’t live with myself.
Before I can think about another reason to be terrified, I feel a hand curve around my waist and a beard brush my neck before soft lips touch me. “It’s going to be okay,” he whispers against my skin.
Turning my head, I look back at him, and judging by the expression he’s wearing on his face, he believes that it will be okay, but he is still worried. I’m not just worried, I’m downright terrified. But Landry is like a rock, though he looks concerned, he doesn’t look scared, not at all.
“Susan is not going to get her way, not on this, not on anything. We will win, honey,” he says, his tone firm and unwavering.
Pressing my lips together, I dip my chin in a single nod, then shift my gaze back to the cityscape in front of me. Landry doesn’t move, I can feel the heat of his chest pressed against my back, his hand stays firmly pressed against my stomach and he rests his chin against the top of my head.
“We got this,” he says again.
I don’t say a word, not a single word. In fact, I lean back against his chest. Closing my eyes, I take a moment to just breathe. I honestly don’t know when I’ll be able to do that again.
This meeting will end in only one of two ways. Either with a side of anxiety or depressing as shit, no matter which way it happens, it’s going to be terrible and I’m not looking forward to it, not at all.
There’s a knock on the door and my entire body stiffens. “It’s time,” Landry murmurs.
“Just stay here one more second before the world falls apart,” I practically beg.
Landry doesn’t move, but he does speak and when he does, chills break out over my entire body and tears fill my eyes instantly.
“The world, our world, will not fall apart. I refuse to let it. What I’m going to do is protect you and Holden with my life. Nothing will happen and that fuck will not get custody of him. No way am I going to let that happen, do you understand me?” he growls.
Turning around, I tilt my head back and look into his determined gaze. “I understand, Landry.”
“I am dead serious, Tennessee. He will not get Holden.”
Licking my lips, I try to keep my tears from sliding down my cheeks. Lifting one of my hands, I place my palm in the center of his chest, my eyes searching his. “I love you, Landry.”
He shifts closer, his forehead resting against mine, his eyes open as he watches me. “More than you could know, honey. I love you more than you could know.”
He takes a step back, releasing me, and I watch him make his way toward the door as whoever is on the other side, knocks again. It doesn’t surprise me when he opens it and all three of his children walk through, with Bethie bringing up the rear.
Laurent leans into Landry, he says something and I can tell just by the look on his face that he is pissed off. He’s not just pissed off, no, he’s straight-up angry. He takes a step back from his father, then turns and makes a beeline for the bar.
I suck in a breath as Bethie hurries toward me. Her eyes are a little wild and her cheeks are flushed. When she arrives in front of me, she wraps her arms around me in a hug.
“Are you okay?” I whisper.
“Laurent is really mad that I’m here,” she says in a low hush. “He said he’s not ready for this kind of step.”
“He’s an asshole,” I snap on a loud whisper.
“I love him,” she admits.
Lifting my head, I take a step back to look into her face. “Oh, Bethie,” I whisper.
She shakes her head, closing her eyes and inhaling a deep breath. “I know. I went into this eyes wide open, but it still happened.”
My gaze shifts to the side, looking past Bethie’s shoulder and over to Laurent who is throwing back a shot. What an asshole. A serious asshole.
“You don’t have to stay,” I offer, looking back to Bethie.
She smiles sadly, shaking her head. “I want to. Maybe I can just hang out with Holden, help you with him?”
Bethie’s tone is almost begging. I nod my head once. Actually, having her help me with him would be amazing. I didn’t really like the idea of leaving him in the bedroom alone. He’s a good boy, but he’s two and curious.
She lets out a sigh of relief. Taking her hand in mine, I give her a gentle squeeze. Together we inhale a deep breath and let it out before we make our way to the people who are waiting for us. Landry immediately knows that something is up, but thankfully he doesn’t say anything. At least not yet.
LANDRY
By the time Bash and Hansen arrive, Laurent is practically three-sheets to the wind and Bethie looks seconds away from throwing up.
It’s going to be a great fucking night.
Honestly, I couldn't care less about whatever drama they have going on. The only thing I care about is Tennessee and Holden. We all sit down and I’m thankful that I went ahead and had the meeting catered.
The food is hot and fucking great, but I’m ready to get this done. “Dad, what’s happening here? Why did you invite us all here, together?” Lucinda asks, her gaze shifting over to Tennessee, then back to meet mine.
“Did any of you tell your mother about me
and Tennessee?” I begin.
Laurent, Lawrence, and Lucinda share looks with one another. Usually, I can tell when they’re conspiring, but I don’t see it in this moment. Right now, they’re looking at one another as if they’re trying to guess who told. Which means that none of them probably did.
“I don’t think any of them did,” Hansen announces.
All of us turn our attention to him. He clears his throat, looking from me, to Tennessee, then back to me. I watch as he licks his lips, then takes a drink of water before he begins to speak.
“Susan had a PI follow you. It’s how she found out about Tennessee and since she already knew the basics about her, it wasn’t hard for this PI to dig around. She dug much deeper than I ever did,” he says, his gaze focused on me and nowhere else.
Arching a brow, I hope that he doesn’t go into detail about that, especially since I haven’t told Tennessee about that little thing that I had Hansen do when we first started seeing one another. I don’t want to tell her, never really did. Maybe one day, but not today.
“Oh god,” Tennessee moans. “She spied on me, on my past?”
Hansen clears his throat with a grunt and I instantly feel sick. Fuck. She’s never going to be okay with what I’ve done. That just means that she can never find out. With a small shake of my head, I jerk my chin toward him to continue.
“She did and when she did, she found out about Holden, about how he was conceived and who his biological father is.”
Nobody speaks. My children stare at us, Lucinda is judging as she tends to do, but she doesn’t know the circumstances and I hate that we have to tell everyone what they are. Sliding my hand across to Tennessee’s lap, I lace my fingers with hers. She grips my hand as if it’s a lifeline and I let her, feeling like a fucking heel.
“Funny how she could find him, but I didn’t even know who the hell he was,” Tennessee snaps.
Hypocritically Yours: A Standalone Age-Gap Romance Page 21