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“Okay…had.”
“If Avery had been sincere about everything that she said to me about wanting us to work out, or sincere in the way she’s acted toward me after coming back home, then she wouldn’t have been in constant contact with Justin all this time.”
“You looked up your phone records.”
“Sure did. It’s so easy to do, too. The thought of me doing that hasn’t crossed Avery’s mind—or it has and she just doesn’t care.”
“So all of that acting she did was for what purpose?”
“I’ve already told you. It’s about the money. She must have gotten worried again about me cutting it off for some reason and decided to play nice for a while. I’ve never once threatened her with that, though. And again, like I’ve said, paying for her lifestyle equates to peace for Malcolm and me…most of the time.”
Stevie sighed. “What a selfish and dangerous game she plays, toying with people and their emotions. You know you’re not the only one she does that with.”
“Yes, I do know that. She manipulates everyone around her for her own benefit.”
“Zac, tell me how Avery’s parents are toward you.”
“When Avery and I were dating and then first married, they were great. But when Avery turned on me during our first year of marriage, her parents did too, as well as her brother and sister. They all blamed me for our issues. Never Avery. Not for one damn thing.”
“They all sound like enablers.”
“That’s exactly what they are and they’re also users like Avery. I haven’t seen her family in years.”
“Years?”
“Since Malcolm’s birth.”
“You’re serious?”
“I am.”
“So you’re telling me that Avery’s family has seen Malcolm only one time since he was born?”
“That’s right.”
“How do they do that? How can they not care about Malcolm and want to see him? He’s their flesh and blood.”
“I think it’s all a matter of them appeasing Avery. They go along with anything she wants or doesn’t want—and she never wanted to have children, as you know. Malcolm is too much responsibility for her and gets in the way of what she wants to do.”
“I haven’t asked you this yet, because I felt like I’d get upset by your answer, but I have to know. How was Avery with Malcolm while she was at home this time?”
“She acted interested in him and spent a little time with him, playing games and such, but I watched her closely like I alwaysdo and saw right through her performance. The funny thing is Malcolm ended up seeing through it too. He walked away from Avery several times and came over to me, especially during this past week.”
“Malcolm is so perceptive of others.”
“He always has been. He was really perceptive of you as soon as you two met.”
Stevie smiled. “He was, and I’m so glad that he likes me.”
“Likes? My boy loves you. You and Malcolm are kindred spirits.”
“We are kindreds. I feel that connection with him and I also feel it with you. I know we’ve talked about it before but I really do feel like I’ve known you for so much longer than this. Sure, there are little things that we’ve yet to learn about each other and will learn, but it’s just…” Stevie stopped talking to take a deep breath. “It’s just a knowing that I feel deep inside. Iknowyou, Zac Buchanan.”
I stared at Stevie, understanding every word that she’d just said to me. I understood them to my core.
“I’ve known you for lifetimes, Stevie Sinclair, and no one could convince me otherwise. Now let me do for you what you wouldn’t let me do last night.”
“Bed me?”
