Page 107 of What Started In Deception

“So stop shutting me out. Communicate with me. I’m constantly asking you what I can be doing. I get that I should know, but sometimes I don’t. Most of the time, it feels like you’re looking for reasons to be mad at me.”

“I don’t have to look very hard.”

“See? How is that helpful? How is that productive?”

“I want you to be here, Will. I want you to be present when you are. You’re a million miles away when we’re standing in the same room.”

“I know things have been a little crazy. Work is busy⁠—”

“No. This isn’t about your job. This has nothing to do with your job. This is something else. Your job has always been busy, but we’ve made it work.” Suddenly, Mac broke down in tears. “Are you cheating on me?”

“What? No, I’m not cheating on you.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re distant and distracted. You’re never far away from your phone. It feels like you’re keeping secrets.”

Lydia’s gaze whipped to Ty’s as her stomach sank.

“I’m not cheating on you, Mac. I would never do that to you.”

Mac lost her composure again. “I’m packing the kids up. I’m taking them to my parents’ for a while⁠—”

“You can’t. My parents will be back in a couple of weeks.”

Mac tossed out a bitter laugh. “Of course, that’s what matters to you. The pretenses. The illusions. Happy and perfect. What would your parents say if they knew that things sucked between us right now? What would it do to your dad’s upcoming campaign if his son’s marriage were falling apart?”

“Fuck the campaign.”

Mac laughed humorlessly again. “We both know it doesn’t work that way.”

“Please, Mac. I’ll try harder. I’ll be home more. You and the kids are all that matter to me.”

“I’d say we’re more of an afterthought these days.”

“That’s not true.”

Mac sniffled several times, clearly trying to shore herself back up. “I’ve been watching Lydia and Ty over these past few days… They’re so wrapped up in each other. They’re so happy. We used to have that, Will. We used to be that. Where did it go?”

“It’s still here.”

“It doesn’t feel like it.”

“I’ll do better. I promise I’ll do better. Please stay here with me. Don’t take the kids away.”

Mac exhaled a shaky breath. “I don’t know.”

“Please, Mac.”

“I just—I can’t do all of this alone. You need to get your shit together.”

“Okay.”

Maverick started to cry on the monitor on the counter.

“I’ll get him,” Will said.

“I’ll take care of it. I need to feed him anyway,” Mac said as she left the room.

“Fuck,” Will muttered. “Fuck,” he said again, hurrying up the stairs after Mac.