Once Written, Twice Shy (The Broken Men Chronicles) by Carey Decevito

over my family, do you hear me?”
    “Husband,” Alissa said and let out a snort, “Ha! 
Last I checked all you had to do is sign the papers and you’re both free.  You
do know there are other ways of getting around that right?”
    “He wouldn’t dare.”  Julie’s venom-filled voice
was a few octaves lower.
    Alissa got up to her full height, leaned into
Julie and said, “You think?  I may have only known him for a short amount of
time compared to you but I can damn well tell you what you’ve known for a while
now.  Come on, Julie, you’re not stupid.  The man has been lonely and deserted,
he deserves better and you know it.  For once in your miserable life, let him
be happy.”  She sighed.  “I don’t care if it’s not with me, just let him go. 
He needs to move on, you have.  For Christ’s sake, you’re pregnant with
another man’s child!”  My heart skipped a beat as I heard those words from
Alissa.  “I don’t know why you keep holding on to him but I can tell you that
there’s no good payout for anyone in the end if you don’t let him go.  You have
Todd, what if the man wants to get married?  We both know that Paxton won’t
take you back.  If anything, do it for Jasper, don’t you think that your son
deserves to see both his parents happy even if it’s not with each other?”
    “Why you self-righteous bitch,” Julie said.  “You
think you know it all, don’t you, preaching about things you don’t have a clue
about?”
    “I know more than you-”
    “Is that so?” Julie smiled and I knew the woman
was about to lay it on thicker than thick.
    My feet took action and brought me into the living
room.  “Julie, that’s enough,” I said.  My blood boiled.  If it weren’t about
chasing what little happiness I have and making me miserable, I’d admire my
son’s mother’s tenacity.
    Her head snapped in my direction and I came to a
stop beside Alissa.  I put a hand on her lower back.  “Go on and wait for me in
the car.”  I handed her my car keys.  “I have a few things I would like to say
to Julie, here,” I said so my not-so-significant other could hear me loud and
clear.
    I waited for Alissa to disappear outside.
    “She’ll ruin us, Paxton,” Julie said.
    “You’ve done enough of that all on your own, Julie,”
I said.  “Alissa’s right, I’m sick of being stuck as I watch you move on with
your life and I can’t do the same.  It’s been a year since you’ve left, Julie. 
A goddamn year!”
    “How long have you two known each other?”
    “You sound as if I’ve betrayed you somehow.  Last
I checked, I wasn’t the one who ran around or the one that gave up without a
fight,” I said.  “We’re friends.  Well, we were.”  Who knows now.
    “Bullshit!  She said she was your girlfriend
yesterday.”
    “You started it,” I said.  “You attacked her with
insults.  She was simply trying to get a rise out of you.  I can see now that
it worked and I’m glad it did.”
    “What about forcing the divorce?”
    “I will if I have to,” I said.  “You’re not
leaving me much of a choice here, Julie.  I’m done with the games.”
    “Then you won’t see Jasper.  I won’t allow him to
be around that blonde bitch,” she said.
    “You heard Alissa, Julie, she’s not going
anywhere, not unless I want her gone and that’s far from the case.”
    “So you’d pick her over our son?” she asked.
    “You know I wouldn’t, but I’m not giving up on her
either, I shouldn’t have to,” I said.  “So you either sign those papers by
Friday or I force the divorce through the courts.  If you want to be a bitch
and deny me my son then I’ll take that up with the courts too, Jake’s always
loved a good fight or have you forgotten?  I have my rights, Julie, any judge
will agree with me.”  I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a cleansing
breath.  “You know what’s right, just do it.  It’s all I have to say to you.”
    I