The Girl Next Door Read online Jennifer Sucevic

Categories Genre: College, Romance, Young Adult Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
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Guilt flashes in his eyes before they skitter away. “No. Our marriage has been over for a long time.” He clears his throat. “I’m sure your mother would agree with that.”

“It might have been nice if you’d had a conversation with her about it before you slept with someone else.”

He lowers his head. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have allowed the situation to spiral so far out of control. I take full responsibility for that. After Brianna died, your mother and I drifted apart. When you left for college, I realized how unhappy I was in our marriage. I thought about leaving at that point, but your mother was still in such a fragile place. So, I waited and hoped things would get better.” He shrugs helplessly. “But they didn’t.”

I press my lips together, refusing to say anything. If he’s looking for sympathy, he won’t get it from me.

“Is it so difficult to understand that I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life in a loveless marriage?” He waits for a beat before continuing. “Your mother and I have become more like roommates than anything else. Old friends who are stuck together, making the best of a situation.” He searches my eyes. “But the thing is, I love Mandi. She makes me feel young and hopeful again. This is my second chance at happiness, and I need to take it before it passes me by.”

I’m rendered speechless by everything coming out of his mouth.

Who the hell is this guy because I sure as hell don’t know.

“Mia? Did you hear me?”

I jerk back to our conversation and shake my head to clear it. “No, sorry.” I’m on information overload. I can’t process anything more.

He leans forward, and excitement leaps to life in his eyes. “When you’re ready, I’d like to introduce you to Mandi.”

He wants to introduce me to the woman he left my mother for?

The same woman he’s been cheating with for two years?

I don’t even know what to say. Wrapping my lips around words feels impossible. I can only sit and stare at him.

“She has two kids. They’re still in middle school, but you’re going to love them.” He pauses, enthusiasm growing in his voice. “They can’t wait to meet you.”

I shake my head. “No.”

Is he insane?

Or am I the one who has completely lost it?

I can’t tell anymore.

He tilts his head. “No?”

“I’m nowhere ready to meet the woman you left Mom for and I have no desire to meet her kids either.”

Surprise flickers across his face before he mumbles, “Well, I didn’t mean now. I was thinking more like a month or two. Christmas is right around the corner and I was hoping we could have everything smoothed over by then.”

Nope, it’s definitely him. He’s lost his ever-loving mind. He’ll be lucky if this is smoothed over by the following Christmas.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, Dad,” I shove a hand through my hair, surprised I have to explain myself to him, “but I don’t think that will happen.”

Happiness drains from his eyes. “I guess you’ll let me know when you’re ready to be part of my new life.”

You know what?

I have zero desire to be part of his new life.

In fact, he can take his new life and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.

How can he be so oblivious to the damage he caused?

It’s like he wants to sweep it all under the rug and pretend it never happened so he can move on with someone else and start his new life. Meanwhile, Mom and I are trying to pick up the tattered pieces of our old one.

It’s a relief when Dad rises to his feet.

“I suppose I should go.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “You probably have homework or studying to finish up.”

I nod, unwilling to tell him any different.

Neither of us speak as we walk to the entryway. The man beside me no longer feels like my father. He’s nothing more than a stranger. Once we reach the door, he pulls it open and pauses. “You’ll keep in touch?”

Even though it’s a lie, I jerk my head into a nod. Maybe, at some point in the future, we’ll be able to get our relationship back on track, but it’ll take time. Whether or not he realizes it, he’s inflicted a lot of pain that I need to work through.

When he wraps his arms around me, I stand frozen, unable to return the embrace.

“Remember that I love you, Mia. None of this is your fault.”

I suck in a sharp breath before gradually blowing it out. If I don’t keep a tight rein on my emotions, I’ll lose it. Not for one damn moment did I ever think I was to blame for the destruction of his marriage. The fault for that lies entirely with him.


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