“You can’t just leave like that?” Brooke’s tone was flat, he could feel the glare against his back.

Instead of turning and warranting a response, he just sighed and continued to put his shirt on. Shaking his dreads lose once the shirt was on.

“I know you heard me…” This time her voice was mostly sprinkled with the sad truth.

“He was a grade A asshole… “ That he knew for himself, the back of his mind focused on the long drive back home.

“I did” He said flatly looking back at the woman covered by only a light white sheet. Her light brown eyes searching his soul for a simple answer amongst chaotic emotions.

“Does he love me?” She thought, tears starting to come to her eyes as his flat answer started the breaking.

It all came in cycles, he’d leave knowing he had to be back home. She’d get mad, storm about. Blocking him on Facebook or instagram for a night or two. Then once she calmed down, back she came. It wasn’t just her pattern, he’d done the same. Not talked to her for a few weeks. Then bam they’d be right back here.

Fighting over the nights meal choice, cuddling up beyond the fire of a small cottage on the side of the mountain. Mounting each other like beasts of old forgotten lore.

“Why can’t it just be? Why’s it always need to be a fight?” He turned and looked down at his shoes tying them quickly.

“I need to know this isn’t just hooking up? I want more!” She half yelled, expecting to rise him to a temper.

“So what? We just been hooking up for two years. Consistently?” He smiled laughing to himself at how dumb that sounded.

“So it’s funny? Wanting more then good dick once a month”

“You know I can’t give you more then that…. I shouldn’t have ever started this” He shook his head feeling her hand on his back.

“You don’t mean that” Now the tears had started flowing.

Of course his heart jumped watching the pain it caused her. Without another thought he grabbed her out of the covers. Wrapping his arms around her nakedness. Kissing her with all the force left in his body.

“I don’t … you know that”

“Then don’t be like that” She pulled his lips back to hers.

Shaking his head of the previous morning’s pressure he looked back at the baby blue sports car parked next to his hanger. Thinking of pulling up to the house he missed.

Pulling up to the front gate he flipped the gate switch and it receded.

“I hope I’m not to late to set my demons straight” Die Hard, by Kendrick Lamar played loudly.

Pulling up to his three car garage doors at the end of the round about that framed the front lawn of the estate. Business had been good for years, instead of opening the garage. He left the car out, grabbing his phone and wallet out the car.

Inside the house was delightfully homey, the warm colors on the walls and carpet made him sigh. Instead of the silence he heard the commotion coming from the living room.

“When is he gonna be home? I’m tired of listening to this crap” Kalissi groaned and he could hear the eye roll that followed a whole room away.

“Can’t you just stop. Why must everything be a fight?” Karly asked sounding utterly exhausted and defeated.

“That’s enough!” He shouted out, playing the part as he rounded the hallway corner.

His younger daughter gasped and jumped to her brother on the other couch. Kalissi didn’t budge, angrily looking at the woman who wasn’t her mother then back to her father.

“I’m tired of you acting like this. How long are you gonna keep this up?” He started to ask watching her anger fade away and the sadness start to rise.

“Your not here enough to be tired of it” She spat back but for a second he could see the pain, quickly replaced by anger.

“Kaylani and Mason go upstairs and play. We need to have a conversation” The other two didn’t respond, just leaped off the couch and started towards the stairs.

“She’s in pain… I get it. It’s exhausting but don’t be to harsh” Karly whispered as she passed. Giving him a half hug as she passed.

“Why aren’t you here?” She started to sob and he tried to hold the anger at the disrespect she’d shown. “We all miss you…. Nobody else says it… but we do”

“I’m sorry. We still have bills to pay”

“Karly says you are addicted to the success…” She curdled up into her night shirt.

“Maybe I am…” He shuttered a bit knowing full well where it was he was always going.

“Do you love us?” She looked up at him with the same multicolored eyes her mother had.

“Of course I …”

“So why not be home?” She interrupted and he quickly pulled her into an embrace.

“I love you all” He could feel the tears coming and quickly wiped hers away. “So be nicer to your mother”

“She’s Mason’s mother…” As he looked down on the indifferent expression on her face, he chuckled.

“So shouldn’t you be grateful that she chose to love you and your sister as well?”