Page 148 of Where We Stay

“But that’s not the only reason you came back, is it?”

“I never said it was.”

A humorless laugh escapes me. “You left out a pretty fucking important detail.”

“Dean—”

“You stood in front of me and said you came back because you wanted to be Aspen’s mother,” I cut in. “You asked me to trust you. Then you walked away and went straight to my father for thirty grand.”

“Those things aren’t connected,” Courtney argues, folding her arms across her chest.

“Then explain it.”

“It’s personal.”

“You made it my fucking business when you asked my family for money.”

“Your dad said no.” She throws her hands up. “What does it matter?”

I stare at her. “It matters because Aspen thinks her mom finally came back for her, and right now, I have no fucking idea whether that’s true.”

Courtney’s face crumples. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Use Aspen against me,” she says, her voice cracking.

That nearly sends me over the edge.

“You think I’m using her against you?” I step closer, forcing myself to keep my voice low. “Aspen is the only reason we’re having this conversation. If you came back because you’re in trouble, tell me. If you came back because you need money, tell me. But don’t use my daughter as the excuse that gets you through the door.”

“She’s my daughter too,” Courtney fires back.

“Then start acting like it.”

Silence fills the apartment.

Courtney’s eyes drop to the floor.

There.

That’s the first honest reaction I’ve gotten out of her since she came back.

“What happened?” I ask, quieter this time.

She shakes her head.

“Courtney,” I press.

“I bought a house,” she finally admits.

I wait for her to continue.

“About eighteen months ago,” she adds, rubbing her hands along her arms. “It was more than I could afford, but work was going well, and I thought I could handle it.”

“And you couldn’t,” I say flatly.

Her jaw tightens. “Work slowed down. I started missing payments and kept telling myself I’d catch up.”