Chapter Eleven

Percy

It's been three days sine I woke up to find Annabeth gone. I've tried calling her but she never picks up. I've sent her texts but she never replies. I don't know what to do. I opened my heart to her, told her about my son, made love to her, told her I loved her and then she left me.

I understand that she's married and she may feel guilty but she said she wanted a divorce. I thought she wanted it, I know I did. I didn't know it would end like this. The last thing I want is for her to regret it but obviously she does if she left.

I grab my fifth beer from the refrigerator and then slump onto the couch in front of the TV, resting my feet on the coffee table. I don't know what I am watching, or staring at more like. The voices coming from the screen sound like an echo in the distance. I'm looking at the screen but I'm not seeing what's on it.

I feel like I'm dreaming. I can't concentrate. She is all I can think about. Annabeth, Annabeth, Annabeth. I just want to hear her voice. I want to know she's okay and that she doesn't hate me completely.

I let my puffy eyes flutter to my cell phone that is resting on the coffee table. Is there any point in trying to call her? Maybe I can ring her cell phone and pretend to be someone else. Nah, that won't work. She has caller ID and will know it's me as soon as she sees my picture flashing on her screen.

I wonder if I have her telephone number. Something sparks in my head- hope- and I scroll through my contact list and nearly yell with joy when I see the title 'Annie's home telephone'. Not all telephones show the person calling so I press the green button and hold my cell phone to my ear.

My hands are trembling with nerves as I wait for someone to pick up. It's been over twenty seconds and I'm about to hang up when an unfamiliar voice says, "Hello?"

"O-oh, hi. Is, uh, Annabeth there?" I stutter out before clearing my throat and repeating my question more clearly. I didn't think about what I was going to say.

"Yeah. I'll get her for you now. Who should I say it is?" the girl asks.

I think for a few seconds before blurting out, "Her dad."

"Oh. Hi. I'll get her now," the girl, I'm assuming it's Jess, says. I know she's never met Annabeth's dad so it must be really awkward speaking to someone you've never met but is her mom's dad.

"Thank you," I say before I hear her call for Annabeth.

I bite my lip while I nervously wait.

"Hello? Dad?" Annabeth's voice soothes me instantly and I sigh loudly.

"It's me," I say.

"Percy?" she asks. I can hear the confusion in her voice.

"Please, don't hang up," I beg. "I-I really needed to hear your voice."

"We can't see each other anymore. You… we- what we did shouldn't have happened. I'm married," she whispers shakily.

"I know. But you're getting divorced, right?"

"That doesn't make the situation any better, Percy. I've got my kids to think about. You've been all I can think about since we met. We were both upset that night. We didn't know what we were doing," Annabeth replies in a whisper.

"You told me you loved me," I whisper.

She doesn't say anything for a minute. "I-I can't talk about this now. I need time."

"Okay," I sigh. "If you need me call me. Please don't hate me."

"I could never hate you," she says before hanging up.

Annabeth

I hate myself for leaving him. I hate myself for admitting I love him and then sleeping with him when I knew it was wrong. I hate myself for breaking his heart. I've known Luke has cheated on me with different women for months, years. It doesn't make me any different to him though.

I hang up after the surprise call from Percy. I run my hands through my already messy hair and walk into the living room.

I feel so… empty.

I don't know what to do with myself. When I came back three days ago I kicked Luke out after a loud and horrible argument and he went to stay with a friend (his secretary probably).

He hasn't even tried to visit the kids or call to beg for me back which shows how he's ready to move on. I know this is going to be ugly. We're going to fight over the kids and that's the last thing I want to put them through. But there is no way I am losing custody of them.

"Are you okay?" Jess asks, coming into the living room and taking a seat besides me on the couch.

"Yeah," I mutter, staring into space.

"Liar," Jess sighs. "I can't say I'm surprised."

I turn to look at her, my brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I can't say I'm surprised you and dad are getting a divorce. He's always working and you always have to look after us. When you were away and he was trying to talk to me it was so awkward. I felt like I was talking to a stranger. The boys didn't want to leave the house. They cried for you every night."

Tears fill my eyes. "I shouldn't have went."

"I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. You deserved a break. It shows that our father wasn't born to be a dad. He lives for his work. You want to know why I started hanging around with that bad group?" Jess asks.

"Why?" I question.

"Because I thought that if I was bad then dad would finally take the time to notice me. I didn't care if he yelled at me I just wanted him to know that- that I was there. I wanted to feel like I didn't make a mistake coming to find my father. I wanted to feel like it isn't my fault this family is broken," Jess whispers, a few tears sliding down her cheeks.

"Don't say that. It's not your fault. Luke and I haven't been in love for a long, long time- before you came," I promise, wrapping my arms around her and holding tight.

"Then why did you stay with him? Why is it now that you've only decided to get a divorce?" she asks, weeping into my shoulder.

"Because I didn't want to hurt you or the boys. I don't have a job to help take care of you all. I was scared I'd lose custody of you. I'm still so scared," I admit.

"I'm sorry that I've been such a bitch to you. When I came to find my dad I thought that it would only be the two of us: father and daughter. When I found out who you were I hated you. I felt like you split dad and my real mom apart. All you've tried to do is care for me and I've been so horrible."

"It's okay," I whisper, kissing her forehead.

"No, it's not. What if you lose custody? Can you imagine dad taking care of us? He'd have girlfriends young enough to be my sister looking after us," Jess cries.

"That won't happen," I say. "I'll win custody even if it's the last thing I can do."