Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Clairessa's POV

Still trying to catch my breath after what just happened in Gabriel's office, I

stepped into the hall-only to come face to face with the last person I wanted to deal with.

Adrian.

Leaning against the wall like he'd been waiting all day.

He straightened the moment he saw me.

"Clairessa-hey, wait—"

"No." I brushed past him, but he fell into step beside me.

"Just let me explain. Please."

"You had all day yesterday to explain," I snapped, not slowing down.

"I called you over a hundred times. And instead of answering like a decent person

or replying to a single text, you ghosted me-knowing how important today was. And now I'm supposed to stand here and listen to whatever crap you have to say?"

He dragged a hand through his hair. "I wasn't thinking straight after our last conversation. I... I just need you to try to understand me."

I stopped mid-stride and spun on him.

"Understand you? You mean like I was supposed to when you cheated? Or today when I had to cover for you because you showed up late to one of the most important meetings of our careers?"

His expression cracked.

"It's clear you haven't changed." My tone was firm, so he knew I wasn't kidding. "You're still that same entitled, selfish boy who thinks the world revolves around him—and that someone else will always clean up the mess."

His eyes flashed with hurt. "Claire, that's not fair."

"I'm not here to be fair. I'm being honest."

He looked vulnerable and damn it, I hated that a small part of me still cared how he felt.

Then he kept talking.

"I know ghosting you was wrong. I'm sorry. But what did you expect me to do when you broke my heart?"

I blinked, stunned.

He did not just say that.

He had the nerve to flip this on me?

"You think I broke your heart?" I scoffed, nearly laughing at the irony of it all.

"Adrian, I walked in on you screwing Nicole. And don't even try the 'one-time' excuse-I found out about the six-month affair. You even helped her get this job. And now you want me to feel bad for saying no to getting back together?"

His eyes dropped, shame creeping in.

play the victim. Trying

And for some reason—some stupid reason I let him

right about everything," he murmured. "And I'm sorry for leaving you hanging. You have every reason to be

"Damn right I do."

slightly. "Please... just forgive me. This once. I swear I won't mess it up

free. "You've said that before. I'm not

Just this

laughed coldly. "That's never going to

tried a

the project-it was your idea. Maybe it's better the CEO saw that. Maybe it was

at

that excuses you? You showed up late, gave the company a bad impression, and left me to fix everything. We got lucky-that's all.

know it doesn't." His voice softened again. "But we won the pitch, didn't we? Or... did my dad say the CEO changed his mind

out. "No

me make it up

think I can stand to be

desperate. "I know you're mad.

"All I want is space. If you'd shown up like you were supposed to, maybe we'd be celebrating right now. But since you pulled the classic Adrian move-disappearing when

please. Just one drink.

arms. "You really think a

holding on. "Then

slowly. "I don't know. But I know

response, I spun around

crashing over me like a wave.

out-physically drained and emotionally

of my office... hell, the whole building felt like it was closing

I needed to get out. I didn't care how early

closed the deal, and held everything

apart. I deserved

thought about

Gabriel's house

home. And walking back in there now would feel like diving headfirst into everything I'd been trying to escape-especially today, with

around Adrian.

that didn't reek

Somewhere quiet.

could think.

a clear

was only one place

the drive just the

day pressed into my shoulders. By the time I got

I was barely holding it

ve

Jess stood barefoot in an oversized T-shirt that read *Men Are Cancelled in glittering silver letters. I almost laughed until her expression shifted from confusion to full-blown

on a weekday?" she squealed, gripping the doorframe. "Did I miss the

over?"

and stepping inside like I lived there. Jess shut

do you think you're going? No hello? No 'Hey Jess, how've you been?' After

sorry," I muttered, kicking off my heels with a groan and collapsing onto her velvet couch like my bones had