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.

Trying to play the victim.

my hand. And for some reason—some

murmured. "And I'm sorry for leaving you

"Damn right I do."

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

said that before.

me. Just

never

tried

it worked out. The pitch, the project-it was your idea. Maybe it's better the CEO saw that. Maybe it was meant

at him,

bad impression, and left me to fix everything. We got

doesn't." His voice softened again. "But we won the pitch, didn't we? Or... did my dad say the

out. "No thanks

lit up. "Then let me make it up to you. Just one

bitter laugh. "You think I can stand to be around you

"I know

supposed to, maybe we'd be

one drink. Let me

really think

on. "Then tell

"I don't

his response, I spun around and walked away, done

my office, exhaustion crashing over

drained and emotionally

office... hell, the whole building felt like

me. I needed to get out.

deal, and held everything together while it

I deserved

thought about

damn... Gabriel's house was

diving headfirst into everything I'd been trying to escape-especially today, with all

around Adrian.

space. Somewhere that didn't reek of memory

Somewhere quiet.

I could think.

with a clear

only one

remember the drive just the heaviness in my chest

the day pressed into my shoulders. By the time I got

I was barely

ve

door swung open, Jess stood barefoot in an oversized T-shirt that read *Men Are Cancelled in glittering silver letters. I almost laughed

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

over?"

stepping inside like I lived there. Jess shut the door behind me, eyebrows raised with a

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

with a groan and collapsing onto her velvet couch like my bones had just given out. "Work's been...