The deception ran deep, too deep to follow, for I’d surely fall to my death trying to chart its path.
Twitch held our son to him, and it was a good thing because I was ready for round two. The shithead smiled at me, making a show of roaming my body with those perpetually hooded eyes. “You look good, baby.”
Fuck you were the words I thought.
What I actually said was, “We need to go.”
“Can I see Daddy after school?” A.J. asked politely, then added, “Please?” for good measure.
Stepping forward, I held out my arms, and A.J. came willingly to me, but during the handover, Twitch’s hand touched mine, leaving a trail of solid heat along my fingertips. And I loathed that a simple touch was all it took to set my body on fire. When he was secure in my hold, I shook my head. “I don’t think so.” He frowned, and just as he went to argue, I shot him a firm look. “Not tonight.”
Twitch observed, searching his son’s face, jaw set at the disappointment he saw there. “Next time, bud. Besides, you know where I live.” Then he looked at me, directly at me, and when he spoke, I heard the threat in them. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Nope.
I did not like that.
There was definitely a warning laced in that last statement and, regrettably, Twitch never did play fair. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t know me anymore. And the lengths I would go to keep my cub safe were infinite, even from his father.
Especially from his father.
Avoiding Twitch was easier than I thought. It had been days since I allowed A.J. time with his dad, and after that first morning, Twitch hadn’t come out to see his son off to school.
I thought it was smart of him to give me a wide berth after the week’s occurrences. I went about my days as I would have the previous week, but I was on autopilot, barely thinking on the goings on around me, and when Nikki called for the hundredth time, I answered.
“Hey,” I spoke quietly.
She immediately burst into tears. “I didn’t know, I swear.”
Her cries called to mine, but I refused to let them be freed, especially at the office. “I know.”
“Then why aren’t you talking to me?” She sniffled. “You think you’re the only confused one, Lex?” A high-pitched squeak left her before she wept openly. “I’m losing my fucking mind here.”
Oh, sweet girl. My heart hurt for her. “You haven’t spoken to Happy?”
“Are you kidding me?” she sniveled. “Fuck, no,” she uttered as firmly as she could. “Fuck him.” Okay, that time her voice broke, and when she went on, I could barely understand her from the blubbing. “I hate him.”
I smiled softly. “No, you don’t.”
At that, the dam broke. Nikki howled out a broken, “No, I don’t.” She continued to sob, and she croaked, “I want to though.” A whimper sounded. “Why don’t I?”
I leaned back in my desk chair. “Because you know as well as I do that whatever this is isn’t on Happy. It’s on Twitch.” I was mad at Happy. I was so fucking mad, but I knew Twitch, and knowing him meant knowing he would have done whatever he meant to do with or without his friends’ help. But that didn’t mean I was ready to talk to Happy. So perhaps I had my own selfish reasons for suggesting what I did. “I think you should call him, honey.” Because the thought of both Twitch and Happy living across the street from me made me feel backed into a damn corner.
“You do?” she breathed, and in that moment, I knew it was what she needed to hear, what she prayed to hear from me. If I’d told her I’d never wanted to hear his name spoken, Nikki would delete Happy’s number and pretend the last five years of her life never happened. I, however, was not so cruel. This was my issue to deal with, not hers.
“I do, babe.” And I meant that. “I mean, I wouldn’t make it easy on him.” When she let out a soggy laugh, I smiled. That smile fell as an awkward silence ensued. “Talk to him, Nikki. It’s okay. I want you to.”
My best friend was silent a long moment, but when she spoke I felt those words deep in my soul. “I love you, Lexi.”
“I love you too, Nik Nak.” I blew out a long breath, putting a hand to my forehead as my eyes closed. “And as soon as I know what the hell is going on, we’ll talk, okay?” Before I hung up, I asked, “How’s Dave?” At her scoff, my face bunched. “That good, huh?”
She hesitated. “He’s... uh... upset.”
I couldn’t help the soft laugh that bubbled up my throat. Knowing Dave, upset was the biggest understatement of the century, and when I heard Nikki’s responding laughter, the hilarity increased. It was such an unbelievable situation. That’s what made it all the more comical.
It felt good to laugh in the face of despair. I was pretty sure I was treading the thin line between sanity and hysteria.
When we finally got ourselves under control, I chuckled. “Well, I’m going to go now and try not to think on the fact that my ex just returned from the dead, lives across the street from me, and is trying to insert himself back into my life.”
Nikki gasped loudly. “He lives across the street?”
Ugh. I was not talking about this. “Okay, so bye.”
“Wait!” she called, but I already had my finger on the end call button.
I did not have the strength to deal. Not today.
Chapter Thirteen
Lexi
“Can I come in?”
My cold eyes roamed the small woman, and when Manda held up her hands in a conciliating way, she uttered quickly, “I found out by accident. I was never meant to know. I swear it.” She inhaled deeply, and carried on through an exhale, “Our dad doesn’t even know yet.” Her face bunched at the thought. “And, shit, is he going to be pissed at me.”
I studied her a moment. Old habits died hard and curiosity had always been my failing. I mean, look at where it got me with Twitch. Pregnant by a criminal and alone in the world—that’s where.
Truth was, I wanted to know the facts and I needed to talk to somebody who knew what the fuck was going on here. Manda might just be that person. Lord knows I didn’t want Twitch anywhere near me right now.
Without a word, I stepped aside and with a tight smile, she moved past me, into the house. I gently shut the door behind us and followed her into the kitchen. When Manda saw A.J., her smile beamed. “Hey, you.” But A.J. barely spared a smile for his aunt before walking into his room, and Manda frowned. “Is he okay?”
No, he wasn’t.
I folded my arms across my chest. “He wants his daddy.”
Manda nodded in understanding, and I was thankful for her not offering her advice in this uncomfortable situation.
Molly stood from the kitchen table, staring Manda in the eye before peering at me. “I’ll get him ready for bed.”
“Thanks, Molly.” She really was a godsend. When I walked toward the fridge, I spoke along the way. “I take it you’re here to talk.”
At least she had the grace to look uncomfortable. “Yeah. I thought I should come bridge the gap.”
I brought out a bottle of white wine and held it in my hand. “I guess we’re going to need this.” But before I left the fridge, I twisted back to her and uttered, “How bad is it?” At her clear grimace, I reached into the fridge with a sigh and pulled out a second bottle, while muttering, “Rock ‘n Roll.” Bumping the fridge door shut with my butt, I jerked my chin toward the cabinet to the left before slipping on my Pikachu slippers. “Grab a couple of glasses, will ya? Let’s sit on the porch.”
When we were both seated, I opened the wine and filled our glasses.
Manda started, “Well—”
But I cut her off with a click of my tongue. Inhaling deeply, I spoke a hushed, “Let me prepare,” and lifting my glass, I put it to my lips, tipped it back, and swallowed over and over again until its contents were gone. Manda’s eyes widened at my unladylike hiccup, and I poured again. “One more.” I emptied the second glass then smiled. “Okay, I’m good. Lay it on me.”
“Where do you want to me start?” she offered slowly.