AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Un-fucking-acceptable.
I don’t know how much time it takes me to get home, but I know that it’s less time than what’d be legal. I don’t care. Olivia and I are going to talk and we’re going to talk right this goddamn second.
“Olivia!” My shout echoes through the house.
“In Violet’s room!”
She sounds agitated, but boy, is she in for a wild ass surprise when I come up there and give her a taste of my own agitation. I bound up the stairs two at a time and find her.
“Shh!” she shushes me as I barge in. “I’m putting Violet to sleep.”
I grit my teeth, but remain quiet. Olivia bounces Violet in her arms and hums a soft little tune to her.
“We need to talk,” I whisper-shout at her.
“We don’t need to do anything.”
“Really? So how do you wanna explain Priscilla and Jeremy?”
Her face pales. Ah, so she knows just who the fuck I’m talking about. “How did you?—”
“They called Melanie asking about references for a nannying job.”
Olivia’s mouth opens and closes, a fish out of water as she tries to gather her thoughts. When she finally manages to speak, it’s in tight words squeezed through her lips. “Downstairs. I’m not arguing with you in front of Violet.”
My nostrils flare, but the look that Olivia gives me keeps me from insisting that we hash this out here and now. I don’t want to be the father that has a huge-ass argument in front of his daughter. If I can spare Violet that kind of trauma, I will. Every time.
I know what it’s like to witness helplessly.
“Fine,” I say. “But you’re not getting out of talking to me this time.”
Olivia scoffs, but there’s something else that lingers in her gaze. Regret, maybe? Apprehension? Whatever it is, I don’t stick around to try to poke and prod at it more. I turn, storming down the stairs.
Tonight, there’s gonna be a reckoning in this house.
Whether either of us are ready for it or not.
12
OLIVIA
Violet must be able to feel the confusion and frustration radiating off me, because she emits a flustered gurgle in her sleep. Gently, I rock her. It doesn’t take long for her to settle down once more.
She’s such a precious little thing. Sometimes, I wonder if Reese knows how lucky he is to have her. All the love and joy she’s going to bring into his life as she gets older.
He better not take it for granted…
Even if I’m not around to see it.
Leaving Violet’s room, I brace myself for Reese’s attitude. I wasn’t even going to tell him about lunch with Priscilla and Jeremy. What would be the point?
“Reese?”
“Kitchen.”
I find him in there, making a sandwich at the counter. He smells like beer and smoke, which means he’s been to the bar, which ruffles my feathers after how bent out of shape he was over Quinn and me going out.
I push down the frustration and fold my arms. “Did my mother talk to you, or are you spying on me now?”
