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“Can we stop and get some ice cream?” Lucy asked him.
“Yeah, sweetie, after I talk to Mommy.”
What a fucking asshole! I knew his kind—men like him thought that kids meant they owned the mothers. They acted like it was okay to mistreat a woman. Well, that bastard had another thing coming. I was—
“I’ll talk to you later, Elijah?” Hadley pleaded. Those ocean-blue eyes begged me not to make things harder on her. And because I wasn’t her ex, I took a deep, deep fucking breath and told myself to relax.
To avoid making trouble for Hadley, I left. It wasn’t my preferred choice, but I relented for her.
Still, my gut churned with unease at the thought of leaving such sweet gems at the mercy of someone that seemed to thrive on putting people down. The glint in his eyes as he looked into Hadley’s sweet ones—it was like he was warning her or challenging her to go against him. I didn’t know, but it wasn’t right.
I didn’t like it. I hated it, actually, because I was the outsider and had no right to say anything.
“Yeah, bye Lucy.” I waved.
“Bye.” She waved back.
“Oh, and Hadley?” I said before walking toward my house.
“Yeah.”
“Don’t buy your cake. I’ll get it.”
“Chocolate cake! Chocolate cake!” Lucy told me.
I chuckled. “All right.”
______
Elijah: You and Eli walk over.
I hadn’t been able to stop worrying about them after I left. I had no right to interfere, but the longer I sat replaying the incident, I knew if it happened again, I wouldn’t be able to keep my mouth shut.
The only reason I stayed quiet was for Hadley. She had no idea the effect she had on me. Nothing had the ability to shut me up quite like the idea of causing her trouble. I didn’t know their relationship. Maybe they were trying to patch things up.
Fuck that. It’d be a cold day in Hell before I let that happen.
I was getting fucking antsy. I needed to know if they were okay. I didn’t like the irate way he stared at her.
Another hour went by before she replied.
Hadley: Don’t want to bother you, but it would prob make Lucy happy if you showed up and watched that movie with her… It’s okay if you’re busy. Still can tomorrow? If that’s okay?
What the fuck? Lucy didn’t go to her Dad’s after all?
I needed answers. It didn’t matter that I had no right to interfere in their life. I got up from the couch and slipped on my steel-toed motorcycle boots and rushed over. I wanted to be someone she called or wanted to confide in. I wanted that with Hadley so badly. I wanted her to need that from me.
Jesus, I sounded like a Neanderthal or some shit. That woman was filling up my head with endless thoughts of her.
When I knocked on their door a minute later, Hadley answered and the sight of her multiplied my anger tenfold. Her face and neck were covered with blotchy red marks. She’d been crying. “Hadley,” I could feel the tension in my voice.
“What?” I spooked her. She covered her face, wiping something that wasn’t there.
“I think you should tell me about their dad so next time I don’t cause any problems.”
Eyes widening, she got all flustered. “You didn’t cause any trouble.”
“Don’t lie,” I told her, sliding my index finger down her cheeks. I liked the soft, fevered touch of her skin. “You can tell me later.” I stepped inside. “Lucy!” I hollered.
