“Kate, hear me out.” His voice was soft, almost begging.
I looked up then, and a pang of pain stabbed through my chest at the sight of desperation on his face.
“There’s a real chance I might not make partner at all because—”
“I know.”
His lip curled in disgust. “Guess it’s the topic of the day.”
“It’ll blow over,” I told him.
Still very aware of his hand on me, I pulled my arm back a little. He didn’t get the hint. Those fingers dug deeper into my skin, and it might have been my imagination, but I could’ve sworn he’d moved closer.
“This could work, Kate. We can both get what we want.”
I shook my head before the last word left his mouth. “No, it can’t.”
It was difficult to think straight with all the weirdness happening inside my body. Tugging my arm again, this time harder than before, I finally freed myself from Tristan’s grip.
I didn’t want to risk him reaching for me, so I put enough distance between us. “I don’t want to lose Millie, but lying to keep her wouldn’t be right. Especially if we get caught. This is exactly the kind of ammunition Taelyn can use against me.” A sigh pushed past my lips. “I’m sorry, Tristan. You’ll need to find someone else to play pretend with.”
His gaze, dark and intense, bored into me for a few heart-stopping moments before he finally looked at something over my shoulder.
“No.” Long fingers slid through his dark hair. “I’m the one who should be apologizing.” His attention drifted back to me. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
We stood there, gazes locked, neither of us moving.
It was weird.
“I... uh ...” I pointed at the door. “I’m gonna go.”
“Yeah.” His gaze never left mine. “Think I’ll see if I can salvage that meeting with Fergason.”
I left the office. Tristan left the building.
And he didn’t come back at all.
Part of me wondered if he was out romancing one of his many lovers into pretending to be his wife. I didn’t care for the sour taste the thought left on my tongue. Tristan was free to do whoever and whatever he liked.
By the time I climbed the steps to Izzy’s apartment a little after six, my brain had gone from wondering about Tristan to being furious with this whole custody situation. It was a mess.
I had to talk to Millie about it. Probably my parents too.
I simply couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I’d never felt so helpless in my entire life. I hated it. Hated that this damn thing was going to hang over our heads for who knew how long.
I hated Taelyn too.
But I’d dwell on it later when my girl was safe and asleep in her room. That was why I shoved past the melancholy and pasted on a smile as I tapped my knuckles against the door.
Instead of Izzy opening, it was Millie. I’d barely had time to inhale when she flung her tiny body at me.
“Hey, Bug,” I breathed into her hair. “Missed you today.”
Her arms around my neck tightened. My heart squeezed behind my ribs.
“Hey.” I pulled my head back to look at her. Her red curls clung to her face. I tucked them behind her ear. “Everything okay?”
