I stood, done with this conversation. Craig had no right to butt into my life. He was here to spend time with Kai; he wasn’t allowed to judge me or my decisions.
I returned my plate to the room service tray and navigated to the Huxley Grand app on my phone. I went to the room service menu and selected the button for “finished with meal.”
“This is temporary. I’m working on finding a place for Kai and me to live. I just haven’t had much time.”
“I know, and I understand that. I just…think it will be good for you both to have some space from your work.”
“My work—or Jasper?” I asked.
“Jesus, Halle.” He stood, his chair scraping against the floor. “I’m just trying to find out more about the people my son’s spending time with. If roles were reversed, you’d be doing the same.”
That was fair. But I worried about what Craig was hinting at. And I worried if he suspected something between Jasper and me, others might too. I needed to shut down anything that might suggest an improper relationship, at least until Jasper and I figured out what we wanted for the future. And only then, how we wanted to handle it.
Jasper’s words floated to me once more.We’ll figure it out.
I tried to be a little less defensive, but that was difficult when it came to Craig. I’d spent years retreating into myself or feeling the need to defend myself. I might not care what he thought anymore, but it was a difficult habit to break.
“Jasper has several nieces and nephews who adore him. Kai adores him. Him and Rosie.”
“And what about you?”
“What about me?” I asked, sweat dripping down my back. Was he insinuating that something was going on between Jasper and me?
“I don’t know. You seem…different, happier, lately. And I guess I just wondered if you’re seeing anyone.”
I jerked my head back. And here I’d been worried that he suspected something between Jasper and me. But holy shit. Was Craig…?
He held up his hands. “Not because…” He shook his head. “Not becauseI…” He dropped his hands. “This is coming out all wrong.”
He cleared his throat, and I wondered what the hell was going on. “I, um—” He tugged on his collar. “This isn’t easy for me, but I’m working on it. A few months ago, I started going to therapy.”
I couldn’t have been more shocked if he’d told me he’d taken a trip to Mars. “That’s, uh, that’s great, Craig.”
I wondered what had finally prompted him to go to therapy. I’d asked him to go with me or on his own many times, and he’d always been completely opposed.
“Therapy, Kai moving away, it’s made me realize how much I’ve missed with him. Not just lately, but for the past five years. And with his birthday coming up, well—” He sighed. “He’s growing up so fast.”
I leaned my hip against the counter, using it to prop myself up. Craig had never said anything like this. And while pretty words were empty without action, this was definitely a step in the right direction. This was everything I could’ve wanted for Kai. For my son—and his relationship with his father.
I only hoped Craig would follow through this time.Because he’d disappointed Kai in the past, broken promises, and Kai had been heartbroken.
Craig stepped closer, attention darting down the hall toward Kai’s bedroom. I could hear Kai giggling at something my mom had said, but I appreciated Craig’s effort to be discreet. “Ever since you and Kai moved to LA, I feel so far away from him.”
“I can imagine,” I said. “And I think it’s great that you’ve been trying to call him more regularly. That you came to visit. It seems like you spent some quality time together this weekend.”
“We did.” He smiled. “It was really nice. But I don’t want to watch him grow up through a screen. And two weeks in the summer and then a week over Christmas isn’t enough.”
A pit formed in my stomach. I was going to be sick. Craig was going to try to take Kai from me. It wouldn’t be the first time, but I’d fought like hell, and I would do so again.
I tried to remain unruffled. I needed to appear calm, cool, and in control.
“Which is why—” Craig spread his arms wide, his smile almost hesitant “—I’m moving to California.”
“Wait. What?” Surely I’d misheard him. Surely I was imagining things. Because there was no way that Craig was moving here.
“I’m moving to LA. I want to be closer to Kai. I want to have the chance to get to know my son. That’s why I was here, to meet with some of the company execs about transferring.”
I was hit by a chill that went deep to my core. “I’m stunned. I had no idea you even felt this way.”
