Colton
My world keeps spinning further and further out of control. I try to line everything up in my head, make it make sense somehow, but even I can hear how insane it sounds. A week ago, it was just me and Ollie trying to survive. Then I had to run. And now there’s Ronan. Ronan, who seemed like an asshole when I first met him. Ronan, who offered me a job that pays too much, an apartment that’s nicer than anywhere I’ve ever lived, and a contract so over-the-top it should probably come with ominous music in the background.
His mother acts like Ollie belongs to her already. His father lets toddlers cover him in silly string. His family fights like they’re in an action movie. None of them is anything like what I expected from some rich business family. And that’s almost worse. Because if they were cold or cruel or obviously fake, it would be easy to walk away. Instead, they’re kind. I know there are red flags everywhere with Ronan.
I know that.
But every time I think I should pull back, he does something that makes me want to step closer instead. Can someone be a walking red flag and still somehow be green too? Because that’s exactly what Ronan feels like. And now he wants us to stay with him.
“That’s not necessary.”
“I’m pretty sure Alessia will not stand for Ollie or you to stay at a motel. You can either stay with Ronan, or you can come home with us,” Kieran says. How are those my only two choices?
“They’re staying with me.”
“That’s Colton’s choice, Ronan.” Kieran cocks his head at Ronan.
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is, Ronan,” I say to try to stop this back and forth. Yes, he is my boss now, but that doesn’t mean he gets to order me around. This whole day, everyone else has been making decisions for Ollie and me, and it is getting on my last nerve.
“I’ll be right back.” That’s all Ronan says as he leaves the room. Kieran just nods at me and leaves as well. I’m now alone in the office. I sit back down at my new company-issued computer and start working on the code for the center. I need to keep this job, so I get back to work.
An hour later, Ronan is back. He doesn’t tell me where he went, and I don’t ask. The code error is simple enough to fix, but I run through it again to make sure it’s working. I check the time, and it’s a little after five.
“I’m done with the center’s security fix. Is there anything else you want me to do today before I leave?”
“No.” Short and not so sweet as usual. I gather my things, thankful I brought my messenger bag.
“What time do you want me here tomorrow?”
“Eight.”
These one-word answers are really starting to piss me off. Why is he behaving like this? Not that he talks much to begin with, but it is more than what he is giving me now. Fuck it, tomorrow isanother day. Hopefully, Ronan will be over whatever mood this is. I leave the office and head to the conference room to get Ollie. I hear his giggles before I even reach the door.
“Rawr!” Xavier yells with his hands up, pretending to be claws. Ollie screams and throws a ball at his head. Xavier is in the ball pit with Ollie. I step beside Declan and watch the two play. Declan is intimidating as hell. I’m not really a small guy, just average in every way possible, but I feel tiny next to this guy. It’s not just physical, either; his demeanor gives off the “don’t fuck with me” vibe hard. But when he looks at Xavier, there’s something soft in his expression. I wonder what it would be like to have someone look at me like that, to care that much about me and my well-being. I shake that thought away. I don’t have time for a relationship right now. I have to keep Ollie safe. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair to drag someone into the shit show that is my life.
“It’s time to go, buddy,” I say as I walk up to the play area. Usually, when I’m close to Ollie, he runs up to get into my arms, but not this time. His little nose scrunches up, and he turns sideways away from me. “Come on, Ollie, we need to eat, and then it’s bath time.” I try to coax him, but he pushes his little body farther into the balls.
“I’ll get him for you.” Xavier smiles as he roars at Ollie before scooping him up. Ollie’s laughter fills the room until he realizes that he is being taken out of the ball pit. I didn’t realize that Ollie could hit that octave. I take him and try to calm him down.
“What’s going on?” Ronan asks from the doorway.
“Ollie doesn’t want to leave. Not that I can blame him. I had a blast playing with him. I get to babysit him some tomorrow.”
Where Xavier is all smiles and happiness, Ronan is frowning and grumpy. He has already proven that he doesn’t like babies andthinks they are gross. Hell, he didn’t want to touch Ollie. That’s another reason it is laughable that he would want us in his space.
Ollie is really being a brat. He is leaning back, making it hard for me to hold on to him. He’s tired, and it’s showing, but like all toddlers, he isn’t about to give in. I shift him several times, trying like hell not to drop him. Suddenly, his weight is gone from my arms, and I have a second of panic, but I realize that Ronan has taken him from me.
“Hey, stop that. We are going home to eat and take a bath,” Ronan says to Ollie. To my shock and amazement, Ollie calms down. He still has tears running down his little chubby cheeks, but he is no longer fighting. Ronan hands him back to me, and Ollie puts his head on my shoulder.
“Wow, he listened to you. Thanks.”
“Let’s go,” Ronan says and turns to walk out of the room. I grab Ollie’s diaper bag and, after telling Xavier bye, I follow Ronan.
At the elevator, Ronan takes the diaper bag from me. The elevator goes straight to the parking garage. I step out as soon as the doors open and realize that we are not on the floor where I parked my car this morning. I need to go back up two levels.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I say, stepping back in. Ronan throws his hand out to stop the door from shutting.
