Things will change when we tell Ruthie—I know that, and so does Tess. It'll be out in the open, and we'll need to ease Roo into it. There will be specific ways we need to navigate our new relationship with my job and publicity in mind, and of course her position as our nanny will change too—or end altogether—though we haven't necessarily discussed any of that yet.
But I don't want any part of being with me toscareher.
Jo told me not to let her bail when she called, but I wasn't going to wait around for that to happen. Not because I didn't think she would, but because I don't want another single second to go by without putting both of our minds at ease.
Unless it's to pick up her favorite sweet treat.
"Montgomery!" the barista behind the counter calls out. They're busier today than I expected and running low on baked goods. But for once in the last few years of my life, I played the Gators' card and let them treat me like the Golden City royalty they think I am.
"Sorry about the wait, sir," the teen says, his eyes full of awe as they trail up my frame.
"No need. Thank you for this." I take the box from him and drop a twenty in the tip jar, then turn on my heel to leave.
But I don't.
From the corner of my eye, I spot a familiar face with an unmistakable douchiness—one that's so forgettable it somehow sticks to your memory. It belongs to a guy I would have been perfectly happy never seeing again, but at this moment, I almost have to approach. He's at the counteragainst the window, seated next to a woman I already feel sorry for. She has long blonde hair and a body eerily similar to… Tessa's.
The thought makes me laugh as I head in his direction, my feet driven by my eagerness to confront him.
"So, yeah, I threw a couple hundred on this series. The Gators are decent, but I think the Mariners will take 'em."
"Ooh, I don't know if I'd take that bet." I drop my hand on Trevor's shoulder about five seconds after drawing his date's attention by simply moving toward them. I extend my hand to her. "Liam Montgomery."
"Gabby," she says, taking it and smiling sweetly.
"Nice to meet you, Gabby." I give Trevor's arm a tight squeeze. "How's it goin' Travis?"
"Trevor."
"Ah, I knew it was something like that." I throw a wink toward the woman, who suddenly looks more relaxed—probably because I stopped her date from talking about himself. "Not a Gators fan all of a sudden, Trev? Last time I bumped into you, you were all Sunshine!"
I flash him a grin, patting his back to really nail it home. His jaw ticks as he tries to maintain his composure, but his fidgeting tells me I'm getting under his skin exactly as I'd hoped.
Guys like him are all the same—I see plenty of them on the field. They're all bark and no bite, constantly talking about their money or arm candy to cover up their shallow personalities and mediocre game. But this one made a mistake the others don't.
He used the wrong woman to make himself feel better about his shitty character and clear gambling problem.
Mywoman.
"How's Tessa doing?" he asks, and just like that, the little game I was playing gets a lot more real.
"Oh, she's great." I lift the box of pastries. "Actually, these are for her."
Gabby clicks her tongue, a softawwsneaking past her lips as Trevor pulls back slightly. "Tess likes those?"
It's exactly what I needed to steady myself again. "Well," I laugh. "It's no burnt grilled cheese."
Trevor forces a chuckle to match mine before his smile fades. "So, whatchya doin' here, Liam? Trying to steal another one of my girls?"
Gabby's mouth drops open, either in offense or disbelief.
"Oh, Trevor," I drawl. "I know I've got a few years on you, but please tell me you've learned by now that women can't be stolen." I drop my hand onto the back of his chair and meet Gabby's eyes. "Because they're not property. Not Tessa… and not Gabby here either."
She cocks a brow in his direction, his face turns red, and I ready myself with the rest of my response.
Maybe it's passive aggressive. Or maybe this mentor-dad thing has seeped into too much of my life. But if a grown man doesn't know that women need to feel seen and heard, supported and protected—all of the things I hope Ruthie's future partner knows before they ever meet her—it feels like my responsibility to teach him that lesson.
I gear up to tell him that maybe Tessa left because she got tired of waiting around for what she deserved, whether or not she even realizes what that is. That she takes care of everyone and everything and expects nothing in return—doesn't even ask. But that, either way, it doesn't matter. She's not his anymore. Never will be.
