“He can’t do this, right?” she asks, the panic in her voice making my fists clench. “I talked to Kyra last week and she said it was unlikely he could get custody of any kind. I have proof of his absence from Trace’s life.”
I scrub a hand over my face. “The papers say he just wants a paternity test.” I turn, pacing the other way. “Did he sign away his rights? Or just refuse to help?”
Her face pales. “No. He didn’t sign anything.”
“Fuck,” I mumble. “And you’re one hundred percent sure Trace is his?”
“How dare you ask me that?” she croaks, her voice catching.
“Baby, I didn’t mean anything by that. I just wanted to ask to be sure there wasn’t anyone else that could be a possibility.”
“Well, I’ve only had sex with you other than him that one time, so no, there are no other possibilities,” she snips, but I know it’s because she’s stressed.
“All right. I trust you.” I stop again by the island, my eyes surveying the bullshit he’s requesting.
“He knows that Trace is his.” She drops her head into her hands. “Once that’s proven, he can file for custody.”
“So he wants custody to say he’sa good fatherso he can up his career?” I scoff. “Who the fuck does that? And who the hell is helping him? We both know he doesn’t have this kind of cash. He’s not even in the top fifty in rankings. His attitude and rap sheet aren’t a secret on the circuit.”
She sucks in a deep breath before lifting her head. Her eyes mist over and I straighten.
“What is it?”
“Parker…I…”
The look on her face has me moving toward her. “You can tell me anything. What’s going on?”
“I promise I’ve told you everything about when he came to the office last week, but I left out one part.”
My eyes narrow. “Why would you leave out one part?”
“Because you two have a history. And I knew you’d be upset,” she admits.
My hand brushes a piece of hair from her eyes. “I won’t be upset. Tell me.”
She holds my gaze before she drops another nuclear bomb.
“His new agent is Jet Jackson.”
Chapter thirty-four
Laiken
The text sitting on my phone should make me ecstatic. My house has been put back together, with running water, and we can go back to making our little slice of paradise home. But I feel sick. Sick over the papers downstairs. Sick at the pure rage on Parker’s face when he found out Jet signed Rhodes. A part of me thinks Jet is doing it on purpose to hurt Parker for considering retirement. For putting his foot down and demanding he have the freedom to make his own choices for his own life.
A flutter takes off in my stomach when I think about the moment before everything flipped upside down. His mouth on mine. Therightnessof us.
“Mama.”
My head turns to Trace standing in the doorframe.
“I’m all better!” He grins.
“Are you?” I sit up. “Well, then I think that calls for celebratory pancakes.”
“Yes!” He pumps his fist. “Then can we go ride Tator Tot today? I think he misses me.”
I chuckle. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
