Page 176 of Challenge Me

“God damnit, Mal. I will sell you on the black market. Don’t test me.”

She looked away from me. “You don’t miss us.”

With a sigh, I started typing a message. “Of course I miss you.”

“Come home.”

“This is my home, kid.”

“Why?”

“Because sometimes people go in different directions. This only makes it harder.”

“Life sucks. Get over it.”

I snorted a laugh. “Sounds like what I would say.” More than likely, I had said it to her at some point. Scooting the chair closer, I put my hands on the desk on either side of her. “Look, Mal. We all have to move on.”

“Can’t.”

“You can.”

She jumped down, forcing me to back up. “I can’t!”

When she marched out of the office, I groaned but followed. “You’re terrible security,” I told Tommy.

“Do you want me to throw the toddler out on the street?”

“She’s nine, and no. Maybe you can hold on to her until her ride comes, though.”

A smirk settled on his lips. “So, you are afraid to face him.”

“Actually, I texted her mom.”

Mal turned around. When I registered her expression, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You wanted to make me talk to him. You crafty little shit.”

Crossing her arms, she sat in one of the booths and proceeded to ignore me. I made her a sugary drink as a peace offering, then joined her on the other side of the table. In silence, we sat there, waiting for Avery to arrive. A knock on the door made Tommy get up, and when he opened it, he snorted.

If that wasn’t enough, the scent that wafted in was. I wondered if it would be suspicious for me to make a break for it. I could overturn the chairs behind me, using them as obstacles.

Amir reached the table and stood beside it with his hands in his pockets. I looked at him and found his eyes on his daughter. There was a stern expression on his face, which I’d very rarely seen. I imagined this was the worst thing she’d done, so it was warranted.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

When his attention moved to me, I wanted to shrink, but I kept myself composed.

“You texted, and I quote, ‘Your spawn is at Remi’s.’”

“Yeah, but I didn’t text you. Aren’t you supposed to be out of town anyway?”

“Avery has a night class to teach soon, and I landed an hour ago. This was more convenient.”

“Right, that’s some impeccable timing.” Getting to my feet, I smacked my hands on my legs. “If you don’t mind, I’ve got a bar to run.”

“Do you have a minute?”

I looked from him to Mal’s uncharacteristically smug expression, then back. “I really don’t.” After a brief pause, which I used to take him in—from his slacks to his buttoned-up blue shirt to the stubble on his face that made me want to drag my fingers down it—I took a step away. “Thanks for coming, Amir. You look really, uh, healthy.”