Page 47 of Full Strength

I leaned against the wall for support. I hadn’t thought that would be a risk. I’d noticed someone from their crew taking pictures and I’d assumed they were going to post them, but I never would have guessed Ryan was a fan of a fashion magazine.

“So?”

“I know who you were with.”

I knew this was going to happen. I’d known from the beginning this would happen. He had no reason to contact me when it was just me and Eli but now, he thought there might be something he could get out of the situation.

“It was for work. What do you care?”

“I care about what you’re doing with my son.”

I held the phone away from me to check again. This had to be some sick prank.

“How dare you call me out of nowhere and pretend like you care about my son.”

“He’s my son and I should have a say in who is around him.”

“You have no say in anything.”

“Come on, Addison. It’s probably not even my child. I mean, when did you and the hockey player get together?”

I wished I was in front of him so I could punch him or kick him or at least force him to look me in the eyes while he said this crap. “You have got to be kidding me. You absolutely know you were the only person I was ever with.”

“I don’t know anything about you anymore.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I shook my head not understanding why I was getting offended. I didn’t owe anything to this man anymore.

“You’re a completely different person. I’m not sure I trust you anymore around my son.”

I clenched my jaw. Was he really threatening me? “Why are you calling me?”

“I want to know who’s around my child.”

“You don’t have that right.”

“I want to meet him.”

I laughed. “I don’t care what you want. You lost all rights to have any control over my child when you walked away.”

“Don’t make this into something bigger, Addison. Be smart about this.”

I could tell that there was a threat under his words and I knew that he would act on it if needed.

“Why are you calling me now?”

“Maybe I’ve had a change of heart.”

I scoffed like that would ever happen. The fact that he joked about it confirmed my suspicion. He wasn’t calling because he wanted Eli. He was calling because he was finally realizing he no longer had a hold on me. He thrived off control and he was losing what he thought he had.

“Leave me alone, Ryan.”

“I don’t like you or my son spending time with those people.”

“What concern is it of yours? You don’t have a say in my life.”

“He’s not a good influence on you, and I don’t want him around my son.”

“You don’t even know him.” I bit out.