Page 33 of Alec’s Dream

“Um…”

“Don’t test my limits.”

“Limits?”

Alec shook his head and sat back, putting much-needed space between us, and casually picked his fully-loaded cheeseburger back up and took a bite like nothing had happened.

But nothing had happened—not really—just my stupid overactive imagination playing tricks on me.

“Tell me what you meant?” he prompted after he swallowed.

“Huh?”

“You said that the shitbag was going to show up here on Sunday to drop off the kids. Why is that what he wants?”

“He doesn’t care about that, he cares that I told him he wasn’t welcome here anymore so now he’ll dig in and make a big deal about it because it’s something I told him he wasn’t allowed to do. But more, he wants me to have to make good on my threat about calling the police. That’s the part he really wants. He even asked me what Rory would think of me. Aurora, not Caleb. I think that’s his game, he wants to turn my six-year-old against me. He knows he can’t pull the wool over Caleb—he’s too old, he’s seen how Doug really behaves—but Rory was three when we divorced. She doesn’t remember.”

“I don’t disagree with you but why would he want to turn Rory? Has he mentioned wanting more visitation or custody?”

Doug wants more visitation? That was laughable. More time with his kids would mean less time to drink, gamble, and screw women. No, he didn’t want more time, he simply wanted Rory to want him and hate me. That was classic Doug.

“He doesn’t want them. He goes months without seeing them. This isn’t a new game, it’s just the first time he’s changed it up and pulled Rory into it. He’s done this since we were divorced. He sees them regularly for a few months, then he’ll be gone for four or five months or longer, then he magically reappears with excuses to Caleb about having to work. He sticks around a while, then repeat.”

I wasn’t paying attention so I missed it, but belatedly I realized I really should’ve been paying more attention. Alec’s jaw had gone hard and his eyes were threatening to spark fire.

“We’re all used to it,” I rushed out, trying to calm the beast. But when the muscle in his cheek jumped I knew that was the wrong thing to say.

“That makes it even more fucked-up.”

Alec wasn’t wrong, but it didn’t change the facts.

“I know it does, but I cannot make him love his children.”

Thankfully, he nodded his agreement and took another bite of his burger and I swung my eyes to my television and pretended to watch. When really I was contemplating what the hell had happened ten minutes ago and if I’d finally lost what was left of my mind and was hallucinating.

The next thirty minutes went by with idle chitchat. Mostly about Jocelyn. She still hadn’t taken actual steps though she was getting brave and standing up more and more. Alec didn’t say anything more about Joss’s mom and I didn’t ask. My heart broke for the sweet girl who’d stolen my heart.

I was curious if Alec and Jaime had been married when she’d passed away. There was definitely anguish in his eyes when he’d told me she’d died, but also bitterness. I supposed it was part of the grieving process. I couldn’t imagine losing someone so close, someone who you loved deeply and had planned a future with.

After Alec had polished off three burgers and had forced me to eat one, he cleaned up the wrappers and picked a still-sleeping Jocelyn up off the couch.

So when he stepped close to me to say goodnight, I was both relieved he couldn’t touch me and little bummed. Which was stupid. I had no business entertaining wild thoughts.

“I want you to come to my place for dinner tomorrow.” When I stood stunned because, hello, Alec had asked me to his house, he continued. “I’ll cook.”

As much as I wanted to go, I couldn’t.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it’s wise for you to stop over here either.”

“Why’s that?”

“Things are already complicated enough for me. We both have kids. You’re a dad at my daycare. There’s a lot of reasons why it’s not a good idea.”

“Don’t do that,” he returned.

“Do what?”

“Lump me in with that shitpouch.”