Page 6 of Alec’s Dream

Unease slide over him as the vibe in the room went from warm and friendly to artic.

Alec slowly looked behind him, keeping Jocelyn mostly hidden, and saw a man standing just inside the door of the playroom. The daycare center used to be a house, but it had been gutted and refitted. The living room turned into the sign-in area, filled with cubbies. The dining area had been turned into a nap room. And the four bedrooms into classrooms to keep the different age groups separated. But they were standing in the very back, likely an addition because it was a large open space half as big as the original dwelling used as a playroom.

One of the reasons Alec had picked that particular daycare was because it felt homey—warm and inviting. But more importantly, they had top of the line security. There were cameras everywhere; the parking area, the outside playground, and one in every room. Cameras that Alec could access whenever he wanted, something he did frequently during the day. The front door was also fitted with a numeric keypad, someone had to know the code to get in.

Which meant the pissed-off man in the doorway knew the code. That knowledge didn’t make Alec any less tense.

“Need a word, Macy.”

Alec didn’t turn to see what Macy was doing but he did feel her approach. Then as Macy passed him muttering an excuse me, he locked down the urge to grab her arm and shove her behind him.

Not his place.

“Not cool,” she seethed. “You cannot come here.”

“I can when my wife isn’t returning my calls,” the man returned.

Macy was married? Something that Alec had never considered. Hell, until he saw her a few months ago at the Freeze, he hadn’t known she was a mother. Though he should’ve, the way Macy was with his daughter.

Guilt slammed into Alec at his thoughtlessness. The daycare closed at five, he paid Macy extra to stay open until six, something they’d arranged when he’d first signed Jocelyn up. This was because Alec normally worked until five, and any errands he had could be done before he had to get Joss.

In the beginning, Alec couldn’t even grocery shop when Joss was with him—and it seemed he needed to go there every day. But nine months later, he still left his daughter with Macy instead of braving shopping with his kid.

He was an asshole. And a lazy one to boot.

Of course Macy would have a family of her own, and Alec was unnecessarily keeping her an hour past when she should be home.

Total dick move.

Alec grabbed Jocelyn’s diaper bag and slung it over his shoulder, planning on making a swift exit to give the couple some privacy and also vowing to speak to Macy Monday and explain he’d pick Joss up at the regular time from then on.

But Macy’s declaration stopped him.

“You are my ex-husband, Doug. Ex. Former. As in not current. Meaning you do not ever come into my place of business, but also never come in here looking to pick a fight. Now please leave.”

Ex-husband. That made her a single mother and him more of an asshole for keeping her late.

“We got things to talk about and you’re not answering your phone,” Doug-the-ex-husband announced.

“We don’t. Please leave,” Macy asked again.

“I’ll be at your house tomorrow at eleven to pick up my son. If he’s not ready—”

“I’m telling you right now, he won’t be ready. Caleb made it clear he doesn’t want to go and it is not your weekend. Save yourself the time and gas because he’s not going with you.”

“Caleb better—”

“Why? Why can’t you listen for once?” Macy asked as her hand went to her back pocket. She slid out her phone and angrily jabbed the screen before she brought it to her ear. “Yeah, Jonny? Sorry to bother you, Doug’s at Little Lights and he won’t leave. Can you please come handle him?” Macy stopped and sighed. All the anger draining out of her face left nothing but sadness. “Thanks, Jonny. I’ll tell him but I know he won’t listen.”

Macy disconnected and looked at her ex-husband. “Your brother said he’s busy so he’s sending a unit. He’s instructed them to arrest you if you’re still here when they arrive.”

Jonny Spencer was this fucktard’s brother? Alec gave the man a onceover and couldn’t see it, not even a hint of similarity.

“This isn’t over, Macy,” Doug fumed, “It never will be.”

“Boy don’t I know it. It never ends with you,” Macy whispered.

Fuck, there was something in Macy's tone that gutted Alec.