Page 79 of After Care

“Hey, girlie.” A smile returned to his tone as he addressed my daughter. He turned back to face me. “I have a surprise for both of you.” His hand released my face and reached for my hand. His other hand reached out for my luggage. “Masie, honey. Grab your bag.”

“Wait a minute,” David demanded, standing before the open door, his back to it with hands on his hips. He looked like a retired superhero: overworked, underwhelming. “Just who are you?”

“I’m Tommy Carrigan,” he stated proudly, looking back at me. “Her boyfriend.” My mouth fell open at the announcement. It was the first declaration of any label between us, and I stared at the side of Tommy’s face as he addressed my ex-husband, who muttered a strangled, “What?”

I giggled with nerves, tightening my hold on Tommy, so I wouldn’t break into hysteria at the awkwardness of this introduction.

“And where do you think you are taking her?” David inquired louder, and I laughed outright at the inquisition. He sounded fatherly, like he wasn’t. Not to mention, it was none of his damn business.

“She’s coming to my room. I have space for Masie, too.”

“My daughter is not sleeping with a stranger.”

“Good thing I’m not a stranger.” Tommy glanced at me after this remark. “Why am I gettin’ the feeling he’s never heard of me, Edie?” The use of my name was not a good sign, but his fingers squeezed mine.

“I don’t really talk to David,” I offered, ignoring the glare of my ex-husband. The truth was, I didn’t, and because of that, I didn’t feel the need to explain my boyfriend to my ex-husband. Tommy’s lip twisted, and I sensed this conversation wasn’t finished, but he let it rest for the moment. He turned to Masie.

“I have a suite with separate rooms, so I hope you’d feel comfortable in that space.”

Masie reached for her suitcase, and Tommy had his answer. For a moment, my heart pinched for David. His fists fell from his hips at the betrayal. Even his daughter didn’t want to stay in a room with him. I worried for a moment the rejection would send him to alcohol for solace, but I couldn’t let myself be concerned. I closed my eyes, reminding myself that David had made his choices, and they didn’t include his family. I could not take responsibility for his decision to drink. I’d already bore that burden, and I had learned to let it go

“Let’s meet in the lobby at seven for dinner, okay, Dad?” Masie offered as way of a peace offering. David nodded and stepped back. Tommy passed first, holding onto my hand as if I’d slip away from him. As I passed David, he reached for my arm, and I stopped.

“Are you sure about this?” David’s eyes shifted to Tommy, assessing him. If I could read his thoughts, I imagined he asked what a woman like me saw in a man like him. Silvered hair, longish to his collar. A ring on his forefinger and those bracelets on his wrist. Tattoos lacing up his arm. Looking from Tommy to David, I answered: “I’ve never been more certain in my life.”

+ + +

The anger coming off Tommy filled the elevator, and Masie remained quiet as well. Marching down the hotel hallway, single file, I felt like a woman walking to a death sentence, the tension between us heavier than a chain gang rope. On the inside, I rattled with the notion that I’d stood up to David. While I’d done it in the past, the way in which I confidently walked away from him, holding onto Tommy, surprised even me. Previous attempts at defending myself seemed like small victories compared to the battle I just won.

Tommy opened the door of the suite and stepped aside, allowing me to enter first. A man stood from the couch facing the windows and turned toward us. Long bangs, black hair and bright blue eyes stared at me with a hesitant smile.

“West?” Masie bumped into me, and the shriek startled me to move. I stepped to the side so my daughter could walk around me and toward Weston Reid. He remained behind the couch, rubbing his hands anxiously up and down his thighs.

“Hey,” he said on a strangled sound. Masie looked at me, and then she raced around the couch, nearly catapulting toward West, who laughed as he caught her. The two stood in an embrace, swaying back and forth for a moment before Masie broke the hold. A hand pressed into my back.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Tommy murmured. “He wanted to see her.”

“What are you doing here?” Masie’s voice rose with her excitement as she stared at West.

“Tommy said he was coming to surprise Edie, and I asked if I could tag along. We’ve been so busy but Tommy told Gage to give me a few days off. Plus, I wanted to see Caleb play,” West replied, reaching out to stroke a long lock of Masie’s hair.

“Oh my God, Caleb,” I said, covering my mouth and turning toward Tommy. “I need to call him.” I fumbled for my phone, struggling through the mess in my bag and retrieving it from the bottom of the abyss. It was then that I saw Tommy’s response to my room number.

Surprise.

My brow pinched. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I wanted to surprise you,” he said. “But I guess I’m the one surprised.”

“I can explain,” I offered, hating the taste of those words in my mouth. After a deep exhale, and a hand down his face, Tommy replied: “I was hoping so, but first, the suite has two rooms. I was thinking West would have one and I’d have the other, but I’ll understand if you and Masie want to share.”

Tommy looked sheepishly at Masie and back at me. “I don’t think the hotel has other rooms available, but I can look into it,” he added.

“Masie can have my room, and I can take the couch,” West sweetly offered.

“This is all my fault,” I muttered, a moment after realizing West implied I’d be sleeping with Tommy in the other room. I couldn’t do this in front of my daughter.

“Because you didn’t tell me you were staying with your ex-husband?”