Page 97 of Silver Player

“Like making love to me, and I was the first in your bed,” she mutters.

“Well, I saved the best for last, Roxanne.” Her full name is bitter on my tongue. “That’s what you wanted, right? A piece of Billy Harrington like all the rest. I think I’ve proven a wall, and you work well together.”

I don’t see her hand before it connects with my face, the smack of skin resounding throughout the room.

“What’s going on here?” The rough voice of my father behind me makes my blood run cold. Roxanne looks over my shoulder and then lowers her eyes, which are filled with tears.

“I didn’t mean…” I step forward, hands reaching for her. Oh God, I’ve made a mess of this.

“I think you’ve said enough,” Roxanne says under her breath. “You’ve proven yourself, William. I trusted you to do the right thing by me and worse than anything is this betrayal with Sadie. You promised me. You promised.” Her head shakes, and although I can’t see her face, the tears fall to her jacket, dots of liquid spilling like rain. “The only piece of you I wanted was your heart.”

“William.” My father steps forward.

“Dad, please stay out of this,” I snap, but Roxanne speaks over me.

“If I could trouble you, Mr. Harrington. I need a ride home.” My father slips an arm around Roxanne and leads her down the hall to the front door while I’m left standing in the kitchen with my heart at my feet, knowing I’ve just made the worst blunder of my life.

She’s walking away from me, and it’s only because I pushed her to go.

+ + +

“You dumbass. Isn’t there some attorney-client confidentiality rule you just broke?” I lay into my nephew as I stalk into the trophy room where Jordan and Jaxson, my nephews, and my brother Charlie watch the Georgia State football game.

“What happened?” Charlie asks, and I feel myself being dissected by the eyes in the room.

“I just assumed she knew. You spend all your time with her,” Jordan says, defending himself.

“Never make assumptions when it comes to women,” I state.

“So, what happened?” Charlie asks again.

“Jordan announced to the kitchen the interviews with child services.” I scratch against my neck and then rest my hand on my chin. “I hadn’t told Roxie yet.”

You said we’d work it out.

I did say that, and like I told her, this was all a formality.

“On purpose?” Charlie questions, his eyes narrowing at me from his seat on the old couch.

“I honestly forgot. We went out last night, and I didn’t want to discuss Sadie. I just…” What did I want? To enjoy her. To be just us. To make love to her. My eyes close a second.

“Does she have a lawyer?” Charlie inquires.

“Someone in Atlanta was pursing guardianship and custody after Theresa passed away, but I don’t know if she retained that person.” Because you told her you’d work it out.

“And she stopped that process, correct?” Charlie continues. “Obviously, she knows you had the paternity test and filed to update Sadie’s birth certificate, but haven’t you told her about proceeding for full guardianship?”

My eyes narrow at my brother. “I hadn’t exactly decided.”

“What do you mean, you hadn’t decided? You’re her father,” Charlie admonishes.

“Yeah, but Roxie. They’re so close. Sadie and I are getting closer, but she’s still closest with her aunt.” I didn’t want to hurt Sadie. I didn’t want to hurt Roxie. I didn’t mean to hurt her, but I know that I have.

“Custody battles can be tricky sometimes, and you two have a unique situation,” Jordan adds.

“We aren’t in a battle,” I scoff.

“Are you sure?” Jordan asks, reminding me of the altercation in the kitchen.