AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Jesus Christ, are you insane?" Jeff covered his jaw with one hand.
"Don't you dare talk about Lori like that in front of me."
"Take it from someone who knows—she's not worth the trouble."
That earned him a second punch. The waiters pulled them apart then, and I immediately hurried to inspect Graham's hand. His knuckles were red but not bloody. I looked up at Jeff.
"This conversation is over. You have anything more to say on the topic, talk to my lawyer. If I were you, I wouldn't. I can take you to court for that accrued child support."
He paled, but I wasn't nearly done. I wanted to let out everything I had on my chest.
"You decided seven years ago that you didn't want to be part of our lives, fine. But don't think you have any rights to make any demands or to expect anything of me. You're just being a jackass, showing up here, demanding I lie for you. As I said, you have anything more to say on this top
ic, contact my lawyer. I don't want to deal with you again."
Jeff's jaw went slack. He wasn't used to this side of me. In med school, I was young and naïve. Even when he called after being gone for a year, I still gave him the benefit of the doubt. I'd hoped he'd finally decided to man up and to face his responsibilities. One of my biggest flaws had always been believing everyone deserved a second chance, and a third.
Before Jeff had a chance to say anything, Graham spoke. "We're done here. You contact Lori again, you'll have bigger problems on your hands than a malpractice lawsuit."
I was shaking slightly. Graham must have sensed it, because he splayed his hand on my upper back. He tucked me closer to him on the way to the car. When we reached it, he opened the door for me.
"I'm sorry this was so shitty. How is your hand?"
"Not as bad as his jaw will be tomorrow. I'll put some ice on it. Don't you worry about me. You were magnificent. So strong and decisive." He caressed my cheek with the back of his uninjured hand, his thumb dwelling on my chin before moving to rest on one corner of my mouth. He kissed the other corner. I rose on my tiptoes, placing my arms around his neck, flattening my torso to his. I loved this closeness between us, even though I wished I could pull myself together already. I was still shaking.
"What's on your mind, sweet girl? You can tell me anything."
"Not feeling so strong now," I admitted. The words felt strange on my tongue. I wasn't used to sharing these things with anyone but my siblings. I hoped he wouldn't think I was a weakling.
"Lucky I'm here to make it all better." He feathered his lips from the corner of my mouth to the center, kissing the upper lip, then the lower one.
"And how do you plan to do that?"
He gave me one of his knee-weakening, panty-melting, mind-blowing kisses.
"Love your plan," I murmured when we came up for breath.
"This was just a kiss. The plan is more elaborate."
"Do tell."
"I texted Jace and Will. They're going to drop Milo off at home in a few hours. He talked them into going to a movie."
"Of course he did." I shook my head with fake dismay.
"Hey! The little guy is persuasive. You're the only one able to resist him. Don't be so hard on the rest of us mortals."
I turned the fake dismay into a fake glare. "If I'm not too hard, I'll find a real-sized boat in my yard next time to go with that tent."
He smirked. "Relax, baby. I'd never put it in your yard. I'd rent a garage."
I laughed for real now, a full belly laugh.
"I'll make you dinner, and then I'm going to work out all the tension from your system."
"Will I get a massage?"
"Yeah."
