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"What do you want?"
"I didn't like the outcome of our last meeting."
"Tough luck. Maybe you shouldn't have insulted Lori, just like you shouldn't have been an ass for the last seven years and paid the child support. Then you wouldn't have to ask Lori to lie
for you."
"I didn't ask to be a father. Don't see why I had to pay anything."
"You're a fucking coward." I clenched my fists and my jaw. I detested people like him, who shunned responsibility. "If you think I'll put in a good word for you with Lori, you're wrong."
"A good word? No, that's not why I'm here.”
“So why are you here?”
“You and Lori looked... cozy in that coffee shop. I bet you wouldn’t want me to stick around and cause trouble.”
“You can’t cause any.”
“That’s debatable. If I showed up at Milo’s school to introduce myself, or at Lori’s house...”
My throat tightened. I forced myself to take in deep breaths and expel the air slowly. It didn’t help calm me down.
“You go anywhere near them, and you’re going to be very sorry.”
He sat on the chair in front of my desk uninvited. “But imagine how unpleasant that would be for Lori, and confusing for the boy too. You wouldn’t want that. I imagine Lori wouldn’t be too happy with you if you let that happen.”
“Get to the point. Why are you here?” I was talking through gritted teeth, and the idiot was smiling.
“I’ve got your attention. Good. Let’s talk about what you’re willing to do so I don’t pay anyone any... confusing visits.”
“What do you want?”
“I realized I can get a lot more out of this than a declaration from Lori. I want money."
"What?"
"My insurance will pay for the malpractice damage, but since I won't be able to practice anymore, I won't have an income."
"How the fuck is that my problem?" I stuffed my hands in my pockets to keep from throttling the idiot.
"I can become a problem, make Lori's life difficult, claiming paternity rights and so on."
"If she takes you to court for that child support—"
"She can get in line behind other people I owe money to." He shrugged. "You write me a check, I'll make myself scarce."
"You have some nerve, showing up here."
"The lawsuit is ruining me. I've put in one-hundred-twenty-hour weeks for years. I don't have much to lose here. I'm a desperate man. I have the nerve for much more."
It was all I could do not to physically drag him out of the club. Doing that wouldn't solve anything. Sure, Lori had a case against him in court. But I didn't want her to have to see his face ever again. That meeting was hard for her. I didn't want her to go through it again. This idiot had caused her enough pain over the years. And what if he did try to contact Milo? What if he showed up at the school? Giving him money felt like rewarding him, but if it meant he'd be out of Lori's life, I was happy to do it.
I took out the checkbook I kept in the top drawer of my desk and wrote down a six-figure amount. I handed it to him over the table. He jerked his head back when he read the sum.
"You ever contact Lori again, I'll get a restraining order against you," I said calmly.
He snorted, pointing at the photograph of Lori, Milo, and me that sat on my desk.
