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“I’m sorry about Abby,” Will says with a cough.
“Yeah, you’ve said that,” Reese says with an edge in her voice.
“So how long has she been in jail?” he asks.
“A couple weeks now. I’m starting to lose track,” Reese tells him.
Will stares at her. “And Millie, she’s been staying with you?”
“Yep.” Reese leans back in her seat like she’s being tortured.
“Well, thanks for taking care of her. That must’ve been real hard on you. Are you not working?”
“Actually, my bossman hired her a nanny. Millie’s getting a good education while I work. She’s in great hands.”
He leans back, grins, and looks at me as it dawns on him.
“Wait. You’re her boss, huh? Oh, yeah.” He grins wider, his eyes drifting to Reese’s chest. “I see why you got her a nanny.”
Yeah. I’m about to drag this fuckwit to the parking lot and use him to patch potholes.
“Because my employee had a personal emergency and couldn’t do her job without adequate childcare? That’s what you mean, right?” I growl, unable to temper my voice.
He chuckles sarcastically. “Like you couldn’t find some other schmuck to drive you around...”
“Considering the nanny was hired for your child, while no one knew your whereabouts, I think the appropriate response might be 'thank you,'” Reese says.
I smile at her.
“Sure,” Will says. “Thanks.”
I nod.
He looks at Reese. “So, Millie’s been staying at your place? Have you cleared Abby’s stuff out of the apartment yet? Guessing she’s gonna be in the pen for a good long while.”
“It’s way too early for that kind of guessing—especially out loud,” Reese snaps, glancing at Millie in warning. “I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Depending on how this plays out, I might need a storage unit, but who knows.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll go over there myself in the next couple of days and clear it,” Frisk volunteers, far too quickly. “Probably all sorts of crap for Millie still there. How about I save you some work? For looking after my peanut, I mean.”
I’m glaring.
Reese stiffens at my side. Her hand feels like plastic when I reach for it under the table.
“No. Not necessary. She’s my sister, and you’ve been...not the closest for a few years,” Reese says.
“Aw, c’mon. She’s still my girl and we’ve got a kid. You don’t need to be responsible for her no more,” he snarls.
“Will, you’re not around much,” Reese says quietly. “Abby and I have always looked out for each other. If you were with her, you’d know that. It doesn’t change now just because you showed up this week.”
His face goes red, and I lose it. His temper comes on like someone flicking a switch.
“Fuck, you talk like I’m some kinda deadbeat loser! I was gone working, on a jobsite, lady. Do I gotta get a goddamned lawyer to show you I’m serious?”
Dude. Your kid wouldn’t even go to you. Save it for someone who’s buying it.
Also, he’s t-minus five seconds from me putting him in a headlock and dragging him out of this coffee shop.
“Maybe you should,” Reese says, squeezing my hand, undaunted. “We need to work out a custody arrangement. Abby mentioned she doesn’t want you having Millie—at least not full time. That’s why I asked you to meet me here.”
“You’re shitting me,” he huffs, his eyes flicking to Millie, who stirs restlessly in Reese’s arms.
Every alarm in my body blares. She didn’t even want to hug him. He’ll leave with this kid tonight over my dead fucking body.
“Excuse me?” Reese asks.
“You work for him so you can’t be stupid. Abby and I got joint custody. With her in jail, I’m Millie’s guardian. I don’t need a lawyer to know that,” he spits.
Reese tightens her arms around the kid, a defiant gleam in her eyes.
“Millie’s staying with me until further notice. It’s what Abby wants.”
“Abby’s in fuckin’ jail,” he snarls back. Then he tilts his head up, exhaling all over us, and does a miserable job of faking calm. “Look. Look, I’d do anything for Abby and Millie. They’re my girls. You know that, but a kid belongs with its parents. If Abby can’t take care of her because she’s incarcerated, Millie oughta be with me.”
“She’s staying with Reese,” I say, jabbing each word at him.
He doesn’t acknowledge me.
“The fuck is your boss even involved with this? Are you stupid?”
“Because your daughter doesn’t flinch when she hugs me,” I cut in. “And I don’t know your ex-girlfriend, but I’ll do anything I can for her because I care about her sister and her kid. Stop being a dipshit.”
“Or what?” Frisk laughs. “You gonna take me out back and ruin your manicure, boy?”
I stiffen, forming a fist.
“You say to-may-toe, we say to-mah-toe. I think we agree Reese will be sorting Abby’s things and clearing the apartment if necessary. Millie will stay with Reese in the meantime. I’m glad we got this sorted out.” I meet Reese’s eyes. “You ready?”
