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Sierra’s eyes widen at the wordChief.I’m not above admitting that a satisfying dose of confidence rolls through me, because yeah, I did go and make something of myself. Certainly nothing like her husband’s high power attorney position, but I wouldn’t say what I’ve accomplished so far in my career is a particularly easy feat.
“Pete,” Jenna warns.
“What? It’s a valid question, isn’t it?” Pete’s smugness has only grown, and I’m about two snarky comments away from doing something I’d regret later. “I am, after all, Elizabeth and Elijah’s father. Or have you forgotten about that, Jen?”
Jenna lifts her chin, eyes narrowed. “Don’t call me that. And no, I haven’t forgotten. I’m well aware of the fact that you’re their father. That’s never going to change. I do think we need to address the fact that you never bothered to even callyourkids or send them a card for birthdays or holidays over the past two years. Never gave me the courtesy of telling me you were getting married, and I found out only when you responded to my text last year—you know, the one where I asked if you’d like to see your kids? –that you couldn’t because you were on your honeymoon. Never, in twenty-four months, gave meanyindication that you want to be a part ofourchildren’s lives. And honestly, Pete, you’re smart enough to know showing up at ten-thirty on a Tuesday night is not going to result in seeing Ella or Eli.”
Pete glances at Jenna and I’s clasped hands, then Jenna’s shorts and my dress shirt over her swimsuit, and lifts a brow. “And yet you’re the one who was out without our children on a Tuesday night? I don’t recall you being such a wild woman. Unless something’s changed since the divorce.”
In case it wasn’t clear before, my respect for this man is measurable to the size of a mustard seed. And the only reason there’s that much respect at all is because he is Ella and Eli’s father.
“My personal life is none of your business,” Jenna snaps, and Pete should probably watch out, because there’s fire in her eyes. Not the sort of fire she looked at me with all evening, either. “But because I have absolutely nothing to hide, yes, I was out tonight. As you very clearly pointed out, Seth’s a cop, and he doesn’t have a cushy job that allows him to go out whenever he wants.” Shoot, she might have burns hotter than the ones rolling around in my mind. Her language is a little milder, though. “We’ve arranged our schedules how it’s necessary. And I can tell you right now that I am not going to go wake the kids up to see you.”
“Who are the kids with?”
“They were with people I trust with mylife.” A dark edge I’ve never heard in her voice before lines her words, but then she turns a sugary sweet smile that’ll probably give someone a cavity if they bite into whatever she’s offering on Sierra. She dials it up further by sliding her hand around my waist, her fingertips lightly brushing the skin under my shirt. I barely resist the sharp inhale my instincts scream at me to take. “So. You must be Sierra? I’m sorry, but I lost my manners for a second. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Jenna, and this is—”
“Seth Johnson.” Hearing my name on Sierra’s lips for the first time in eleven years should elicit some wave of emotions rolling through me. She was the woman I was planning to marry and raise a family with, after all.
But it doesn’t. What does it do? It makes me realize, with startling clarity, that the Sierra standing in front of me is not the woman I once knew. She’s still tall and fit, but otherwise she looks different. Her once waist-length dark hair is cut to her shoulders and bleached a perfect blonde that undoubtedly came from a salon. She’s wearing a fitted blue dress that probably costs more than my monthly house payment, and a diamond on her finger that likely costs my entire mortgage. (Yes, I know that’s a stretch, but I’d hate to be in the line of fire when that thing gets caught in the light.) Makeup is hiding every freckle on her tan skin, and her hazel eyes are rimmed with a little too much eyeliner.
Jenna glances between Sierra and I uncertainly. “Um, yes. How did you…?”
“We dated in college,” I say evenly, keeping my voice purposely void of emotion. Maybe because, shockingly, I don’t have any concerning the woman I used to love. “But it didn’t work out.”
Well. There might’ve been a little animosity lacing that last statement. But I am not about to let her entirely off the hook, considering she’s the one who walked away without trying to talk it out. Or just give me a chance to talk, period.
Jenna must finally realizethisis the woman who said those words to me, because she’s staring up at me with anOon her lips. Yeah. It’s not what I was expecting, either. But here we are.
Is it a little ironic that the woman who left me and the man who left Jenna are now married? Probably, but honestly, looking at the couple, they make an excellent pair. I don’t doubt that what I felt for Sierra was genuine eleven years ago. I loved her. I can’t say for sure if she reciprocated, but looking at her now, I’ve got to wonder if she would’ve enjoyed the life we dreamed about. If she would’ve eventually gotten bored with life in Balsam Falls—because though it’s a hot tourist destination, it hardly compares to Kansas City—and a man who can’t provide the lifestyle Pete can. I’ve had a successful career so far, yes, but my annual income can’t compare to what I’m sure Pete makes, and my work is unpredictable and often taxing, both physically and emotionally.
Pete’s the one to break the silence, and I swear I’d like to implement some of the physical defense moves I know on the man right at this moment. “We didn’t remember to make a hotel reservation, so I’m sure you wouldn’t mind letting us use your guest room. Right, Jen? Sierra and I can stay with the kids tomorrow. Sierra’s never seen the Omaha Zoo, so I thought we could take them for the day.” He grins at me like we’re best buds. He must be blind to the murderous expression I’m wearing right now. “Then you’d be free to spend the day with your boyfriend.”
“Oh, my gosh, Pete. Grow the hell up.” Jenna’s not playing around. She releases my hand to take a step closer to her ex and jabs a finger into his slick gray tie. “You will absolutelynotbe staying at the houseI owntonight. I know there are plenty of hotels in town that’ll have vacancies. I know you know that too. And no, you will not be taking the kids to the zoo tomorrow. You know nothing about our life, and we know nothing about yours, so if you think I’m just going to let you take them, you’re dead wrong.”
Pete’s eyes narrow, and his grin disappears. “What, you don’t trust me? That’s a little harsh.”
“You haven’t given me one reason to trust you since you left me with two kids, one of them being six months old and the other not yet two, then had me served divorce papers.” She shrugs. “So, no. I don’t. You can do what you want with that, but I’m not going to bow down to you.”
“Unbelievable.” Pete releases a bitter laugh. “Absolutely unbelievable. So, you’re not going to let me see my own kids? Is that even legal?”
“I’m aware that you have the legal right to see them. I didn’t say I wouldn’t let you see them, did I? I said not tonight and that you would not be staying at my house.” Jenna steps back so she’s standing beside me again. “My lunch break is at one tomorrow. I’ll text you where to meet so you and I can discuss what it is you’re wanting to see happen in the future. And if you decide to come to the house without asking my permission while I’m at work, I will find out. It would probably be wise of you to remember that this is my property.”
I have a feeling she barely resisted addingand I have connectionsonto that last sentence, but it’s probably for the best. You know, considering one of those connections is me and I’m standing right next to her.
“This is a low blow, Jen.” Would he just stop calling her that already? Unless it’s a work situation where I’m forced to, I will never purposely do something a person asked me not to. No matter how pissed I am. “Sending us to a hotel and then saying you’lltextme where to meet.”
I’ve kept my cool until now, but he’s pushed me to my limit. “She told you she doesn’t want you to stay here and—”neither do I“—she has every legal right to do that. Your best bet would be to get the hell off her property and meet her tomorrow. I’d prefer to see everything here be able to remain civil. Am I correct to assume you want the same thing, Jenna?”
She’s losing her fire, because I can see worry in her eyes when she glances up at me, but she nods.
I rest my hand on her lower back and glance at Pete. “All right, then. I trust you can honor that, yes?”
Pete shoots us a glare as he ushers his wife towards the porch stairs, then stops and turns around. “You know, I never thought it would happen this way—the mother of my children keeping those same children from me. I don’t want to know what a judge will think of that.” His confident smirk is back, and my pressure on Jenna’s back increases. “I guess we might have to find out.”
With that, they disappear down the stairs. A minute later the taillights of his Tesla are speeding off towards the entrance of the neighborhood. Emphasis on thespeeding. I’m only a phone call away from having one of my guys pull him over just because, considering he’s probably going five to ten over the limit, I have a warrant to do it. The spiteful side of me has me itching to pull my phone out.
The sensitive side of me has me turning to look at Jenna instead, who’s very clearly trying not to let the tears standing in her eyes fall.
