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Someone cuts her off on the other end, and her voice muffles. “Oh, shush. You know you love me and are going to put a ring on it one day, so don’t even bother arguing, Teddy.” Then she talks into the speaker again, addressing me. “But I’m still mad at you, Macklin.”
“Yeah, I’m pissed at me too,” I mutter. “Any chance you’re going to the gym with Kate this morning?”
“Nope. Already dropped her off at Butter and Grace. She has the early shift. You know how brunch is. Hell, maybe she’ll run into Summer, who will ruin her life even more,” she quips. “Seems Hazel’s already doing a bang-up job––”
A low voice rumbles in the background, and I swear I can hear Blake making a face. “Okay, okay. I’m being unfair. I’ll stop. But to answer your question. No. I’m not going to the gym with Kate this morning. I dropped her off at the restaurant a half hour ago, and Mia’s supposed to pick her up at four. Any more questions, Jerkface?”
“Maybe stop calling me jerkface?”
She snorts. “Yeah. Not until you make it up to Kate. And P.S., Theo says hi.”
“No, I didn’t!” he yells. “You made Kate cry––”
“Bye,” Blake interrupts.
The call ends, and I drop my hand to my side.
I made her cry.
The words roll around in my head, over and over, gaining momentum as an image of Kate and her tear-stained cheeks from last night rises to the surface.
I fucked up.
And she’s right.
Fuck, she’s right.
I can’t let Hazel manipulate me like this. I can’t let her hold our relationship hostage. I can’t let her mom twist her perception of me or how I feel about Kate. I’ve done nothing wrong.We’vedone nothing wrong.
And I’m not choosing Kate over Hazel. I love my daughters. I love them more than anything. But it’smylife. And despite wanting them to be a part of it, I refuse to let them hold this over my head. I can’t.
If I do, I’ll lose Kate.
I can’t lose Kate.
With my keys in one hand and her meds in the other, I push the garage door open and head to my car.
* * *
It’s snowing now.The tiny flakes float down from the cloudy sky, dusting the winding road in white. As I reach the base of the mountain, my phone lights up with Hazel’s name. She’s calling.
Curious, I slide my thumb across the screen. “Hello?”
“Dad! Dad, it’s Kate!”
“What’s going on?”
“I was wrong, okay? I screwed up, and I was wrong, and Kate, she’s…” A sob slips through the speaker, and I press my foot harder on the gas pedal.
Something’s wrong.
“What’s going on with Kate?” I demand.
“She’s…she’s shaking, Dad. We’re at work, and I was a bitch, and I invited Mom, and––”
“Don’t touch her,” I order.
“But Dad, the blood…” Her voice is nothing but a squeak, and I know she’s looking at it. Staring. Unable to turn away from it or focus on our conversation. Too lost in the sight in front of her and what it means.
