AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No arguments, Hailee. We’re going,” Kyle snaps and starts walking off.
Blake turns to look at me, but honestly, I don’t want to fight Kyle right now. If he’s going to turn this into some kind of custody argument, I want to let him cool down, and then we can talk about it calmly when he has had time to really think about what he’s saying. My bottom lip trembles as he walks off with Hailee in his arms.
“Mommy!” Hailee calls, her arms stretched out for me, and I can’t help but let out a small sob.
Blake moves into my side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, pulling me tight to him as I rest my head on his shoulder, watching Kyle take my crying daughter out of the shelter. Blake holds me so tight that, somehow, it’s comforting. “You okay? What can I do?”
Sniffling, I wipe under my eyes, and I shake my head. “Lie to me and tell me everything will be all right.”
He turns to face me, gripping my shoulders. “Everythingisgoing to be fine. Kyle’s angry. He was scared. We all were. That little girl means so much to us all. When we thought someone had taken her, it was fucking terrifying. He’s overreacting because of that fear. He will calm down. And if he doesn’t, we will fight him.”
I raise a brow. “We?”
He jerks his head back and clears his throat. “I mean… I will help you fight him. He’s not getting sole custody of Hailee, Zoey. He’s said it in the heat of the moment. You’ll see. It will all blow over.”
Wiping my eyes again, I exhale. “God, I hope you’re right. Unfortunately, I don’t have money like he does for court battles.”
Blake grips my hands in his, looking directly into my eyes. “It won’t come to that. But if it does, it won’t be an issue. I’m here, Zoey, and I’m not letting that little girl be separated from her mother. Not in any world is that happening.”
“I can’t take your money, Blake,” I tell him.
He smiles. “You won’t need to because it’s not going to come to that.”
“Excuse me, I hate to interrupt, but the police are here and have some questions for you. I tried to hold them off as long as I could,” Clara states, standing back.
I slump my shoulders.
Blake nods. “We’ll be out in just a minute,” he tells her.
She dips her head and then walks off, leaving us alone, and I pull Blake to me in a tight embrace. “Thank you for being here with me through this.”
He holds me so strongly I feel nothing but unwavering support coming back through him. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
I glance up at him through my lashes. “Blake?”
He looks down at me. “Yeah?”
“I don’t want to go home to an empty house tonight. Can I come and stay at your place?”
He doesn’t even hesitate. “Of course. We can do whatever you need. Even maybe open that expensive bottle of wine? But first, we better tell the police that Hailee’s safe and with her father.”
Great, this should be a fun conversation.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Blake
It’s been a crazy day, with amazing highs and a woeful low.
Having Kyle come at Zoey like that, knowing I had no right to step in or say or evendoanything, I felt like I had absolutely no power in that fucked-up situation. All I know is that I want to be there for Zoey and help her fight for Hailee if it comes down to it.
But right now, I need to focus on Zoey and ensure she is okay. So I place my keys in the bowl and usher Zoey inside while I carry my new cat and all his accessories into my living room. “Make yourself at home. Treat this place like it’s yours.”
Zoey sniffles like she is fighting back the tears as she walks over to my sofa, where she slumps down, kicks off her flats, and lets out a huge sigh. I place the cat carrier on the floor beside her and shake my head.
Zoey weakly smiles as I open the container, and the Ragdoll cautiously walks out—he’s quite similar to Mr. Muggles. I think maybe that’s what attracted me to him. But unlike Mr. Muggles, my cat isactuallya male.
“Hailee would love being here. I hate that Kyle reacted that way and took her home after the day we had together.” She sighs.
