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He chuffs a laugh. “That’s ridiculous.”
“We all agree with you, but he’s grasping at straws. He even froze me out of our joint accounts. But don’t worry, I’m good for the house. I have my trust fund that he never was able to touch. It’s the company shares that he’s contesting.” I sigh and look back down at the plans. A future my kids and I need. “I can’t wait to take the kids to see the house.”
“Oh, they’ll love it,” November says. “This is a perfect house for a growing family. How about this weekend you come by? We are having a family barbecue. Bring the kids. There will be plenty of them around. I think Sydney and Tucker will be there. Plus, you can see our pool and get ideas for your own.”
“I’d love to. Thank you for inviting me.”
I smile at them both, and we put away the plans to order food. Krystal was taking the kids out for pizza tonight.
I need to figure out what I’m going to tell the kids when they see my busted lip. I don’t want them to worry, so I’m trying to come up with the perfect lie. This is one of those things that they don’t need to know about.
“I told you I’d make you sorry,” a woman screeches from the front of the restaurant, and now I regret not getting that protective order. There stands Deedee even more frazzled looking than she did earlier.
Everyone in the restaurant turns to look at her. I’m up and moving toward her. This time I make sure there is space between us.
“Deedee, this isn’t the place or time. Please don’t make me get a restraining order against you.”
“It’s all your fault. He is in hiding because of you. He could lose his job. I lost our baby because of you.” She says the last part louder, and people gasp.
I feel someone come up behind me, but I don’t acknowledge them. I learned not to take my eyes off her earlier.
“Ma’am, you need to step outside, lower your voice, and walk away before the police show up,” Asher says.
“Are you fucking this man?” Deedee says and waves her hand behind me.
“No. He’s a friend.”
“Women can’t be friends with men.” She says the statement like she believes it.
“Well, I am a friend, and I’m happily married. Now again, step outside.”
“You don’t own this place. I can do whatever I want, it’s a free world.” Deedee looks back down to me. “I got you this time. Your car is ruined.”
“What?” I gasp and move around her and rush toward the door. My ponytail is grabbed from behind, and I reach up to hold on so she can’t pull out any hair. “Let me go right now,” I cry out and hear people moving around me.
“Let her go,” Asher says, and I can make out someone crying. I’m sure it’s November, but I can’t look over to see. I’m focused on not falling as Deedee pulls me deeper into the restaurant. She knows she can’t win this time. I’m going to file charges against her. Plus, she just admitted to damaging my car.
I look toward the door when the bell dings. In walks a tall man with a police badge clipped to his belt. He takes in the scene and shakes his head, then he pulls out his cell. He texts something before he moves toward us.
“Let her go,” he orders Deedee. But she pulls harder instead.
I slip, losing my footing. I fall and land at her feet hard on my wrist. My hair feels like it’s being ripped from my head.
“Hands up,” the police officer orders. “Stay back, Aunt November,” the cop says, and I turn to see November trying to make her way to me, but Asher holds her back.
“I can’t believe you’re going to take her side, just like those cops earlier,” Deedee whines.
There’s another ding of the bell, and my heart stops this time when I look toward it. Maverick is standing in the entrance with his jaw locked tight. He’s in a pair of jeans and a flannel over a T-shirt. His cowboy boots move toward us. The other cop has Deedee turned around and I hear the click of cuffs. Maverick squats down to look at me.
“Hey, little one, we need to stop meeting like this.”
I try to smile, but it’s watery and I feel tears rolling down my face. He helps me up, but I cry out when he goes to take my hand. Looking down, I see my wrist swelling and bruising already.
“We’re going to need an ambulance, Cobi,” he says to the other officer.
“You heard,” Cobi says to a uniformed cop who’s joined us.
“I don’t need one. I’m just bruised. It’s nothing.” I try to redirect them. “She said she damaged my car.”
