AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I swallowed thickly, clearing my throat as I tried to think of an answer that wasn’t a complete lie, but also wouldn’t be an outright insult. “I think... that she sure is something.”
He sat silently, hands clasped together as he watched me from across the table, like he was waiting for more. “That’s it?” he asked. “That’s all you have to say? ‘She’ssomething’?”
I lifted my hands in question. “What do you want me to say. Keith? I’m not the one dating her, my opinion shouldn’t matter. If she makes you happy, I guess that’s all that really matters.”
All that I could hope was that this first impression wasn’t everything, that maybe nerves made her say things she didn’t mean. Because if not, the woman was just a bitch, no two ways about it.
Keith let out a weary sigh, his shoulder slumping in defeat, like he’d been hoping for more from me. Maybe my approval? I wasn’t sure. “So... look. There’s something I want to talk to you about.” He pulled in a deep inhale, like he was steeling his nerves.
“Hayley and I have been talking, and I know I haven’t been the best when it comes to paying child support—”
I couldn’t hold back the derisive snort that burst from my mouth, rolling my eyes so hard, I nearly saw the back of my skull. “’Been the best?’” I asked sarcastically. “That’s really putting it mildly, Keith. I can’t remember the last time I got money from you for Hazel.”
“Yeah, I know,” he said on a heavy sigh as he reached up to rake his fingers through his much shorter hair. “I want to try to make that up to you. You and Hazel. Hayley helped me get a new job, and I want to try to do better. The pay isn’t great, but it’s something. And if you’re okay with it, I’d like to start paying you for back child support.”
I blinked, not sure what to say. “You—you got a job?” I asked, flabbergasted by that announcement. I shook my head, trying to make sense of what I’d just heard. In all the time we’d been together, he’d been about his band and his music.Jobwas a four-letter word as far as he was concerned, and he didn’t want to hear it. His unemployment had been a huge bone of contention in our relationship, and I would have been lying if I said it didn’t hurt like hell that, in just the few short months they’d been together, he was already doing things for Hayley that he never even considered doing for me.
“Where? When? How did this—” I couldn’t even finish my thought.
“Hayley has an uncle who works at the lumberyard. She asked him for a favor. I’m on a three-month probationary period, but once that is up, I’ll get a pay bump and benefits, so I can start giving you more.”
“That...” I had to swallow down the negativity festering in my belly and remember that this was a good thing for Hazel. I wasn’t a factor in any of this, it was all about her, and if Keith was really stepping up, trying to be a good dad, well, I couldn’t ask for anything more. “That’s incredible, Keith. I’m happy for you, really.”
He released a whoosh of breath, his frame sagging in relief. “Yeah?”
My chin jerked back. “Of course. I mean, just because it didn’t work out with us doesn’t mean I don’t want you to be happy. And this is all about Hazel, right? About giving her the best life possible. So, yes. If you really mean this, and you’re determined to do better, I’m happy for you.”
He braced his forearms on the table, clasping his hands together as he leaned in closer. “That’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about. Uh, h-how would you feel about... shared custody? An even fifty-fifty split.”
My back shot straight, my eyes narrowing. At the moment, I have custody of Hazel and Keith has visitation rights every other weekend. However, he had a nasty habit of bailing more often than showing up, always with some lame excuse as to why he couldn’t see his own daughter. “Is this your idea or Hayley’s?”
His throat bobbed on a thick swallow. “Well, we’ve been talking about it—”
I leaned in, feeling my blood pressure start to rise as I hissed, “You’ve been discussing the custody agreement we have formydaughter with a woman you’ve known for two months? Are you crazy?”
“She’s my daughter too, Hardin,” he clipped.
I let out a harsh, biting laugh. “Could have fooled me. Up until last week, you’ve had absolutely zero interest in being a parent.”
He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “That’s not fair. I told you, I want to do better. I’m going to marry that woman, so we need to start making these decisions together.”
He had some fucking nerve, talking tomeabout what was and wasn’t fair. I smacked my palms down on the table, causing the silverware to clatter. People at the tables nearby turned to look at the commotion, but I couldn’t care less if I was making a scene. “You want to marry that woman, go for it. I wish you all the best. You want to hand over your manhood on a silver platter and let her turn you into the version of you she wants, fine by me. But the custody agreement we have stands. Until you’ve proven that you truly have changed and have Hazel’s best interest at heart, the last thing you and I willevertalk about is shared custody. You understand me?”
Hayley appeared at the end of the table just then, her forehead pinched in a frown of concern. “Everything okay?”
I whipped around to face her, the smile on my lips probably downright frightening. “Absolutely peachy,” I said in an overly sweet tone. “But Keith was just saying that you two need to go.” As much as I didn’t want to, I returned my focus to my ex. “Isn’t that right, Keith?” I asked between clenched teeth, the underlying message behind my words ringing clear:you get the hell out of my restaurant before I lose my shit.
“Uh, yeah. Yes.” He took a cue from the murderous look I was giving him and slid out of the booth. “I, uh, forgot. I have a... thing. We should probably roll.”
“Oh.” Hayley’s eyes bounced back and forth between us like she was watching a tennis match. “Okay.”
“It was good catching up, Hayley,” I said without an ounce of sincerity. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”Unfortunately.
I watched as they laced their fingers together and moved through the restaurant. As soon as they exited and were out of sight, I dropped my head in my hands and let out my frustration in a sound that came out a lot like a growl.
* * *
Ford
