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It takes a moment for me to remember we’re making pizza.
* * *
LIAM
After pizza,the little guy wakes up from his nap dazed and disoriented.
“Your lid’s popping up, son,” I say with a smirk. I smooth down his ruffled hair while Liv hugs him in her arms as though she hasn’t seen him in a year. He’s a lucky kid.
Her phone goes off. “Wanna hold him?”
“Yeah.” I take him from her, and he squawks a protest. “I know Mama’s the one you want to cuddle with. I feel you, lad.”
She checks her phone and a tentative smile appears. “My dad wants to see me. And to meet Brady.”
My muscles tighten. What does that son of a bitch really want?
“Your dad, huh? What brought that on? Random?”
“No.” She starts to type a message, and I put my hand out to stop her. She looks up in surprise. “After we had dinner with your mom and Luke and talked about families and weddings, I wanted him to at least know he has a grandson.”
“Before you arrange a meeting, I want to talk to him.”
“Why?”
“I don’t trust him.”
“If it’s Brady you’re worried about, don’t be. I would never let him watch him alone or anything. I just thought it might be nice if he came to the wedding and maybe… I don’t know, gave me away. It would look better, right?”
I cup the back of her head and kiss her. “You don’t need a thing from him. Don’t worry about how it looks. I’ll deal with anyone who tries to throw shade.”
“Oh, you don’t have to. If I can’t get him to come, I’ll just use whatever excuse he gives me. He’s usually full of them.”
My eyes narrow. Fucking deadbeat lowlife. His days of disappointing his daughter are over. “If you really want him there, Liv, I’ll make it happen.”
“No, don’t worry about it. I don’t know where he’s living. He’s always cagey. It might be a long trip. I’ll just ask him and whatever happens happens. At least I’ll have tried.
The anger that burns inside me has a dangerous edge. “Here, take Brady, and let me have your phone.”
She’s so innocent she just turns it over.
When I call her dad, I start with him on speaker. “Is this Mark Nichols?”
“Yes, who’s this?”
“Liam Callahan, your daughter’s fiancé. She tells me you asked to see her. Why now?”
“Oh, Liam, hey. Nice to meet you. Olivia speaks highly of you.”
“I can’t say the same.” My voice is hard, and Liv winces and starts to reach for the phone. I shake my head and move it out of her reach.
“Is that right? I’m sorry to hear that. Back in the day, things were complicated. She was too young to really understand the position I was in.”
I’m silent.
“You still there?”
“Yeah. I’m waiting to hear why you want to see Olivia.”
