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By the time I got on the right bus and got home, it was getting dark and I’d thought myself into knots. My phone buzzed steadily against my leg but I ignored it. It was only after I got off at my bus stop that I realized the mistake I’d made. I’d taken the bus to my old apartment. Standing on a street corner in a neighborhood the guys thought would kill me, I felt a sense of loss. My life had changed so much in such a short amount of time. I was experiencing so many new things and most of them were good, but it felt like I was treated worse since I’d left my bad neighborhood.
Since I couldn’t see Dice in the dying grass in front of the apartment I started walking back towards town. I could’ve called for help but I needed the time to myself.
31
***Jake***
“Never again, Megan.” I glanced over at Lucy’s closed bedroom door and shook my head. “You could’ve done so much damage today. Not just to Lucy but to her friends, too. I don’t care what you think about kids being kids or whatever bullshit you said. You have a responsibility to keep her safe.”
Now that we were in my loft, Megan softened the way she always did when it was just the two of us. She tried edging closer to me but I held up my hands to stop her.
“Also, Fiona is my girlfriend. I’m serious about her. If you ever treat her like that again, I’ll cut you off. I don’t have to help support your lifestyle, Megan, and I swear to god I’ll leave you flat broke if you hurt her again.”
She pouted up at me and leaned forward, pressing her breasts together. “Come on, Jake. Her? Really?”
I scowled at her. “You’re treading on dangerous ground. You and I aren’t good, Megan. We’re not friends. We’re nothing that means you get to have an opinion about who I date.”
Giving up her soft approach, she rolled her eyes and waved me away. “Whatever, Jake. Go chase after your plain Jane. Don’t take all day, though. It’s your weekend and I’m not a babysitter.”
“If those other parents press charges against you, don’t call me.” I left with those words and jogged down the stairs to get back to what I was sure was one very upset girlfriend. Instead, I found my SUV empty and no sign of Fiona. “Goddammit!”
I’d only been upstairs for a few minutes. She couldn’t have gotten far. I ran up and down the street in front of my building a few times looking for her but she was nowhere to be seen. I knew in my gut that she’d taken a bus and my anger from my shitshow of a day boiled over. I slammed my fist into a brick wall and welcomed the instant pain that came with my split knuckles.
I’d upset Fiona and I was furious with myself for it. I should’ve stood up for her more or dragged Megan away from her. I should’ve driven her home first. There were a million things running through my mind but the only thing that mattered was that I’d hurt her. She didn’t understand Megan the way I did and she wouldn’t have known that me pulling Megan away would’ve made Megan go harder. She didn’t know that if I’d bothered correcting every bullshit insult Megan threw at her, she’d just come up with more. She only knew that my ex-wife attacked her and I let it happen before riding away with her like we were still a happy fucking family.
I pulled out my phone and made a call for one of Lucy’s friends to come over with her mom, a woman who had seven kids of her own and could handle Megan in her sleep. I needed to find Fiona and make sure she was okay and didn’t hate me.
The idea of her riding on a bus with whatever unsavory character might’ve gotten on with her drove me to the edge of my control. I sped out of my parking garage and went towards her new house, the one place I assumed she’d go. If she wasn’t there, I’d call Ryder and Sebastian to see if she was with them. That idea didn’t sit quite right either. I wanted to be the one to comfort her. I didn’t want them soothing an ache I’d caused.
I parked outside of her house and winced when I saw Mallory look through the curtains. She came sauntering out a minute later, her eyes narrowed. “You left with my sister. Where is she?”
I frowned and my stomach sank. “She’s not here?”
“Why are you asking me that? You took her! Did you leave her somewhere? How did you lose a full-grown woman?!” Mallory hissed at me when I held up my hand and dialed first Ryder and then Seb. Neither of them were with her.
“My ex showed up and… While I was taking my daughter up to her room, Fiona left. I don’t know where she went.” I met Mallory’s eyes and took a deep breath. “She’s not with Ryder or Seb.”
“I swear to god. You idiots. Keep your vile exes away from my baby sister. She’s too sweet for that crap.” She turned around and marched a few feet before turning around and glaring at me. “Well? Are you coming? You can wait inside for her to get home while I try calling her. You can watch Avery and think about your bad choices.”
I followed her with my tail between my legs, feeling like a giant scolded piece of shit. “Thanks.”
“You’re lucky you’re cute when you’re pouting or I’d leave you outside with the horny neighborhood cougars.” She let out a loud groan as soon as she stepped inside the house and spotted Avery with his hand inside a cookie jar. “Both of you are in trouble now. Great. Both of you sit on the naughty step and don’t move.”
Avery looked from me to his aunt and frowned. “Jake has to sit on the naughty step?”
“Yes. Now both of you, go!” Mallory swept her hands towards the stairs and started running her hands from her head to her chest. “My energy is all off now thanks to you two.”
When Avery went to the steps and sat on one, I followed him, figuring I deserved it. He looked up at me once we were both sitting and sighed. “What did you do to get here?”
“I upset your mom. I didn’t mean to, though.” I rested my elbows on my knees and sighed. “Did you do something before stealing the cookies?”
“Yeah, I hid behind the couch and scared Aunt Mal. She cussed so much.” He mimicked my pose. “What did you do to Mom?”
“I just didn’t take care of her the way I was supposed to.” I watched the door, hoping Fiona would walk through it soon. “It was an accident but I’m still very sorry it happened.”
“Then she’ll forgive you.” He smiled. “Mom always forgives me when I say I’m sorry.”
Of course she did. She was amazing. “I guess all we can do now is wait and see.”
