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“What’s going on out here?” she asked before spotting her son. “Desmond, I thought you were taking Rex to your mom’s place.”
“Change of plans.”
“Well, Rex really shouldn’t be here—”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” Desmond said, offering no apologies. “Plans change. He’s here.”
“He shouldn’t be. You brought him here to manipulate me.”
“What’s going on, Mom?” Rex wondered.
“We shouldn’t be talking about him like he’s some kind of object. He should have a say in this,” Desmond stated.
“He’s a child,” Zoe argued. “And you know that the second he gets upset, I’ll cave and you’ll get what you want.”
Desmond didn’t deny his motives.
“What’s going on?” Rex asked again, rejoining the conversation. “Are you two fighting about me?”
“Yes,” Demond told him.
“No,” Zoe lied.
Rex looked heartbroken as his eyes flickered from his father to his mother. I stepped in.
“Rex, do you want to go to the park?” I asked, quickly. “Maybe we can finally work on that catch. Get a little game going. How does that sound?”
Rex’s smile returned with a vengeance. “Really? You finally want to play catch with me?”
“Sure. Let’s give your mom and dad a chance to talk.”
“That’s a great idea,” Zoe agreed. “Go inside and change into some sweatpants and a tee shirt.”
Rex raced into the house. Zoe looked grateful, but Desmond was clearly less than thrilled.
“You’re really going to let our son go off with this man?” he asked.
“Why not?”
“Who is he?”
“My… friend,” she explained.
Desmond raised an eyebrow, concerned.
“I’m allowed to have friends, Desmond,” she argued.
“Do all of your friends offer to play catch with our son?”
“What are you implying?”
“I’m asking if this is someone you trust to… play nicely?” he said.
Now my blood was boiling. This fucker was actually implying that I would hurt Rex. I met Zoe’s eyes, and she was just as pissed as I was.
“I trust Carter, Desmond. It’s fine. They’re just going to go play catch,” she clarified.
“Catch…” He raised an eyebrow like the concept was totally foreign to him.
