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“Looks like Ms. Greco has different motives for raising Liam now, right?”
My eyes flash to his as my mom gapes.
“No! It fucking doesn’t,” I seethe, imagining how my fist would look in his face. And I’ve never been a violent person. “This isn’t some fucking soap opera. She’s not seeking custody as some kind of revenge.”
Suit guy one finally pipes up after saying nothing, probably hoping to draw the attention away from his colleague. “Either way, we think it’s worth mentioning. Her fiancé was with her sister. We’re sure it will put doubt in the mind of the judge, so we’re going to mention it to her lawyers to give her a chance to drop the case.”
“Hang on,” Mom says, her face paling. “Why would you tell her lawyer instead of taking it to court?”
“Mom?”
“It’s okay, Logan. What I’m saying is that they obviously don’t really believe a judge would go for their reasoning; they just want to shake Dani up. Make her doubt herself.”
Both guys straighten up. “And that’s how we’ll win,” one of them says. I don’t even take in who spoke as my mind reels over what they’re saying. “Point is, shewillbe nervous, so it’s going to work in our favor.”
“Fuck! I have to go,” I say, pushing my chair back as I jump to my feet, not even flinching when it hits the wall. Dani won’t drop the case for this, there’s no way it’ll make her doubt her ability to parent, but it is going to break her.
“Where are you going?” Mom calls out when I reach the door, and I’m shocked she hasn’t figured it out.
“To see Dani. This is going to kill her.”
It’s not until I reach my car that I realize I should have apologized to my mom. But I’ve got to hope she understands. If Dani didn’t know about her sister and Liam, then she sure as hell didn’t know her fiancé was in touch with them. And I can’t let a random lawyer deliver that news.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Dani
Mytoescurlinthe sand as I stare out at the waves. I’m not sure why I keep coming back here— to Logan’s beach—when I know he won’t be here, but I do. Always avoiding Sundays.
It’s like I need to feel that connection to him. Or maybe I’m trying to beat myself up. To punish myself for how everything played out.
I’ll never regret filing for custody. How could I when I truly believe I’m the right person to raise Liam? But it could have been done differently. I could have spoken to Jenny. Told her of my plans. Made sure she wasn’t blindsided by this. Everything is easier to cope with if given advance notice. And running through my choices for the millionth time isn’t helping anyone. It’s done.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when lightning crashes on the horizon, and the sun disappears behind the dark clouds. It’s eleven in the morning, and yet it feels like we’re approaching nightfall.
I’d be worried if it didn’t look so beautiful, the way each flash lights up the sky, projecting colors on the water.
The sound of my phone ringing floats to me with the wind, but I don’t move to get it. I’m too entranced by Mother Nature seemingly at war with the ocean. I’ve never seen anything like it.
When the rain hits, though, I grab my things and rush up the beach, hiding under some nearby trees for shelter, not wanting to miss the show.
At this time of year, the rain usually passes quickly, so I know I won’t be stuck here long. And when my phone rings again, I lift myself onto a low-lying branch and make myself comfortable before checking the caller ID, my breath hitching when I see the name displayed. Logan.
My cheeks flush as my heart rate immediately picks up, the effect he has on me hitting with full force.
“Hello?” I say hesitantly, since things weren’t great between us the last time we spoke.
“Oh, thank God,” he rushes out. “Where are you?”
Shit! I don’t really want to answer that.
“Um, why?”
“Please, Dani.” The panic in his voice has me instantly on edge, and I blurt out, “I’m at your beach,” without even asking what’s wrong. He needs me, and I will always be here for that.
Logan sighs. “Okay. That’s good. Stay there; I'm only about fifteen minutes away.”
“Stay here? Why?”
