It was nice and we’d needed it, along with the lazy day we’d spent together on Sunday, but it left me unsettled knowing things would only get worse the more Jacob failed to show up for them.
“Oh, nice. Thanks, Ma.” Beck grins and I laugh because he’smy Beckthis morning and I’m so damn grateful for that.
Even if he loses his shoes in the exact same place every day.
“Are you staying after school again to work out?”
He nods. “Yeah, it’s leg day.”
“Naturally. Hey, look at this.” Pulling up the recipe on my phone, I slide it to him and wait while he looks it over. “It’s a one-pot dinner, but it should be perfect when you get home.”
He narrows his eyes at the screen. “No mushrooms though, right?”
“No,” I reply, and he snorts as he pushes my phone back toward me, “not after last time when you whined for a week straight because you had to pick out like three little pieces.”
“They’re gross.” He scrunches up his nose and it’s adorable. “They squeak when you’re chewing them, and I don’t care how much seasoning you put on them; they still taste like dirt.”
“Are you talkin’ about the mushrooms again?” Holland says as she drops down on one of the stools at the counter.
Beck sticks his tongue out at her and she giggles. “I still have nightmares.”
“We know,” Holland says sweetly. “You were such a baby.”
“Be nice, y’all.” I chuckle, earning a smug look from Holland and a scowl from Beck.
Despite the chaos, nothing makes me happier than having my kids home. It hurt my heart knowing that they were stillstruggling to connect with their father, but Jacob wasn’t making it easy.
Or enjoyable.
Even though my alone time with Mason had been cut short, I couldn’t discount the relief that coursed through my veins when Jacob had shown up late Saturday night becausesomething came up.
The kids weren’t surprised, and neither was I.
I don’t wish ill on my ex-husband, mostly because he’s not worth the felony charges, but I do hope he realizes one day that he lost the privilege of being a father to the two most amazing kids.
Because the more he pushes them aside, the more disinterested they become.
And the fact that he donated his genetics is barely a blip on their radar.
“Y’all need to get moving or you’ll miss the bus,” I say, glancing at the clock and helping them both get all their things before sending them on their way with a kiss and promises of brownies after dinner. Beck had whooped and Holland had done a little dance, the two of them so young at heart before the chaos of the day settles in.
Watching from the window, I wait until the bus disappears down the road before doing a couple of last-minute things before I need to head to work. I like the quiet but it’s ruined when my phone rings, Jacob’s name appearing on the screen.
I answer, not bothering to say hello as he barks into the phone.
“What the hell is this about some guy’s clothes being left out for the kids to see? Seriously, Lana, if you’re going to slut yourself around, don’t do it in front of the kids.”
“Fuck off, Jacob.”
The response is automatic even though my stomach drops to the floor at his words. Beck must have texted him before I’d gone to talk to him. I know Beck didn’t mean anything by it. He’d done it because he was hurting, but now I wish I’d chased him right up the stairs because having Jacob involved in my personal life is a nightmare I can’t handle.
“What did you just say to me?” he barks, and I have to pull the phone away from my ear.
“Your dick might not work like it used to, but you’re not hard of hearing.”
“You little?—”
He’s furious and I would laugh at my brashness, but I’m afraid I’ll lose my nerve if I stop to think about it longer than a second.
