“And no boyfriend to beg her to stay,” Law teases.
I snort. “And no boyfriend anytime in the future.” I shake my head at Law. Considering he knew me all through college, when I was always dating someone, and then later, when I met his brother and we dated forever, it’s probably hard for him to picture menotdating.
Chad raises an eyebrow at this and then winces. Poor guy. Dealing with a migraine while caring for two excited little girls sounds like torture. “No boyfriends ever?” he asks, skeptically.
“I’m sure you know the tea,” I say, side-eyeing Law. The way Scarlett and Zoey are clinging to him, he’s clearly a fixture at their house. “Nope. No boyfriends for me.”
He grimaces, which could be in understanding or because he has a pounding migraine.
“Where are you guys headed?” Law asks the girls, who are bundled up.
“We’re going to see Christmas lights!” Zoey shouts excitedly.
Chad cringes again and closes his eyes. The man needs a dim room, an eye mask, and silence—not two excited girls andlights. I share another look with Law. He has to leave for a low-key practice once I get checked in, so he can’t take them, despite how much they love him.
With Law being gone until our dinner plans this evening, and Carlie not here to hang out with, I don’t have anything else to do. I could help with this situation.
I step closer to Chad, and Law chats with the girls about the garden they’re going to with the light display. “Hey, do you think the girls would be okay if I took them?” I ask quietly. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them, but we hung out a few times when Chad was looking for more permanent childcare after Shelby left. Besides, it would be way better than hanging out in my hotel room alone. Without Carlie here, and with Law gone for the evening, I’ll probably end up watching some cheesy Christmas romance movie and questioning my decision not to elope last summer because I’d be spending Christmas with my husband.
And that attitude is the exact reason I have sworn off dating for the time being.
“You don’t have to do that.” Chad shakes his head once and then looks like he’s about to throw up.
“I want to. You can’t go like this.” I use my firm voice.
“I’m fine,” he insists. Then he sways a little.
I cock an eyebrow, which he can’t see because his eyes are still shut. “It’s fine if you don’t feel safe leaving me with the girls. I understand. I haven’t seen them for a few months.”
Chad holds up a hand. “Stop, Ivy. I know you’re just trying to make me feel guilty.”
I wasn’t, actually, but it worked. “Chad …”
“Um, excuse me a moment.” He squints around the room and then hurries toward a nearby men’s room. Law and I share a look again.
“Is Daddy okay?” Zoey asks, looking after her dad with fearful eyes.
Law squeezes her closer. “He’s not feeling good. Remember when you were sick a couple weeks ago? That’s how he feels.”
“Okay,” Zoey says, but she still eyes the restroom he disappeared into.
“Is Daddy taking drugs?” Scarlett asks in a low voice. I blink at her, surprised, and Law opens his mouth, but she goes on. “Mommy takes drugs and it makes her sick, and that’s why we don’t get to see her anymore until she gets better.”
“Your dad wouldn’t do that, Scar,” Law says in a soothing voice. “He has a bad headache that’s making him feel sick.”
Chad emerges from the bathroom, looking even more pale and moving slowly across the room. “DADDY!” both girls shout as soon as they see him. His entire body tenses. No way this guy survives taking them to see a light display with him tonight.
Scarlett wiggles out of Law’s arms and rushes toward her dad, gripping his legs. “Daddy, did you take drugs?” she asks.
Chad crouches next to her and nearly falls over. He puts a hand on the floor to steady himself. He sighs. “No, I didn’t,” he says softly. “Remember, I promised you I wouldn’t ever do that.”
She nods solemnly at him. He leans over and hugs her.
“I know it was the right thing to be honest with them about Shelby, but it’s a double-edged sword,” he says to me and Law in a tired voice.
“Chad, you’re not going to be able to take them if you’re throwing up,” I point out. “You can barely stand.”
He presses his lips together.
