“Like I said, I’m going to go back to Jules. Maybe I’ll tell Darla today, if I ever get out of here.”
“And Mr. King? I assume he knows.”
“I understand you’re protective, Bryce, but I need to be in charge of my own life. I’ll handle Drew how I see fit. And unless it interferes with my job, I don’t think it’s any of your concern.”
On that note, I waved good-bye and stormed out of Bryce’s office. Sure, we’d had arguments—over shift changes and schedules, or his firing of an innocent line cook—but it had never gotten personal before.
My head hurt thinking about all the possibilities ofwhy now?
I’d looked forward to a fun afternoon. It didn’t seem like that was on the menu.
Twenty minutes later, I hurried into the after-school-care classroom. “Hey, sweetie.”
Darla looked up from a picture book. She was snuggled in a huge purple-and-green bean bag, studying a book on puppies, and looked content. For the first time today, relief flooded my body. She was doing okay.
Darla waved and ran to put her book back on the shelf before hugging me tightly. “Hey, Mom.”
“Ready?”
She nodded, grabbed her tiny pink backpack, and said, “’Bye, Ms. Price.”
Ms. Price said good-bye, smiling at me, and went back to helping a group of boys with a puzzle.
I was loading our racquets into the trunk when my phone rang. I debated answering it, but it washim.
Shoving my basket of tennis balls to the side, I said, “Hello.”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“I know.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting ready to take Dar to play tennis,” I said into the phone, standing under the shade of the trunk lid. If only it could protect my emotions.
“Oh, great. You should go to Rocky Brook.”
I slammed the trunk closed. “I can’t, and you know it. I’m not some kept woman or secret that you have to fund.Now.”
“I know,” he said calmly. “You’re the mother of my child. I get it. I may have to keep saying it. That’s my punishment.”
“What? That you have a child?” I squeezed my eyes shut and willed the phone call away.
“I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was having to keep explaining to you that you’re not a burden or an unnecessary responsibility. I want to do it all for you and Darla.Want.”
Smothered in shame, I apologized. “I’m sorry, it’s just—”
“I know. Never mind all that. Where are you going?”
“To the park. Sunnyscape.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
“Drew—” I started, but Darla knocked on the window.
“See you soon.”
And that we did. Drew came sauntering down to the courts in a pair of light gray shorts and a white T-shirt, snug and fitted. His tanned legs looked more and more delectable with each step, his quads flexing. I was pretty sure his ass looked amazing too; I just couldn’t maneuver to sneak a peek from behind.
