I checked the GPS. “We’ll be there in five minutes. Ask Lucie to wait with you.”
“He already told us he’s waiting,” Gabby assured me. “Daddy keeps calling me. He’s mad that we left early. He’ll probably call you next.”
My heart panged at the nervousness in her tone. Gabby hated any bad feeling, and I knew she’d be upset that her dad was angry with her.
“What happened, baby?” I asked.
She sucked in a fortifying breath, and my heart stilled when I heard the tremor in it. “Rachel was mad that I forgot to unload the dishwasher. Daddy was at work, so Deej said we had to pack our stuff and go.”
“You should’ve done your chores, honey,” I told her gently.
“I know,” she admitted. “I just got caught up in my book. I apologized and told her I’d do it, but she wouldn’t stop yelling at me.”
My back stiffened. “She yelled at you?”
Gabby’s awkward silence told me everything I needed to know.
“We’re just a few minutes away, honey,” I assured her. “Look out for us. I’m gonna ring off now and call your dad. Don’t worry, I’ll smooth things over.”
“Thanks, Momma,” she whispered.
“See you soon, honey,” I said, ending the call.
I saw Donovan take in my jerky movements as my finger stabbed at my cell. “Trouble?”
“With a capital T,” I muttered, scrolling through my contacts. I found my ex-husband's name, clicked on it, and put the phone on speaker as it started to ring.
The call connected, and Evan barked, “Our kids need to learn some manners.”
I took a breath, trying to calm my shit before I cussed his ass out. “Or maybe your girlfriend does.”
He gave a humorless snort. “Rachel’s the adult. Gabrielle has to learn that if she doesn’t do her chores, there’ll be consequences.”
“Oh my God!” I exclaimed. “She got carried away with her book and forgot to unload the dishwasher. Did your current flavor of the month really have to raise her fucking voice at our daughter? Why would she yell at Gabby over something so damned trivial? Jesus, Evan, DJ wouldn’t pack their shit and leave over nothing.”
I could hear the frustration and the dismissiveness in his heavy sigh. “Rachel’s not used to dealing with kids.”
“Then don’t leave them with her. You have them two weekends a month. Why the hell were you at work when you should be spending time with them?”
“I got called in on an emergency,” he said defensively.
“And that’s more important than the kids? I know sometimes you can’t control everything, but next time there’s an emergency, maybe you should take them to your parents’ house.”
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do,” Evan spat. “They’re my kids too, and if Gabby’s gonna throw attitude at my woman, she’s gotta expect consequences.”
My brow furrowed.
Gabby would never throw attitude at anyone, and I was shocked Evan would believe it of her. She lived in a fucking dream world ninety-nine percent of the time, so it could sometimes seem like she wasn’t listening, probably because her mind was still stuck in the story she’d been reading, but she wasn’t rude, ever. She didn’t have it in her. DJ? Yes, all day long. Gabby? Never.
I thrust a hand through my hair. “Are you for fucking real?—?”
“Oh, fuck you, Rosie,” Evan bit out. “You’re just a bitter bitch?—”
“Yo. Bud!” Donny barked. “Keep it civil or else you’ll deal with me!”
Silence fell briefly before Evan growled, “And who the fuck are you?”
“I’m Rosie’s man,” he announced. “And I’d be obliged if you kept it respectful.”
