I put on “Enchanted” and got ready to give Logan a piece of my mind.
I marched over toward my ex, heated with fury as my boots crunched in the snow. My glare was trained right on Logan, and he had the audacity to smile as if everything was right in the world. We were at odds when we were supposed to be on the same side. I wanted safety for our child, while he preferred to be more carefree.
I pointed right at him. “You need to stop doing that.”
“What?” He chuckled with a shrug.
“Crossing the line...” I put my mitten-covered hands on my hips. “We had an agreement to co-parent.”
“Exactly. Co-parent. Not single parent. You have too many rules and want control over everything, Noelle.” Logan pointed toward his car. “It’s okay to let loose and have fun. Geeze. Faith even gets it, and she’s only eight.”
“And you’re a thirty-year-old grown man who is supposed to be there for her,” I argued.
“I’m always there for my daughter.” Logan pointed toward the ground. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
I ignored his reassurance.
“Are you going to be at Faith’s Christmas concert?” I asked.
“She has another one?” Logan said.
I sighed. “Yes, Logan, she has a holiday performance every year. This one is important to her because she’s the lead. A young girl with a cheery, optimistic, and adventurous spirit.”
“Who?” Logan teased.
“God, Logan, seriously?” I groaned with frustration.
“I’m kidding, okay?” Logan scooped up some white dust from the ground. “I’ll be there.”
“Alright,” I mumbled.
Logan missed Faith’s concerts every fucking year, and I always had to deal with a disappointed child. I had to make up some lame-ass excuse for him while all the other kids’ mommies and daddies came to watch. Each time the letdown became harder for her, and this holiday season would be worse. Faith had the lead role in the performance. She was beyond excited for the part and would sing a wonderful Christmas song. She’d blow the crowd away, and she’d hope for her daddy to be there. Logan better not let her down.
“Jesus. Live a little.” Logan patted the snow into a ball. “Here. Catch.”
Logan threw the packed snowball in my direction, and I sidestepped out of the way before it hit me in the chest. I wanted to beat my fists against him, scream in his face, and wring his damn neck. He took nothing seriously and assumed I’d go along with his joke of a life, but this was reality. Faith could’ve been in danger, and every time he took her, Igot anxious, fearful of something happening that was out of my control because Logan led such an irresponsible life.
No wonder the asshole cheated on me.
Logan Lancaster may have handsome blue eyes, hair combed back to perfection, and neatly trimmed facial hair, but he lacked brains. He might appear reliable, ready to take charge, except he didn’t have parenting skills. He was too arrogant, and that quality got people in trouble.
Instead of lashing out, I’d be the adult and reason with the man-child.
I heaved a deep sigh. “When Faith is old enough to drive, she can sit in the front seat. Until then, try to be the reliable role model Faith needs.”
There. Acceptable enough.
Logan raised an eyebrow. “Then you’ll take me back?”
I patted his chest pocket, leaned in close, and whispered, “No.”
I turned back toward the decorations, pretended to test each light bulb to ensure they’d illuminate light and heard Logan groan behind me. He cursed as snow squeaked against his expensive designer leather boots. His hand touched my shoulder. I froze, as chilled as the ice in my driveway, and I wished my ex would accidentally slip. I had no such luck.
“Come on, Noelle. Faith needs us to be a family,” Logan expressed.
I spun around.
“Sheneedsa father who shows up on time for visits,” I shot back, and his hand fell to his side. “Stop using ourdaughter as a reason to get back with me. It’s pathetic, Logan.”
