When we were seated inside, she looked at me and said, “Why are you still smiling?”
“Because I think I just spared Javier any more agony about this custody battle.”
Her brows stitched together. “What do you mean?”
“I mean—” I unlocked my phone and turned the screen her way so she could see it. When she realized what she was looking at, her eyes expanded and an amused smile swept over her face. “I recorded every single thing he said.”
“You smart-ass bitch.” She squealed as she gripped the steering wheel. “This is why you’re my best friend!”
I laughed as we threw our hands out at the same time to do our bestie handshake.
Forty-Eight
Octavia
As soon as Naomi dropped me off, I rushed into Javier’s house. He and Aleesa were nowhere to be found in the living room, kitchen, or sunroom, but I heard giggling coming from outside.
I placed my purse down on the kitchen counter and headed for the back door. Javier had a tube of bubbles in hand and was blowing them while Aleesa ran around in circles, swatting at some of them and trying to catch others.
I walked down the stairs of the deck, and when he heard my footsteps shuffling through the grass, he gazed over his shoulder. One look at me, and the biggest smile spread across his face. It was so warm and genuine, making his eyes sparkle and his face appear softer.
“You are back sooner than I expected,” he said, turning as I met up with him.
“Yeah, well, I sort of ruined lunch.”
“You ruined lunch?” His brows drew together. He started to speak again, but Aleesa rushed his way and took the bubble tube and wand from him. She tried blowing, but spittle came out instead. “How do you mean?”
I unlocked my phone and showed him my screen. “I mean, I confronted Rafael.”
This time, Javier put on a full-blown frown. “Youwhat?”
“So Naomi and I were about to eat at Venicio’s, and he was sitting at the table right behind me. I heard him talking about you, Eloise, and Aleesa.”
Javier’s eyes seemed to darken. “What was he saying?”
“I have it all right here.” I pressed the play button, and Javier stepped closer to tune in. While giving a glance at Aleesa, who was still trying her hardest to blow bubbles, I increased the volume just enough for only us to hear.
As Javier listened, he seemed to zone out, but I didn’t miss the way his jaw pulsed. The recording played Rafael’s voice for about three minutes before it was just mine and Naomi’s.
I paused the recording and looked into his eyes.
“Did he put his hands on you?” he asked in a low growl.
I studied the deep frown on his face, the angry lines forming between his eyebrows. Out of all the things he’d heard, that seemed to piss him off the most.
“He grabbed my arm, but—”
“I am going to kill him.” He started to walk around me, ready to storm away, but I caught his hand.
“No, that’s not what you’re going to do,” I said when he whirled around.
“He tried tohurt you, Octavia!” he shot back in a loud whisper. He looked at Aleesa, who, thankfully, wasn’t paying any attention to either of us. Instead, she was now frustratedly dumping all the bubble solution onto the ground.
“Emphasis ontried,” I murmured, guiding him a bit farther away from Aleesa. “But he didn’t. If you go to him and incite violence, this recording will be for nothing. We have to play this smart. You understand?”
Javier was fuming, breaths coming out harshly through his flared nostrils.
“Javier.” I cupped his face in my hands.
