“I don’t see the problem with any of that.” No, what he saw a problem with was everythingoutsideof his rules. Playdates with a boy he’d never met, at a house he’d never been to? Hell no.
Her lips fell into a frown. “We never had that playdate.”
Eastern squeezed her hand. “Then he scared off too easy and wasn’t good enough for you.”
“You always sayno one’sgood enough for me.”
“Damn straight.”
Avery giggled. “You need to put a dollar in the swear jar.”
Shit. He was already in major debt to that thing.
They were just nearing the front of the school when a car door opened across the street and a woman climbed out. He cursed under his breath at the sight of Jamie.
Goddammit. He’d told the woman to stay away until further notice.
Instinctively, he inched in front of Avery, but of course she saw her mother.
“Mom?” Avery’s voice was small and uncertain.
Jamie stopped in front of them and looked down at Avery, a smile that didn’t quite look genuine curving her lips. “Avery, baby, how are you?”
When Avery didn’t answer, Jamie lowered to her haunches. “Can Mommy have that cuddle now?”
She held out her arms, but Avery just stepped behind Eastern, and fury pummeled his veins. “She needs to get to class, Jamie.”
When Avery continued to hide behind him, annoyance flared in Jamie’s eyes and her arms dropped as she rose. “I know. But I wanted to see my child.”
“Now isn’t the time.”
“So whenwillbe the time?”
He didn’t want to fucking do this. Not here. Not in front of Avery.
He turned and crouched in front of his daughter. “You go get to class, okay?”
Her gaze rose to her mother, then returned to him. “Will you be okay?”
She was worried abouthim? God, he loved his kid. “Yeah, you don’t need to worry about me, princess. I’m tough, remember?”
That got a small smile out of her, then she whispered, “I love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too, kid.” He kissed and hugged her before she ran toward the school doors.
“Wait—”
When Jamie stepped forward as if to follow, Eastern blocked her path. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Get out of my goddamn way!”
“If she wanted you, she would have gone to you instead of hiding behindme.” And that fear in her eyes, fear of having to go back with her mother…fuck, it annihilated him.
“What have you said to her?”
Eastern frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You’ve clearly turned her against me.”
