The sound of the front door opening pulls me from my thoughts. I glance at the time and see that Grant is home a little earlier than usual.
His footsteps are quick and purposeful as he crosses the entryway, and then he’s in the kitchen, still in his athletic gear with his hair damp from a post-practice shower.
“Hey,” I start to say, but I don’t get any further than that.
He crosses the distance between us, wraps his arms around me, and kisses me like he hasn’t seen me in days instead of hours. It’s not the gentle, sweet kiss we usually share when Colin might be around. This is hungry and desperate and full of relief.
When we finally break apart, I’m breathless and laughing.
“Well, hello to you too.”
“I missed you,” he says simply, like that explains everything. Like it’s the most natural thing in the world to sweep me off my feet in the middle of the kitchen.
“Grant,” I say, still laughing, “Colin is here.”
“I know.” He doesn’t let me go. “And I don’t care.”
From somewhere upstairs, I hear Colin chuckle. “Don’t mind me!”
I bury my face in Grant’s chest, half mortified and half delighted by how little he cares about appearances right now. This is exactly what Colin was talking about—Grant being all in and not holding anything back.
“How was practice?” I ask.
“Better. Noah talked some sense into me.” He pulls back just enough to look at me. “I’m working on not being so?—”
My phone rings, cutting him off.
We both freeze.
It’s sitting on the counter where I left it and the screen lights up with an unknown number. My stomach drops. I know it has to be Steven before I even look at it.
“Don’t answer,” Grant says immediately.
But I’m already reaching for the phone with a shaking hand. “If I don’t, he’ll just keep calling.”
“Then let him.”
My finger hovers over the screen. Part of me wants to do exactly what Grant says—ignore it, block the number, and pretend Steven doesn’t exist. But the other part knows that ignoring him won’t make him go away.
Before I can decide, Grant takes the phone from my hand.
“What are you doing?” I mouth, but he’s already a step ahead of me.
He answers it and puts it on speaker. “Stop calling this number.”
There’s a pause, then Steven’s voice fills the kitchen, dripping with false pleasantness. “Wow, it’s the infamous Grant Parker. I was hoping to talk to Heather, but I suppose you’ll do.”
“I said stop calling.”
“Or what? You’ll send your security guards after me?” Steven laughs. “I’m not breaking any laws by calling my daughter’s mother.”
“I have nothing to say to you, Steven,” I call out, using every bit of strength I have to keep my tone firm. “And neither does April.”
“That’s about to change.” The smugness in his tone makes my skin crawl. “I’ve already spoken to a lawyer and we’re filing for custody.”
The room tilts sideways. “You can’t.”
“I can, and I will. You think you can just take my kid and shack up with some millionaire hockey player? Live in his fancy house and play happy family while I’m forgotten? That’s not how things are going to be anymore, Heather.”
