“Yeah, you should be dating her.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, well, we tried. It was unsuccessful,” he adds with a teasing grin, glancing around the courtroom. “Where’s Miss Carlisle?”
“She’s on tour with her podcast.”
“She has a podcast?” His eyes widen with interest.
Based on that, maybe I should tell him not to bother if he’s looking for something more than just one night. Callie’s far from ready for anything serious. If she piques his interest too hard, he’ll be waking up to an empty bed.
“It’s called If I’m Honest.”
“Oh, interesting. I’ll have to look it up.”
Viv comes over. “Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll have my assistant call you, and we’ll schedule something, okay? We can go over how the whole process will work. But this is excellent news.” Then she looks at Hayes. “Our savior.”
“You really think he wasn’t going to give me temporary guardianship?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I believe you’re the best person for these kids. Besides the fact that it’s what their parents wanted, you seem like a very sweet, capable person, Leighton. But I can’t lie—their marriage—whether or not it’s a happy marriage, it’s a marriage on paper—their finances, and their ability to slot the kids into a life very similar to the life they had will appeal to the judge, as sad as that is. So, I think the fact that you and Hayes are finally coming out with your relationship…” She kind of hems and haws as though she maybe doesn’t believe it. And why would she? I mean, why would Hayes Carlisle and I be together?
“It puts you on more equal footing. But no matter what, temporary custody is temporary custody, and now we have to prove that you can raise those children in a loving home. So, I’m going to tell you right now… for the home visit—when the social worker comes—you both will be there, understand?”
“I’ll be there,” Hayes says.
“But how do we know the social worker’s schedule will align with Hayes’s?” I ask.
“I’ll talk to the department when everything is being filed requesting the home visit,” Viv says, “and I’ll tell the department that they need to make sure they’re working around your schedule and who exactly you are. Now, they should be accommodating, but sometimes they’re not. But if you have a game, I understand that—well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“I’ll make it work,” Hayes says with a firm nod.
He’s insane. As if I’d ever allow him to miss a game.
“Okay, then I’ll be in touch. We’ll talk more about the specifics, but don’t worry, Leighton.” Again, she grabs my hands and squeezes them. Viv opens her briefcase. “There is one topic we’ve yet to talk about that always makes me uncomfortable.” She reaches into the briefcase and pulls out a piece of paper. “I hate this part of the job.”
“But you love the paycheck,” Mr. Notting adds.
“I do love the paycheck. So unfortunately, this is the invoice for my retainer.”
My dad plucks the paper out of Viv’s hands. “I’ll take care of it. Whatever she needs. Have your assistant call me.”
“Here we go again, just throwing your money around like it’s love,” Mom says.
I try to center myself and ignore their bickering.
“I’m helping our daughter. There’s no way she can afford to pay for that,” my dad says.
“Do you want the judge to hear that she’s broke?” my mom whisper-yells.
“I’m not broke,” I argue.
Mr. Notting leans forward, lowering his voice. “Once this custody thing is established, everything will be left to Leighton. Patrick had a very good job and good life insurance, so she will be fine.”
They all look at me with pity in their eyes.
“I have money.” I sound begrudging. Not what I assume Patrick and Sky had, and I have nowhere near what Hayes has, but I have money and savings.
“We know you do, sweetie,” my mom says in that condescending voice. “I always told you, you should’ve gone for your doctorate instead of just being a nurse.”
I inhale a deep breath, and a hand falls to the small of my back. Hayes steps into me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take comfort in his touch.
