I’d finally wrangled my emotions back under control.“It is.”
Nodding, he moved out of the room.I walked him to the door in silence.This was the first time I was grateful for the small apartment.The few seconds it took to get to the door were barely tolerable, the tension thick in the air.
Addy and Elana jumped up when they spotted me opening the front door.“Is Vance leaving?”
“But he hasn’t watched the movie with us.”
Vance crouched down in front of the girls, who’d followed us to the door.“I’ll watch something with you next time.Promise.”
I gritted my teeth when he made a promise he would be unlikely to keep.I knew the girls wouldn’t forget.I only hoped I could come up with an excuse for why he wasn’t returning.Because this thing, whatever was going on, had to stop.I couldn’t figure out his motives, and I was exhausted trying to decipher my feelings.
They both gave him a high five before racing back to the couch.
Vance straightened, bringing his chest level with my eyes.The T-shirt he wore stretched over his muscles, and not for the first time, I remembered what he looked like without it on.I’d never been an overly sexual person, but with Vance, I was all too aware of the way my loose shirt brushed against my nipples, only covered by a sheer bra.The way my core clenched when I caught a glimpse of one of his rare smiles.
Randy teenagers had nothing on me.This was something I hadn’t even felt when Iwasa teenager.And much to my annoyance, my feelings didn’t change even when I was mad at him.
“We’re not done talking about this.”
His threat made me clench my teeth.“Just promise me you won’t contact my husband’s lawyers.”
Vance growled, then ground out one word.“Ex-husband.”
“Not yet.But hopefully soon if you don’t screw this up for me.”
There was too much on the line.Because if Hank wanted to, he could take the kids.
“I have to go to Chicago tomorrow.But I’ll be back in the office on Wednesday.”
I gave him a silent nod, my grip on the door tightening.I didn’t want to think about the way my stomach twisted when all I should feel was relief at not having to see him for two days.I watched him walk out, then closed the door as soon as he’d cleared the threshold.
My knees buckled, but there was no way I could explain to the girls why I was sitting on the floor, so I remained upright.
Onward and upward, even if I felt like I’d done something wrong by kicking him out.
Chapter fourteen
“Addy,getoffthefloor.”
My daughter didn’t react.Instead, she rolled faster.Not sure how she planned on getting down the steps.
“Adelaine.I said get up and walk.We’re running late.”
Elana tugged on my hand.“I need to go potty.”
I cast a wild glance back at the closed apartment door.We’d finally made it into the hallway.If we went back inside now, all progress would be lost.“You can go at daycare.We’ll be there in ten minutes.”
She groaned, throwing her head back.We made it to the stairs, where Addy had thankfully stopped rolling and was now sliding down on her bottom.
“It would be so much easier if you’d use your legs and walk.”
Addy continued sliding.“I don’t want to go to school.”
I continued pulling Elana along.“Girls, this has been a challenging morning.Don’t push me.”
Both of them looked at me with wide eyes.“But we didn’t touch you,” Addy cried out.
“I didn’t push you,” Elana joined in.
