He nodded. “Yep. But it means something, doesn’t it? That the people closest to us think we’re a good match and that we should get back together?”
Ty managed another nod, but truthfully, it said more that her fatherdidn’tsupport it. And why would he? Eric had been an absent father all these years. He’d left her once, and he could do it again. But there was something else bothering her. Eric had found a trigger earlier, but she couldn’t exactly remember what it was. Ty had been too busy going off on him to even dwell on it.
Memphis.Yes, he was saying something about Lucas looking up to guys like him. And while Ty knew Memphis had more to admire than Eric did any day of the week, she couldn’t help but wonder where that new side of him came from. Memphis was gentle, humble, and patient. He was disciplined and mature. And he always seemed to take Lucas into consideration. But that scuffle at the park—it brought out a new side of him.
“Ouch,” Eric said as he blindly placed the ice back on his cheek. He tilted his chin down slightly, and Ty recognized his puppy dog look in an instant. “Hurts,” he added in a pouty voice.
Ty cracked a smile and shook her head. “I’m not falling for that,” she assured as she got to her feet. She’d already seen how this played out with her and Memphis in the kitchen that night.
Eric’s jaw dropped. His eyes went wide. “For what?”
“For that whole…poor little old me, my face hurts, I-need-help-holding-the-ice-pack type of thing.”
“Idoneed help. It’s hard for me to keep it on the right spot because I can’t see it.” He moved the pack down to his dimpled chin to prove his point. “See?”
She felt it then. For the first time in so many years, Ty felt the tiniest tug of affection for her ex-husband. The interaction reminded her of how charming he used to be. There was a reason she’d fallen for him in the first place.
Still, Ty shook her head and fought back the grin threatening to cross her lips. “Not going to work. Let’s take a look at the visitation plan. While I was at my friends’ house, where I dropped Lucas off, I did a bit of research. There are a lot of opinions out there on the topic of introducing a child to their absent parent, but there’s one strict consensus across the board for a child Lucas’s age. Are you ready for it?”
Eric gulped and nodded his head.
“It’s that you can’t just introduce yourself, make a bunch of promises, and then disappear.”
He nodded, his brow furrowing for a blink. “That’s essentially the first thing you said to me about it.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, well, I’m smart. I’m a concerned parent. It’s common sense.”
“I’m sure you’re a terrific mother,” he said. “The absolute best. I couldn’t have left you alone all this time had I not known that.”
Ty closed her eyes as the sting from that comment settled over her. It felt like some sort of backhanded compliment. Or a way to excuse himself.Yeah, I think you’re amazing. I just didn’t want to be with you.AndI wouldn’t have abandoned Lucas had I not known he was in such good hands. It’s almost like I didn’t abandon him at all.
“I’ve got a lot to learn,” Eric admitted. “I know that. How can I prove to you that I won’t change my mind about being in his life?”
“You can’t prove something like that. All we have to go off is your track record. And,” she added as his shoulders dropped, “we also have your actions from here on out. If you’re really willing to take things as slowly as I’ve outlined on the visitation form—”
“I am,” he assured.
“Good. But you should also know that Memphis and I love each other. He really cares for Lucas and Lucas cares for him. That’s not going to change just because you’re back in the picture.”
“You don’t feel anything for me?” he challenged.
Ty shook her head. “Nothing. Not like that, anyway.”
Eric’s face scrunched as he shifted his gaze to the far corner. He nodded slightly as he seemed to consider and then turned to pin a serious look on her. “I didn’t want to bring this up, but I talked to Jed on my way over.”
Ty furrowed her brow. “Jed Conner, from high school?”
“AttorneyJed Conner from high school,” Eric corrected. “He represents men in divorce and custody cases. I told him about our little scuffle in the parking lot, and he thinks Memphis might pose a risk. For that reason, I filed a report with the police, just to have it on record, you know.”
Ty’s heart turned into a ticking time bomb. The tips of her fingers went numb as her blood shifted from hot to cold. This was the Eric she remembered. Cutthroat and as cold as he wanted to be. He couldn’t get her back? Then he’d get even instead.
“Jed’s going to do a little digging. See if this guy of yours has a record. I might have to request that Lucas comes with me full time.”
“Very funny, Eric. You’re a perfect stranger to him. You don’t even have a leg to stand on.”
“Don’t I? If the court sees that his mother is dating some hot head with a record…”
DidMemphis have a record? She doubted he would, but the mere idea of losing Lucas over it made her stomach churn. In that moment, she understood Memphis’s outburst more than ever. The trouble was, that very reaction may end up costing her dearly.
