“Krystal ismine.”
“She’s mine, too,” Neil snapped. “I deserve a chance to prove I can be a good father.”
Desiree cocked her hip and planted her hand on it. “You couldn’t even be faithful to your girlfriend. How do I know you won’t run out on your daughter?”
“I would never abandon my child.”
“No. Just her mother. For another woman.”
Neil threw up his hands and let them drop back to his sides. “We’re not even together anymore, thanks to you.”
“You mean you,” Desiree shot back.
Neil leaned into her face. “How about I tell her the real story?”
Desiree didn’t back down. “You want visitation. You know what you need to do.” Desiree turned back to her. “He is not allowed near Krystal. I have full custody and need to be somewhere.”
“And you expect me to watch her after the bomb you dropped on me?”
“Yes. Because you love her like she’s yours. And no matter what’s happened, I’m still the best friend you ever had.”
“With friends like you, I don’t need enemies. You knock me down enough.”
Desiree fisted her hands. “I can’t do this with you right now.”
Lucky caught Krystal staring at them wide-eyed and pale at the table. This wasn’t the time to finish this. “Fine. Then you and Neil will meet back here tomorrow at two and we’ll hash this out.”
Neil folded his arms in front of him, blocking the exit even more. “Fine. Maybe you can talk some sense into her, so she’ll let me see my daughter.”
Desiree huffed. “I’m leaving and so are you. Tomorrow we’ll talk about the dirty little secret you kept from the woman you supposedly loved more than anything, including me.” Desiree shoved Neil out the door and slammed it behind her.
Suddenly, Lucky felt tiny hands wrap around her leg from behind. She turned and put a hand on Krystal’s back.
“Is he really my dad?”
She couldn’t lie, or leave Krystal in the dark. Her mother lied and withheld the truth long enough. “Yes, honey. His name is Neil and he very much wants to see you.”
“But Mommy said no.”
“She did. But I’m going to fix that tomorrow. I promise.” She hoped nothing kept her from keeping that promise.
Hawk squatted next to Krystal. “In the kitchen you’ll find a cupboard door next to the dishwasher. Open it and you’ll find something special.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Lucky brushed back Krystal’s hair and kissed her on the forehead. “Uncle Hawk picked up some treats just for you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Hawk.”
He smiled at the little girl. “You’re welcome. I’ll keep it stocked for when you come visit. That will be your special cupboard.”
Krystal ran to the kitchen.
Hawk cupped Lucky’s cheek. “I hate to rush off after all that, but I’m due at work in half an hour and it’s a twenty-five-minute drive.”
“It’s fine. We got what we wanted. A meeting tomorrow.”
“What about that book?”
