“That’s not for you to decide,” she fires back, stepping to the side, away from behind me. “I didn’t know who he was when we met. And you know what, even if I did, I’m still allowed to make my own choices. Just because you don’t like him for whatever pissing contest the two of you have going on, doesn’t mean I don’t have to.”
I remain silent, figuring it’s best right now as I let the two of them say what they need to say.
“Are you two dating?” he asks.
“No, we’re co-parenting. Friends,” she supplies.
Ian sighs, sounding exasperated. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time, Jen. The father is not only someone I know, but someone I despise at that.”
“Watch how you speak to her,” I cut in, drawing both of their eyes to me. “She’s an adult. She doesn’t need to tell you everything. And she wasn’t lying. She was omitting that information for the time being. There’s a difference. And it’s because she knew you’d act like this. Hell, I’m not thrilled about being connected to you, but it is what it is. That baby is a hell of a lot more important to me than the bad blood between us.”
“So if you don’t want bad blood, then give up your spot. Let me take the spot that’s rightfully mine.” Ian takes a few steps toward me, but I don’t tense in the slightest.
“This is exactly why I won’t. You’re not ready yet.” I shake my head as I sigh. It’s honestly sad because the kid is talented, yet not ready for the responsibility of being the ace.
Ian doesn’t respond. He only tightens his jaw and looks at me with daggers in his green eyes.
“Look, I don’t apologize for keeping it from you, because that was my choice to make and one I stand by. I’m entitled to my privacy. And if you would like to be a part of this baby’s life, then I suggest you find a way to be okay with this. I refuse to have it be like this”—she gestures between us—“every time we’re all in a room together. That goes for both of you, so fix it.”
“I know I can be civil and friendly. It’s him I don’t know about.” I jut my chin toward her dipshit brother.
Ian runs a hand over his mouth as he shakes his head. “I… I need time. To wrap my head around all of this.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you guys leave for a two-week road trip. Sounds like a great time to bond.” Teagan pats Ian on the shoulder, her voice oozing sarcasm.
He doesn’t respond, except for the roll of his eyes as Teagan turns to face me.
“Let’s go home,” she says, then looks over her shoulder. “Oh, I’m not staying with Clara. I’ve been staying with Quentin, by the way. Add that to your list of things to process and get over.”
I stifle a laugh because goddamn she’s giving him the gears and it’s funny as hell to see. It’s about time someone put him in his place.
“Let’s go home,” I repeat her words back to her as I wrap my arm around her shoulders and lead the way to my car.
And the entire ride home, all I can think about is how she called my house our home. She might’ve been saying it just to piss her brother off, and yet I find myself wondering if there was any truth to it.
Hoping there was.
Chapter 33
Teagan
Ipractically sprint out of the car as soon as Quentin parks it, needing to get away from him before I do something to fuck up what we have going on.
The entire car ride, I couldn’t stop thinking about what he said.
A shiver rolls through me at the memory of Quentin saying“Keep your fucking hands off the mother of my child.”
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a single sentence that turned me on as much as that did. From the actual words themselves to the protectiveness in which they were laced in, it did things to my hormones. AKA, it’s made me horny as hell.
On top of the extra horniness I’ve been feeling the past few days, I’m basically about to climb this guy like a tree if I don’t get away.
I enter the code, unlocking the front door with Quentin hot on my heels.
“Hey,” he says softly as he closes the door behind us and flicks the lock.
Not stopping, I continue walking toward the staircase, ready to shower and get into bed for the night. With my vibrator as my plus-one.
His large hand wraps around mine, making me stop to turn and face him. “What’s wrong?”
