Ollie nodded. “I guess.”
“I was thinking. How about we do a guys’ trip this weekend? Just you and me. We could head up to the ski resort, do some snowboarding. Have steaks in the fancy restaurant they have up there. Piper, Grace’s boyfriend is the owner, right? He could hook us up.”
“Really?” Ollie’s eyes went huge. “That would be amazing!”
“Absolutely not,” I snapped, then I softened my tone. “Ollie, you’re already going to Denver this weekend with Uncle Callum. Remember? The Broncos game?”
That was setting aside the fact that Danny expected Grace and Dane to arrange a free vacation for him.
Ollie’s face fell. He glanced between me and Danny, clearly torn.
“Oh, come on,” Danny said. “He can reschedule with Callum. This is father-son time.”
I opened my mouth again, but Ollie shook his head, beating me to it. “Sorry, Dad. I can’t do that to Uncle Callum.”
My chest lifted with pride. My kid already showed more responsibility and thoughtfulness at nine years old than his thirty-five-year-old father.
Danny’s smile tightened, but he recovered quickly. “Okay, I get it.” He crouched down to Ollie’s level. “How about you and I still grab dinner tonight. The two of us. We can hang out, catch up, get some burgers.”
Ollie barely seemed excited. Like all his happiness from earlier had deflated, and he couldn’t manage the effort again.
But he still said, “Can I, Mom? Please?”
And here I was, trapped.
If I kept saying no, then I would be the bad guy. I didn’t want to keep Ollie from his dad. I’d been begging for Danny to do exactly this for months. Be more involved. Spend time with Ollie. Make an effort.
Love him, dammit.
“Sure. But Ollie needs to be back by seven. I’m taking him to Callum’s in the morning, and he needs to have some quiet time before bed. I’d also like to know where you’re going, please.”
“What exactly are you afraid of, Piper? You think I’m going to kidnap my son?”
Cold fear sliced through my insides.You bastard, I thought. How dare he even joke like that after what he’d done to me the other day.
Danny gave me a pitying look. As if he was going out of his way to be reasonable for his hysterical ex-wife. “Fine, I’ll pick a restaurant on Main Street, if that makes you feel better. You can meet us in the park at seven. Usual spot.”
My jaw clenched, but I nodded. “Good.”
Danny clapped Ollie on the shoulder. “This is going to be great, champ. Just like old times.”
When we neared Danny’s Lexus, I caught Ollie’s arm before he climbed in. “Have fun, Ollie-bear. Text me if you need anything. Okay?”
“I will. Thanks, Mom!” He hugged me quickly, then scrambled into the car.
Not that I really thought Danny was going to take him away. My ex was capable of plenty, but if I’d believed he might cause Ollie harm, I never would’ve left our son alone with him. Visitation rights or not.
Yet as I watched them drive away, Danny’s Lexus disappearing down the street, the unsettled feeling in my stomach wouldn’t go away.
I prayed that he truly just wanted time with his kid, but Danny had lost my confidence a long time ago.
As I drove away from the elementary school, I was still fuming. The audacity of my ex, showing up like that without warning, acting like father of the year in front of Ollie’s classmates and the other parents.
And now Ollie was with him, probably getting fed a bunch of empty promises over burgers and fries.Urrgh.
I’d meant to check in at Silver Linings after the school event, make sure everything was running smoothly. But I was too upset to be the boss right now.
All I could think of was talking to Grayden. I could tell him what had happened with Danny. Soak in the comfort of his presence. He always seemed to make me feel better, even when he wasn’t trying. Just being around him steadied me.
