“Yeah, but you have to promise me that you go to your actual home, not Jay’s, not Riley’s or whatever. Your legal home.”
“I will. What are the next steps again?”
This man. A brain like a sieve.
“We’re waiting for the judge’s decision and hoping to get a court order quickly. Other than that, we just pray to every god in the universe that your ex doesn’t decide to burn our entire case to the ground and salt the earth where she once stood.”
He furrows his brows. “What the hell does salting the earth even mean?”
I roll my eyes. So, he’s not into witchcraft then. Not that I am either, but I do love a good binge-watch. If we ever had to list our skills on a résumé, I’d totally put ‘supernatural expert’ right up there. “Never mind. Just hope she leaves us alone, which she won’t. In the meantime, you’re waiting for my wonderful letters and do nothing but play dolls at home with Livy.”
The bastard smirks, and I almost throw out another retort when the door swings open, and suddenly Matthew is standing right in front of us.
SEVEN
Colton
Iguess I shouldn’t be surprised he still looks like a dirty weasel.
Matthew isn’t small, but well, I’m taller. He stands in the doorway in a nerdy game shirt that’s seen better days, hair greasy once again and stuck to his forehead, lips pressed into a line so thin it’s almost not there. He smells faintly of cigarettes and sour attitude. I can tell he’s not used to walking into his own apartment and seeing another man. Especially not one that takes up all the oxygen.
For a second, we just stare.
I’m not sure who hates this more: him or me. Or Jenna, whose hands are frozen behind her back, her mouth a tight, perfect red O. She doesn’t move. She’s as startled as I am. Even though she should be used to him coming home.
I tighten my grip around Livy, just out of instinct.
Matthew blinks first.
“What the hell is this?” He sounds like he’s just woken up from a nightmare where he’s lost his favorite video game, only instead of a reset button he gets me. Full HD. I’d love to grin, but I manage to hold it back.
I shouldn’t even be here. Hell, I was supposed to be gone by now. But even though we’re in her apartment my mind never crossed the possibility of her boyfriend showing up once. Stupid. Of course, he still exists. Not that we did something we shouldn’t. Still, this situation feels weird.
“Matthew, he—” Jenna starts, but he cuts her off.
“No, what is this? You let him into our apartment? Who the fuck is this guy?” He’s got his arms crossed now. It’s not surprising that he doesn’t know who I am. Of course, he’s not into sports.
“What—” he starts even louder, it’s almost shouting and that’s it for me.
My hands go up—one holding her, the other open, palm out. “No yelling,” I say. “She’s sleeping.”
Matthew laughs. It’s not a happy sound. “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I disturbing you? In my own house?” The edge in his voice could cut glass. “I didn’t realize we had overnight guests. I amsofucking sorry.”
What the heck. This guy is a fucking jerk.
I catch Jenna’s eye, my expression asking the question that’s screaming in my head:seriously, this guy?
Jenna’s cheeks turn red. “Matthew. Stop. It’s—he’s a client.” She says it like she has to convince herself first. “It’s just work.”
“Work?” Now he’s walking closer, almost tiptoeing around the mess of law books, shoes, Livy’s discarded blanket, the food packages, her Paw Patrol cup. “Since when does work involve random men in our living room? I thought you’d beworkingin a proper office.”
I feel heat creeping up my neck. For a second, I want to put Livy down and stand toe-to-toe with him, see if he still talks to her like that, but I don’t. I just hold my daughter, let her sleep, because that’s the only thing I’m supposed to do right now. Anything else would be overstepping. Even if I could rip his headoff, even if he’s trying to make me feel like I’m the problem, I’m not taking the bait. I can’t. I’m just her client.
But then he raises his damn voice again. “You are?—”
“Don’t. Yell,” I repeat.
He just ignores me, squares off with Jenna instead. “This is why you’re never home? Because you’re with him? Or are you babysitting for your clients now?”
