What the fuck is up with that? Sure, I was anxious about Holly putting herself in danger for me—no, for Jane—earlier, but now I know the incompetent fool had more to fear from her than the other way around.
But what if the Labelles send someone else who is not only more competent but also more threatening? What if she tries to confronthim?
“You were an idiot,” I grunt, immediately hating that I called her that, but too stubborn to take it back. Besides, shewasan idiot. The guy could have hurt or killed her.
Another zap of fear.
Get your shit together, Cole!
“You wouldn’t have had the chance to talk to him if I hadn’t confronted him,” she counters, her eyes blazing with anger.
Fuck, she’s sexy when she’s all riled up like that, and blood rushes to my dick. It makes me remember things I have no business remembering…and now I’m getting a hard-on in an elementary school while my daughter is in the next room.
My frustration pours out as words. “And you could have been killed, and then you would have blamed me for it rather than taking responsibility for your own actions!”
From the look on her face, the double-edged barb sinks in as I’d intended, but instead of addressing it, she retorts, “If you were as smart as you think you are, you’d know I couldn’t blame you for shit if I were dead.”
“Like you wouldn’t become a ghost and haunt me?” I counter.
She draws in a deep breath to respond, but Jane walks out of the room with her backpack slung over her shoulder, heading past us toward the exit.
“Let’s go, Dad,” she calls out in a neutral voice, as though watching me argue with Holly is an everyday occurrence.
Some example I’m setting. Why does Holly bring out the worst in me? Why can’t I be the bigger person and just thank her? She’s right. I wouldn’t know the Labelles had taken their plans to the next level if it weren’t for her intervention.
Nevertheless, I can’t ignore that what she did was beyond stupid. Or the twist of my heart when I think about someone hurting her.
Now you’re the stupid one.
I turn on my heels and leave, because if I stay, I might do something even stupider.
