He’s lost his mind if he thinks I’ll give up Adeline that easily.
Glowering, he angles forward. “What part of my statement sounded like a question? This isn’t up for discussion.” He shakes his head. “This is a mess, and you won’t take Addie down with you. You’ll end it. You’ll stay clear of one another. And you’ll get your divorce wrapped up. Focus on your daughter. I’ll worry about mine.”
My instinct is to yell. To tell him to go fuck himself. Adeline is mine. But my father squeezes my leg, and I tamp down on my anger. Beckett is only looking out for his daughter. I got us into this mess. It’s up to me to find a way out. Without giving up Adeline. That part is nonnegotiable.
“Daddy.”
The three of us turn at the sound of her voice.
She’s standing in the entryway to the living room, her brows furrowed, her eyes red and heavy with exhaustion. Her hair is a mess since it hasn’t seen a brush yet today. She slipped on one of my oversized Bolts sweatshirts after her shower and we crawled back into bed so I could hold her.
Beckett walks toward her. “Are you okay?”
As he approaches, she holds up a hand, stopping him. “I’m fine.”
He studies her, forehead creased like he doesn’t believe it. “Gavin mentioned—” He shakes his head and glares at the floor. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She zeroes in on me, her expression full of pain. Heartbreak. But when she looks back at her father, she stands taller and gives a quick nod. “JJ got to me before he could hurt me. JJ loves me, Daddy. And I love him.”
Beside me, my father clears his throat and shifts. “I agree with Beckett.”
I jolt, a sense of betrayal slapping me in the face. Dad knows how I feel about Adeline. He’s privy to all I’ve been doing to make this work.
I look at him, my heart cracking in two, unable to speak.
His eyes soften. “She’s going after everything, JJ. Without the prenup, it’s all up for grabs.”
I throw out my hands. “She can have it. I don’t give a fuck about money. I want Avery and Adeline. That’s it.” I drag my hands down my face. “She can have everything else. I don’t care about it. I don’t need it.”
The money, the houses, the cars, none of it means anything if I don’t have my daughter and Adeline. That’s all I ever was to Tabitha—dollar signs. And she used our daughter in her schemes.
If she wants my money so badly, she can have it. But only if that means she stays away from Avery.
“Fine, but what about Adeline’s career?” Beckett asks, turning my way. “Because if she stays with you, everything she’s worked for comes into question. Dating a teammate? It’s messy. It looks bad.”
“Right, but it’s not unethical,” Adeline points out.
“It doesn’t matter.” He sighs, focusing on her like he thinks he can get through to her. “The press will still destroy you. In the eyes of the media, you stole Tabitha’s husband. It’s a tale as old as time. I’m not saying it’s fair, but this has always been your dream. Are you really willing to throw all of it away?”
I stand and stride across the room. “No, she isn’t.”
Beckett’s nostrils flare, his jaw ticking. “If she stays with you, she is.”
I shake my head, a sense of peace washing over me. “No. I’ll retire. Then she’s not dating a teammate.”
Adeline lets out a disbelieving scoff. “You’ll what?”
I tug her closer and press a hand to her cheek. “I don’t want it if I can’t have you.”
She searches my face, brow creased in confusion. “You can have me. This is ridiculous. Tabitha already ruined things once. I won’t let her do this to us again.”
I stroke her cheek. “She won’t. But Avery has to come first. And she doesn’t have a mother who gives a shit?—”
“Right, but I care.”
A genuine smile plays at my mouth. But deep in my soul, I know this is the right decision. “I know you do, and I’m so thankful she has you in her life. But this is my responsibility. Avery has to be my number one priority, and while she needs me, the Boltsdon’t. They have you. And you deserve this time to shine.”
“JJ.” Voice breaking, she shakes her head.
