Page 85 of Verdict

Chapter 24

Cohen

It was the day before Christmas Eve, and I was frantically cleaning my place. My sister was supposed to arrive tomorrow, and let’s just say I hadn’t exactly been preparing for company. Ellie’s toys were scattered across the living room. Dishes were stacked precariously in the sink, and I was fairly certain I hadn’t washed a towel in a week.

My phone vibrated on the counter just as I shoved the last of the dishes into the dishwasher.

Callie’s name flashed across the screen.

“Hey, what’s up, Cal?”

“My flight got cancelled,” she groaned.

I froze mid-reach for the detergent. “What? Why?”

“Apparently Texas is about to get slammed with some massive ice storm tonight into tomorrow.”

I straightened slowly.

I’d heard rumblings about bad weather rolling in, but this was Texas. It was ninety degrees one day and thirty the next. Forecasts meant absolutely nothing half the time. “They said that a few weeks ago,” I muttered, closing the dishwasher and grabbing a towel to wipe down the counter. “Everything missed us and hit Dallas as it usually does.”

Callie laughed softly. “Well, not this time. They’re saying it’s supposed to be bad.”

I scrubbed harder at a nonexistent stain.

“So… yeah. I’ll rebook as soon as I can, but there’s a very real chance I won’t make it for Christmas.”

Silence stretched between us.

Ava was taking Ellie to Primrose Hill tomorrow, or at least that had been the plan.

“I’m sorry, Coh,” Callie added gently. “Maybe you can tag along with Ava and Ellie to Primrose Hill if the weather ends up not being as bad as they say?”

“Maybe,” I echoed, noncommittal.

My mind drifted to Thanksgiving. To the look in Ava’s eyes when I said I was there for Ellie. To the hope that flickered—and died—in a matter of seconds. I’d shown up ready to tell her everything. That I couldn’t get her out of my head. That I didn’t take Kate home. That I’d been jealous and insecure and terrified.

But had I?

No.

Instead, I’d hidden behind our daughter, watching Ava shut down in real time. I tried to make up for it by following her around all night like a goddamn puppy. Small touches, compliments, standing too close. As if proximity could fix what I'd fucked up.

She’d pulled back. Because of course she did. And I had no one to blame but myself. Things hadn’t exactly improved since then. We were cordial. Always polite. The perfect co-parents.

I missed her.

I missed the easy way we used to talk. The way she’d tease me. The way she’d look at me like I wasn’t just Ellie’s dad, like I was more than that to her.

I tossed the towel onto the counter and dragged a hand down my face.

“I’ll figure something out,” I told Callie. “Let me know if anything changes.”

“Hey,” she said softly before hanging up, “don’t spend Christmas alone.”

Too late.

After we disconnected, I stood there for a long moment, staring at my half-clean apartment.