Page 75 of Dandelions and Smoke

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” I grind out, my mouth moving faster than my sense of self-preservation.

Her brows rise, but she doesn’t interrupt, so, against my better judgment, I keep going.

“What kind of woman keeps a child away from a father who actually wants to be in their life? Do you even comprehend how disgusting that behavior is? Scout is going to grow up, and he is going to resent you.” My lip curls up in a snarl. “He’s going to hate you, and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”

Heart racing, I lean back in my seat and wait for the explosion, but it doesn’t come. Jasenia sits, analyzing me. With every second, it makes me more and more uncomfortable.

“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” I ask once I can’t stand her silence any longer.

Leaning back and crossing her arms, she looks far too pleased with herself, like she’d been waiting for the exact moment I’d lose my patience.

“You really think he’s going to choose you?” she asks, the corner of her mouth lifting, just barely, like she’s already three steps ahead of me. “Of course not,” she answers for me, and nausea creeps up my throat.

“He’s already chosen me,” I choke out. “Me and his son.”

“Really? Are you sure?” Jasenia taps her manicured nail against her chin. “Hmm, let’s find out.”

Like watching a car wreck happen in person, I watch as she pulls out her phone and dials Chief. The bitch puts it on speaker so I can hear him when he answers on the second ring, and I’m too stunned to speak.

“Garrett.” She smiles for my benefit and begins her performance. “I’m so glad you picked up. My sitter has canceled at the last minute and…”

The ringing in my ears buzzes so loud I can hardly make out the fabricated story that she’s coming up with.

“I know it’s last minute, but I need someone to come over to my place and watch Scout. Since you’ve made such a big deal about seeing him, I thought you’d be happy for the opportunity.”

She smirks, knowing exactly how her words will land.

“I-I am,” he stutters. “It has to be tonight? You can’t reschedule?”

“If you have something more important to do tonight, then forget it.”

A pause.

Silence.

And my heart sinks because I already know what he’s going to say. It’s what I want him to say, because a night with his son after all this time is far more important than a romantic dinner with me. It’s everything, but it still hurts all the same.

“No, no, it’s fine,” he finally answers.

She tilts her head and settles back in her chair with an exaggerated casualness.

“Thank you so much, Garrett. This means so much to me.”

She hangs up the phone, and I swear I’ve never seen a more sinister smile.

“It’s kind of hard to tell, but I didn’t hear him mention you.” She pretends to be confused, furrowing her brows and puffing out her bottom lip.

As a distraction, I squeeze my fists as hard as I can under the table until my nails are pressing harshly into my palms, willing myself not to let her see how much this hurts.

“Unlike you, Jasenia,” I spit her name out like a curse. “I don’t find joy in keeping my boyfriend from his son. So all you’ve done is give us exactly what we want.”

“No, I’ve given him exactly what he wants.” She leans forward, like this is a chess game and she’s ready for checkmate. “What I want is you out of the picture.”

“And why should I give a rat’s ass about what you want?”

“Because, sweetie, as you’ve already said so eloquently, ‘What kind of woman keeps a child away from a father who actually wants to be in their life?’”

Like a physical blow, the meaning behind Jasenia’s words hit me so hard I gasp.