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He leans into me, eyes glittering in the shadows. “What the fuck are you suggesting?”

“You never miss an opportunity to humiliate me. What better way than to have me show up without a partner at the school interview when I’ve already told them I’m bringing someone? Didn’t think I was being subtle.”

At first he only shakes his head, looking kinda disappointed. The hand on my chest massages in a soothing circular motion, but after a moment of looking me dead in the eye, it slides up to my throat. His fingers tighten.

“Do you honestly believe I would sabotage my niece’s education over a grudge?”

Honestly, he looks so serious I already regret my accusation. Of course he wouldn’t.

Guess I let the issues between us get in my head.

I fight to swallow, but I don’t answer. Knowing Mike, this is one of those times when there’s no right answer. It’ll maybe be a different punishment, is all.

“You did, didn’t you?” His grip tightens.

“Not…not really.” For a minute I did, but I can’t say that. I know he cares about Ella. It’s the entire reason we’re still in each other’s lives. He’s helped me take care of her since almost the beginning. Maybe not entirely out of the goodness of his heart at first, but he’s been here all the same.

More out of horror that I had limited childcare options when she was still brand new, and he didn’t like the people I’d been leaving her with. He’s still not over the time I left her with Brennan while I went and met an Australian businessman in his hotel room for an hour. In my defense, she stayed asleep in her baby bucket thing the entire time. I didn’t like leaving her alone with our pimp either, but what else was I going to do?

Back then I couldn’t bring myself to ask his family for help.

“I was just worried, Mike.”

After a long look, he finally lets go. “I’d never harm Ella. I’m not trying to sabotage her interview; I just don’t want you taking Prince.”

“He said he’d take out the piercings.”

Mike shakes his head. “I’m her uncle. I’m the one who should be there.”

“Seriously? How’s that going to go down? ‘This is my life partner who also happens to be the brother of Ella’s mom? He hates me but we’re getting married?’ This isn’t pretending we’re cool with each other around Ella and our friends. One of whom is too busy sorting her Pokémon cards to pay close attention, and the others are all involved in their own lives. This is someone who’s specifically looking to make sure Ella comes from a stable and loving home. You really think we can convince some rich-as-heck school board we’re in love?”

The grip on my neck changes. Less punishing, gentler. He slides his hand up ‌the side of my face and rubs it up and down in a way that feels startlingly affectionate. Worse, I catch myself leaning into his touch again. Turning my cheek into his warm palm.

Even with alarm bells going off in my head, I can’t make myself pull away. Hardly anyone’s touched me this sweetly. Sure, I get touched by clients, but that’s all fake. Mike’s too good at making it feel real.

He smiles in a way that doesn’t look warm at all. “Who better than her uncle? Who cares more about her future than I do?”

See, this is where it gets tricky. Already, I owe Mike so much for all the help he’s given me with Ella. If I let him help with this, too, will it be another thing he resents me for?

I swallow, resisting the urge to rub at the spot where he grabbed at my throat. “I have a client whose sister is on the parent board. He’s the one who got me in with the school. He offered to help in any way he could.”

Oh, that doesn’t go over well at all. “You’re saying you want to give a client access to your daughter?”

“Of course not. She’s not going to be at the interview. It’s at the beginning of the school day.”

He stands, looming over me as I sit slumped against the wall behind the bed. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

Almost everything he’s ever asked of me, I’ve caved in to. But this? Giving in feels like a loss I can’t afford.

“Better him than the guy who hates me.”

“Dean.”

There’s a shiver down my spine. Either from the way he says my name or the breath puffed against my ear, I’m not sure.

“Mike.” It’s meant to sound like a warning, the same as when he says my name. Maybe if I weren’t sort of moaning at the sensation of his beard brushing my jaw.

“You and I both know Brennan’s got hackers on the payroll who can make that man’s life a living hell.”