Page 4 of Unleashed

The magazine flutters as she motions at nothing. “Walk away.”

“Fuck you. You don’t know a damn thing about me, then.”

“I know you ran away from the daughter you thought you had.”

“I was coming back!”

Hadley clears her throat. “This isn’t the best place to argue.” She glances toward the door behind me. I know she’s right, but I wish I cared.

“So what now? Grant will play daddy to that sweet kid?”

Shasta looks at the floor, almost ashamed for the first time. “He doesn’t want to be a father.”

“A little late for that.”

Shasta grows a temporary pair and glares at me. “What about you? Why’d you leave? Fatherhood too hard for you? So funny. Like you’d know. What sane woman would allow you to father her kid on purpose? Simone? I don’t think even she’d stoop so low. Rhonda? Like she could lure you to her bed.”

She laughs, and I feel bad for Rhonda, who probably hears us from the lobby. I’d rather have a kid with her than this anus vase.

Simone? Well...

I crunch the paper bag in my fist as I close in on Shasta, making her stumble backward. “You don’t deserve Birdy. I’m sure she’d be better off with Grant’s soon-to-be ex-wife.”

“I didn’t mean...” Shasta rolls her eyes and looks at Hadley for help. Sure. “Don’t be so dramatic about it. I messed up. Move on. It’s not like you were the best daddy to her.” True, but that fucking hurts.

Putting my hand on my hip, I sneer, “You don’t know how much I want to sue you or snap you in half for lying. There’s no fucking excuse for the hell you put me through.”

Shasta giggles, and I’m close to turning her into whore confetti. “Sue me? For what? Good luck getting oil from a radish.” Is she serious? Even Patrice wouldn’t mess that one up.

“I paid for Grant’s crooked cumshot up your skirt and across his desk.” The mental image haunts me.

Hadley groans in disgust, and I’m right there with her. Shasta makes a face but averts her gaze, knowing I nailed it about him nailing her. However, Shasta seethes, “You jealous you couldn’t do that?”

“No, thank you, Bathsheba Spooner. It was horrendous enough that I rode Willy Wonka’s chocolate ride from hell.”

Hadley shrieks, “I’m going to puke! Stop it!” Same here.

Shasta attempts to get by me again, but I lean against the door. She whines, “After today, I’ll be out of here.”

“It’s never too early to start.”

We’re caught in an angry staring contest until I step away from the door, and she stomps from Hadley’s office.

Hadley and I sigh together. A new awkwardness fills the room, and I don’t want to face her. Why was I this stupid to think everything was normal again? How fucking delusional have I been?

“Rod?”

I swallow before turning toward her, making eye contact with Hadley. I’m at a loss for words. She looks the same, but different. I don’t know if it’s the sun or my imagination, but she seems shorter since the pedestal I put her on is no longer there.

Blinking, I realize I’m staring at her. “Uh, what?”

“You’re looking at me weird.” She laughs, but it’s polite, as if I’m the new jack.

“I look at everyone weird.” I clear my throat and shift my lunch bag to my other hand, feeling ninety shades of idiot.

“I’m sorry you ran into Shasta like that. She was looking for Val. I didn’t know you were coming back for sure.”

“It was last minute.”

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