Page 27 of Walk Off

Jasmine stole another cookie from the plate. “Can I go play on my tablet now?”

Celia smiled. A seven-year-old's mind never stayed in one place too long. “Sure.” She leaned in, giving her a quick kiss before she ran off.

“Well, that went over well,” Ruby said when Jasmine was out of the room.

Celia let out a deep breath. “Better than I thought. I had no idea she knew so much. Or that she’d overheard us talking.” She dropped her head to her hands on the counter. “I feel like such a failure, and a liar, and so many other things that I can’t even pinpoint at this moment.”

“You’re none of those things. Well, you’re some of those things,” Celia could hear the smile in her sister’s voice even though she couldn’t see her, “but that still doesn’t make you a bad person. You did what you thought you had to do. I think that if you can explain it to him, he might understand.”

She lifted her head, looking directly at Ruby. “You don’t have to placate me. I know he hates me. You didn’t see him, or hear his words when I told him.” The disappointment and rejection she’d heard his voice would haunt her forever. “I’ll be lucky if he ever lets me see her again.”

Ruby stepped around the counter, sitting down beside her on a barstool and wrapping her arm around her shoulders. “We won’t let that happen. You have people on your side. People who can vouch for what a great mom you are. All of us are here for you, and that includes whatever money you need to fight this.”

“No.” She leaned back, shaking her head over and over. “I’m not taking money from you or anyone else. I won't turn my daughter’s life into a court case. I will fight to keep her, but if I can’t do that without dragging her into a huge mess, then I won’t do it.” She’d already caused enough problems. She wouldn't make Jasmine’s life worse by making a big circus out of custody.

“No matter what you decide, remember, I’m right beside you.” Ruby rubbed her back.

“I should probably get out of here,” she said. “It’s been a long weekend and Jasmine has school tomorrow.”

“You should stay for dinner,” Ruby said.

“Thanks for the offer, but I think it’s better if we go home.”

Before Ruby could speak, Dallas walked in. “You might want to rethink that. Kyle is outside and wants to talk to you.”

Panic swept through her. “He’s here?” Oh God, was he going to want to see Jasmine now? It didn't matter that she knew it would happen, she still couldn’t wrap her head around it.

“All he wants to do is talk. To you, not Jasmine. He’s smart enough to realize that he can’t just show up and talk to her out of the blue.”

The panic dissipated, but only a little. “Where is he?”

“I took him to the pool house so he wasn’t stuck outside in the cold, and also because I thought you might not want Jasmine to see him yet.”

She was thankful that Dallas understood the situation. “Can you keep Jasmine away from the windows?” The whole back end of their house was covered in windows, and if Jasmine looked out, she might see Kyle when he left.

“She and I will go downstairs and play games,” Ruby said, giving her hand a quick squeeze.

Unsure what she was going to say and scared out of her mind, she walked through the house and out the back door. She hadn't even grabbed a coat, not concerned that she’d have to walk through the cold to get to the warm pool house. The only thing that was on her mind was Jasmine and making sure she was safe.

Oh, and seeing Kyle again.

No matter what, she always wanted to see him. It didn’t matter that he hated her, or that he might possibly try to take her daughter from her. Seeing him was like watching the sunrise.

It was good for her soul.

That was something she was going to have to get over. And quick.

Stepping inside the pool house, a blast of warm air hit her directly in the face at the same time as she saw Kyle standing by the wall on the other side of the room.

“Are you fucking kidding me with this?” He strode toward her, his face full of concern. “It’s freezing outside. You could have fucking frozen to death.” His hands were on her arms, rubbing up and down before she could even speak. It felt so good to have him touch her that she moaned, the sound carrying through the entire room.

He froze in place, his hands stilling on her arms.

Then he stepped back, as if she’d burned him.

Which in reality, she probably had.

“I’m fine. It was a short walk from the house.” She rubbed her own arms, missing his touch. “Thank you for coming.”

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