Page 84 of Blindside Love

“Fired? Excuse me? For what?” Tom says, panic crossing his face, but I’m staring at Trevor, who’s looking down at his fist and standing to the side of the booth, almost like he’s nervous.

I want to go over there and check on him, but first, I need to finish this.

“Let’s just say that you lack integrity and basic human decency, and at our firm, those are requirements. The way you treated Ellie and Addy is disgraceful, and until you man up, you not only do not have a job at my firm, but you also don’t have a place in my home. I love you, son, but I did not raise you this way.”

Tom turns red in the face, almost like he wants to argue, but instead, he looks down and grabs the pen, signing both the divorce papers and the papers that start the process of giving me sole custody of my daughter.

Would I like him to no longer have rights just so I have peace of mind that he can’t come in and disrupt her happiness at the drop of a hat? Of course, but I’m also not stupid enough to want her father to give her up completely. I hope he grows up and decides to be the father she deserves, but I’m not holding my breath.

Without another word, he turns and walks out of the restaurant, leaving me wondering what the fuck just happened. I immediately look back towards Trevor, noticing my dad and Carl are talking quietly, probably discussing the firm, so I probably have a few minutes.

“What are you doing here?” I ask bluntly, still shocked he’s here. I want to reach out and touch him just to make sure he’s not fake. How the hell did he even know this was happening? Even better question is why the hell he cared after I broke his heart. “I-I ended things. I told you I wanted to do this alone.”

“Kitten, when you ended things, I respected it. I thought that was me making the right choice, respecting you by respecting your choices. You wanted to protect me, to face him alone, and I let you do that. But you made the mistake of letting me fall in love with you, kitten, and unfortunately, I don’t go away that easily. Once I’m on your team, you’re never alone.”

“But…”

“You didn’t say I couldn’t be here. A very kind gentleman invited me to come enjoy a glass of bourbon so I could be here with you. See, we all know you’re excellent at self-sabotaging, and well, your father decided what we had was special enough to risk pissing you off by talking to me.”

I look at my father, who has the decency to look embarrassed, but his smile tells me it’s true. I love my father so much, he will always do what’s best for me, even if it means protecting me from me. The only reason he didn’t these last couple of years was because I didn’t communicate that there was an actual problem.

Trevor takes a step towards me, his eyes locked on me as his hand reaches to grab mine. I want to step forward, to trust him, but what have I done to deserve him?

“But why? Why are you fighting for me? For us? What have I done to deserve this?”

“I love you. It's plain and simple. That means I fight for you, I fight for us, even when you can’t. Because I believe in you. I believe in us.”

“I love you too. Does this mean you forgive me for all of that? I’m sorry. I got scared. I was just trying to protect you from him.”

“I get it. But you don’t get to do that again. Next time, we fight it together. You have to promise to work on letting people help you. You’re awful at it,” Trevor says.

“Oh god,” I groan, not wanting this lecture right now. My father’s already given it to me once.

“Don’t talk to him right now. He’s mad at you about this too,” Trevor says, pulling me up against him.

“You’re ridiculous,” I murmur, my words dying on his lips as he kisses me gently.

“You’re stubborn,” he growls, the vibrations firm against my lips, his tone dangerous, but then I remember we’re being watched. By my father, no less. Pulling back, I smile as he glares. “Why the hell is it so damn hard for you to accept help?”

“It just is!” I whine. “I guess I’ve been conditioned that way these last few years. It might take a little while to break old habits. But I’m willing to try if you are.”

“Always, kitten. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

It’s crazy how life can change in twenty-four hours, how you can go from being in the darkest days of your life and feeling sadness and desperation like never before to remembering what it feels like to laugh and smile and just feel loved.

Trevor came home with me after the restaurant last night. Once we talked to my father and Carl, they told me they would help me proceed with the divorce, ensuring that they would get it done, cut and dry and that I had more than enough to take care of Addy and me.

Carl also mentioned that he was going to personally handle the custody agreement. He wanted to ensure that if Tom ever showed interest in taking a role in Addy’s life, it had to be consistent and frequent before any legal changes were made.

I respected him more than I ever expected to for putting his granddaughter before his own son. It’s not easy to do, but I’m thankful he’s on our team.

I’ve felt more support in the last twenty-four hours than I’ve felt in years. Between my father and Carl helping me with all the legal hoops and Carl putting his son in his place, Tom’s tune has completely changed, and he’s been much more accommodating already. My mom has also been calling and checking in with me, but I haven’t gotten back to her much lately. I will, but I’m just doing it on my time.

She always wants things when she wants them, but this time, she has to wait. I’ve spent the last eighteen hours tangled in the sheets with Trevor, making up for lost time.

He peppered kisses and promises on my skin all through the night, reminding me how safe I was with him. Both my heart and my body are safe with this man.

It’s in these moments I remember what it feels like to be exactly where you’re supposed to be. Unfortunately for me, in forty-five minutes, I’m supposed to be at the studio for my very first art show, and I’m nervous enough that I’m positive I’m going to pass out. Or sweat through my dress.

---