Page 90 of Keepsake

Feeling quite happy once again, nothing prepared me for the scene waiting for us in my living room.

The odd cologne smell hit me while we were still in the elevator. I brushed it off, but when the doors opened to my living room, all the hairs on my arm stood at attention.

The house was still, even though it hosted a teenager. I expected to find Dash playing video games still in his uniform, spoiling his dinner with snacks.

Instead, the house was silent. And that goddamn cologne followed us inside.

A kid on each side, Vienna was still talking, unaware of how my heart was thumping inside my ribcage.

A couple of steps later, before my feet pressed on the floor for the third time, his body stretched to his full height, standing up from the couch.

My couch.

He looked older than the last time I saw him, of course. Older, meaner, in a battered leather jacket with that insufferable smile of his.

My blood ran cold when Vienna stopped talking and whimpered, hiding behind my body. Lachlan followed her lead.

“Hey, princess aren’t you going to say hi to Daddy?” David Murphy asked my kid.

Vienna wasn’t interested. My eyes left David for just a second to find Dash on the other side of the living room, his face pale, hands closed in a fist.

“David, what are you doing in my house?”

“What are you doing with my children, Logan?”

“They are mine.” No room for questions.

It was probably a bad idea to antagonize someone who got into my house without my permission and looked as deranged as they come. Vienna whimpered behind my legs, and I didn’t want her to think she was anything but mine.

“He followed me here from school,” Dashiell said from his corner.

“Are you ok?” I asked him, ignoring David for a second.

Dashiell nodded.

“Get Lachlan and Vienna and take them upstairs. I’m going to talk to David.”

“Yeah kids, time for the adults to talk.” He smiled at me like it was all a big joke.

Dash moved to my side, grabbing Vienna, who didn’t want to leave me and Lachlan in his arms.

“Are you sure?” Dash leveled me with a look.

“I’m always alone taking care of you, right?” I arched an eyebrow, praying he heard my odd phrasing.

Before I saw it in his eyes, David chimed in. “Go now, Dash.”

The kids left, my eyes following them as they went upstairs. When they were far enough, I let the air out of my lungs and looked at the poor excuse of a man in my living room.

I’ve hated David Murphy since we were kids. I hated the way he treated Sofia and how she was too in love to see he wasn’t worth it.

I hated him more when he told everyone at school I was in love with her, and when that didn’t shake me, he changed it up and made fun of me for my lack of friends.

“You did well for yourself, Lo.” He smiled, using Sofia’s nickname for me. “Is this Daddy’s money or yours?”

“Who wants to know?”

He chuckled. “It doesn’t matter, you’re right.”

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