Page 59 of Rejected Broken Mate

Ayden smirked. "She doesn't know how to do that."

"Well, either way, I don't want to find out."

Ayden sighed, looking at the others. "And you guys?"

"I got her a baseball mitt."

"I got her that new Barbie doll that came out."

"I got a board game."

I heard feet coming up the stairs, and my head snapped towards it. I felt a tug in my gut, and my eyes took in Michael as he went up the stairs.

Everyone turned, and Michael froze as he got up the last step. His backpack was hanging over his shoulder, and his eyes scanned the space, taking everyone in.

I felt a tug in my chest, feeling that connection snapping into place. I swallowed, tightening my fingers on my coffee cup.

"Hey, Kiddo," Ayden was the first to speak up. "How was school?"

"Fine," he muttered, his eyes dropping to me. I could see the anger still simmering in them.

"You want to join us? We're just planning out Poppy's birthday party. Also, has your mom told you that you were invited?"

Michael nodded his head. "Yeah, she did."

"Good."

Michael's eyes snapped back to me, and his eyes narrowed. I adjusted myself, uncomfortable in my chair. After his running off the other day, I wasn't sure what to do, but I knew I had to do something. Silence wasn't going to make anything better.

"How was school?" I asked.

Michael scowled. "Ayden already asked that."

"Right," I said, nodding my head. I felt like I was grasping at straws with what to say. "What did you do today?"

Michael didn't answer. He sighed, pulling his backpack off. "Is my mom in her office?"

"She's on a Zoom meeting at the moment," Owen said, stepping out from the hallway into the kitchen space. He ruffled Michael's hair as he passed him. "She should be out in a few minutes. You can hang with us."

"I'd rather not," Michael said once more, his eyes going to me.

Cayden elbowed me, and I sat up. "Oh, come on. We're just chatting. You can join us. Any ideas on what Poppy would like for a cake?"

Michael crossed his arms. "Stop trying to be nice. I don't want to join."

I placed my hands up. "Okay, I'm sorry. I'm just trying to get to know you."

"Well, stop. You aren't my dad. You'll never be my dad, and I will never like you. So just stay away from me and my Mom."

Everyone fell quiet. I wanted to yell, but what was I supposed to say? He was my son, but he didn't know me. I had no actual authority over him.

"Michael, I'm trying here," I said softer. "I'm sorry if this is difficult for you."

"You don't get it," Michael said, taking a few steps closer. "My Mom is happy. We are happy. We don't need you. And I don't want you hurting her. My Mom has worked hard to get us here, and you aren't going to ruin it for us."

I opened my mouth, but I didn't know what to say. What could I say? I didn't know what they had been through. I didn't know what they had to live through to get here.

Just then, I heard a door open, and Laura stepped out of her office. Her eyebrows went up when she spotted Michael."Hey, I didn't realize you were here. Are you chatting with the guys?"

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