Page 35 of Fierce-Michael

Then there was a buzzing noise. “Um. Something is vibrating in your pants, I think. I mean I’m good, but don’t think I can causethatkind of reaction.”

“Hang on,” he said, shifting his hand into his pocket. “Fuck.”

“Everything okay?”

“It’s Electra.”

She slid off his lap. “Go ahead and take it.”

11

MORE THAN IT SHOULD

Michael shouldn’t be shocked that his date was being interrupted.

Before he slid his finger over it to answer, he saw it was close to seven at this point. Time had been flying today and he’d had more fun than he would have expected.

“Hello,” he said to his ex.

“Daddy,” Ty said. “I’m scared.”

His heart sunk into his belly and threatened to bring his dinner up. “What’s going on, Ty? Where is your mother?”

“She’s here. She told me to call you.”

“Are you hurt? Is your mother hurt?” he asked urgently.

“No. It’s the shark. They are going to get me. When I shut my eyes I keep seeing them.”

He made a fist. “Can you please put your mother on the phone?” he said through clenched teeth.

“Mom,” Ty said. “Dad wants you.”

“Hi, Michael. I’m sorry to call. Ty has been crying for thirty minutes. He fell asleep when we were watching a movie and then woke up screaming and now he won’t stop crying.”

“What movie were you watching, Electra?”

“Jaws,” Electra said. “He told me he liked sharks. I thought it’d be fine.”

“He’s four,” he growled. “Watching a shark cartoon or a show on Discovery about sharks isn’t the same as watching a movie where a killer shark is grabbing people out of boats and off docks.”

“I didn’t realize it would be like that,” Electra whined. “I’d never seen it.”

“Maybe you should have read the rating or the reviews then,” he said. “Or better yet, just stick to animated films. There are enough of them out there.”

“I’m sorry,” Electra said. “But he wants to come home. He won’t calm down. I’ve tried. I told him he could sleep with me, but he said you would save him. He only wants you.”

And since he could hear Ty still crying in the background and calling his name, he had to go get his son.

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” he said. “I’m in the middle of something. Put Ty back on the phone.”

He waited while his son got on. “Are you coming to get me, Dad?”

“I am,” he said softly. “But it’s going to be about thirty minutes.”

“That’s okay,” Ty said, sniffling. “Now that I know you’re coming, I’ll be fine. I won’t shut my eyes.”

“Don’t shut them,” he said. “Put your mother back on, please.”

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