Page 11 of His Greatest Treasure

“Worried someone’s been blabbing about you to those undeserving?”

“I never said you were undeserving.”

“Close enough to it.”

“A lot of people try and take advantage of this place. I’m doing my job.”

She blows out a disbelieving breath. “You don’t work here.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

With a flick of her eyes, she looks at the words written on the corner of my T-shirt. “Vancouver Fire Department. Lieutenant Bateman. Are you trying to brag?”

“Why? Are you impressed?”

The flirtatious question confuses me. I stiffen and lean back, putting more distance between us. She straightens, doing the same.

Her next words are pointed, aimed to kill. “Nothing you could do would impress me. I’m not interested in arrogant, selfish assholes.”

“Mom!” Nova gasps, appearing out of nowhere. She gawks at her mom with a devilish grin. “See, it isn’t only Dad that says those words.Nowcan I?”

At the mention of her dad, I’m searching Ary’s left hand for a ring. If there was a man in her life, why was she moving boxes that probably weighed as much as she does into her house on her own? I don’t have to like her to think she should have had help.

Asshole I may be, but I still wouldn’t have had my woman carrying shit all if it were me. Alone or otherwise.

Ary grimaces and drops her hand to Nova’s shoulder. “No. You can’t. I shouldn’t have either.”

“Ugh. Whatever.”

She closes her eyes for the slightest moment before opening them again. “It’s time to go, Nova. Leave it at that.”

“We’re coming back soon, right?”

“Classes start in a little over two weeks. You’ll come back a few days before that to pick up your shoes and uniform and meet the instructors. Your mom will get an email with the specifics before pickup day,” I explain.

She nods eagerly and grabs her mom’s hand, linking their fingers. “Okay!”

Ary’s expression is blank as she looks at me a final time and then turns on her heel, tugging her daughter along with her out of the studio. Nova skips beside her despite her mother’s current mood, and it almost makes me smile.

Jamie was like that as a kid. Hell, he’s still like that now. Alive and carefree, happy despite how shitty life can be at times. He’s my opposite, and apparently, so is the little girl whose mother can’t stand me.

Luckily, it’s hard to be offended when the feeling is mutual.

5

AVERY

Between back-to-school shopping,unpacking years of our lives into a new home, preparing to open a business, and trying like hell to ignore the side-eye Oliver gives me every time we see each other outside, it’s been a long week.

By the time the weekend rolled around, I was both clutching Nova’s hand to keep her from going with Chris and reminding myself that I should appreciate the break. Seven years after having my daughter and I still haven’t beat it into my brain that it’s okay to need a moment to yourself. The guilt that comes with leaving her with her father never fails to make me feel like the world’s worst mother.

I spent last night curled up on the couch, nursing a glass of cheap white wine and watching the first DVD I found in one of the living room boxes until I fell asleep. It was a quiet Saturday night. Nothing special in the slightest.

The familiar ring of an incoming FaceTime call has me sitting up in my patio chair, a sheen of sweat sticking to my skin as I reach for my phone. It’s mid-afternoon on a scorcher of a Sunday, and I’m lounging in my backyard beneath the sun, hoping to tan my pasty skin. I wasn’t expecting a call from my mom, but from the name on my phone screen, that’s what I’m getting today.

At least I didn’t attempt to tan in the nude like I contemplated until remembering my grumpy neighbour would certainly have had a problem with that if he saw.

Maybe that should have given me all the more reason to do it, but I’m mature enough not to try and piss him off.For now.

---