Page 103 of His Greatest Treasure

Fuck.

“Not yet, Avery. I want you to introduce me to him.”

I inhale deeply. “You’ve already met him, Chris.”

Chris stares at Oliver, jaw pulsing. He reaches over the fence for the latch on the gate, and I rush for the ladder to climb out of the pool.

I don’t glance back at Oliver, and embarrassment is a dark stain in my mind. “Don’t come back here. This isn’t my house.”

“It’s his?” he asks, opening the gate regardless of my plea. “If my daughter is here, then I’m plenty welcome to come as I please.”

“Actually, no, you aren’t.”

I freeze on the top rung of the ladder, my neck slick with sweat. Oliver’s deep, stern tone smacks Chris in the face, keeping him stuck just inside of the yard, expression twisted.

“You planning on keeping me out?” he asks.

The sound of water sloshing fills the yard, and a beat later, Oliver’s laying a hand on my back. His touch is so soft I lean back into it despite the circumstances. I can’t help it. My body seeks his comfort even when it’s not smart to.

“Your daughter is watching you right now. Turn around and let them meet you out front,” Oliver encourages, no room for argument in his tone.

“Not until you tell me why my family is hanging around you.”

My family.

He’s wrong. It’smyfamily. Not his.

Oliver pauses, not answering. Waiting for me to make the next move. Nova beats me to it.

“Don’t be mean, Dad. Ollie is nice,” she says. Turning in thepool, she grabs the frog floatie that’s hanging over the edge on a hook Oliver rigged to sit on the side. “Look what he got me! It’s a frog.”

I’m over and down the ladder quickly then. Eyes as hot as lava, Chris flings them at me, watching my every step. Nova meant well, but all she’s done is prove that Oliver knows her well and that he’s been doing thoughtful things for her. Both of which only serve to piss her father off more. His possessiveness was always my least favourite quality about him, but I hate it right now more than I ever have. I wish he could be something other than himself, just once.

“Let’s go, Chris,” I say, voice quiet. “You’re making a scene in front of her.”

When I risk setting a hand on his arm, he shrugs it off. “No. I’m not going anywhere until I know more about the guy you’ve been flaunting around our daughter without my permission!”

“Your permission?” I echo incredulously.

He ignores me. “Are you seeing him?”

“I am.” More water splashes, but I don’t look away from Chris. Don’t back down. “Don’t tell me you have a problem with me dating when you’ve been doing it for years now. How many women have you introduced to Nova now? Four?”

“Don’t turn this around on me. I’ve always been honest with you about who I’m dating. But this? This is deception!”

“I didn’t deceive you. It’s only been a few weeks,” I defend myself.

“A few weeks? He’s been around Nova for a few weeks, and you didn’t tell me? Oh, Avery, you’ve fucked up.”

The hairs on my arms stand on end at his cruel tone. “What is that supposed to mean?”

A shake of his head. “I think we need to discuss our current custody agreement.”

“Don’t say shit like that, Chris. Especially not in front of Nova.”

My throat is sticky, stomach turning.

He doesn’t deserve more time with her than he already gets. Nova can’t take the false hope that would come with hearing that her father wants to take her more often, only to flake and bail when it comes down to it. We’ve tried for more than every second weekend before, and he doesn’t have the commitment in him to hold up his end. I’m not confusing her again.

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