Page 33 of Outplayed

“At least it could lead to her not showing her face here. She’ll know we’ll call the police from now on.”

“The woman needs a good fist to the face.”

“Until she tries to harm Izzy in any way, I won’t let anything happen to her because she is, unfortunately, Izzy’s mother. One day she could get clean and realise what a huge mistake she made when it comes to her daughter.” It was what I’d always hoped for. It made me fucking ill knowing she’d chosen drugs over a decent life. And I knew drugs messed with her mind the night she’d accused her own daughter of being a monster. She hadn’t meant to stab me. I saw the regret in her eyes when she’d been sober. I also saw the woman I’d cared about at the start. So I kept trying to placate her for Izzy’s sake, all for Izzy to have a relationship with her mother. A daughter needed a mother in her life. I glanced at Violet. Or a daughter needed a good female role model in her life.

“Do you honestly think that?”

“For Izzy’s sake, I do hope so.”

“You’re a good man, Travis Stewart.”

My fucking chest expanded at her comment.

“Daddy,” came from behind us. I turned both of us, not wanting to release Violet to see Izzy standing on the steps above. “Is that my mummy?”

Violet went to her before I could. She swept Izzy up in her arms and took her inside. Protecting her. Christ, she thought I was a good man, but she was a better woman.

It was an hour later, after the police had taken Kathleen away and Violet had read to Izzy until she fell asleep, that Violet and I were once again standing outside near her car.

“Thanks for dinner.” Violet smiled. “Izzy is amazing.”

“She is,” I agreed, stopping right in front of her. “Go on a date with me,” I blurted.

Her body jolted, her wide eyes coming up and pinning me to my spot. “What?” she breathed.

“Go on a date with me… please.”

“I don’t think—”

“Did you enjoy tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Did you suffer from my company?”

When she bit her bottom lip, my gut sank. Only then she whispered, “No.”

My gut sprung back up to its rightful place. “Then you could like dinner with just the two of us.”

She glanced to the side, thinking. “Maybe.”

“I’ll pick you up this Friday.” It was a week away. Enough time for more calls from me, more getting to know one another so she could become more relaxed. I hoped.

“Um… okay.” She nodded, and I felt like whooping in joy.

She’d agreed to a date.

Progress.

Of course, I reached for more. “Can I kiss you goodnight?”

“No, yes. No.” She opened her door quickly and slipped in. “Night,” she said before slamming her door.

Hell, I didn’t care. Even as I watched her drive away, I did it smiling because she’d said yes in between her two nos. I couldn’t wait until our date where I may have a better chance of getting a firm yes from her.

Christ, my cock thickened. It liked the thought of that.

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