Page 73 of Educating Arrogant Mr. Hunter

“Oh.” It hit me which grandparents he meant. “Oh.” Well damn.

Tension radiated from the stiff set of his shoulders and the tightness in his jaw. I was afraid he’d crack his teeth if he clenched them any harder. Seeing him like this made me want to offer him comfort and run my fingers over his face until he relaxed.

“Yeah. She told me she missed them on the way to school today and thought they were mad at her.”

My heart lurched. “How awful.”

He rubbed at his forehead, not releasing his other hand from mine. In fact, he tugged me a little closer. I wasn’t sure he was aware of doing it. “We called them on the way here so she could say hi. They asked if she could go to their house for Thanksgiving.”

“With you?” He and Zoey had been planning on going to the Wolfe’s.

“They invited me, but I can’t be in the same room as them right now.” I had such mixed feelings about this situation. Ones I wasn’t sure Beckett wanted to hear. I could see both sides and knew deep down each of them wanted to be there for Zoey.

“Have you decided what you want to do?”

He rolled his shoulders back and tilted his head to the left and right, stretching out his neck. “I don’t know. What do you think I should do?”

I attempted to school my features. He was asking for my opinion?

“Shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t put this on you.” I really couldn’t hide my thoughts and feelings from him. I was apparently as transparent as glass.

I squeezed his hand. “It’s okay. If you want my honest opinion…”

“I do. You know Zoey, them, the situation. I need an unbiased opinion here.” His usually perfectly styled hair fell forward across his brow.

“Well, I don’t know if I’m unbiased.” I so badly wanted to brush that lock of hair back. But I didn’t have the right to do so, and that thought made me sad. “I want what’s best for Zoey and you too. I think her grandparents want what’s best for her as well. They’re so full of hurt and grief that it’s pushing them to make decisions that are not in her best interest. That being said, Zoey's behavior has peaked in the last few weeks, and I wonder if it has anything to do with not seeing them.”

He rubbed his eyes. “Damn it. I didn’t consider that.”

I hadn’t either when we talked at our meeting, but now that I thought about it, the theory made the most sense.

“She’s lived with them her whole life. And while I have no doubt that she prefers to be with you, she might have mixed feelings and a divided sense of loyalty. Her mother left them, and now, so has she.”

“Fuck. I’ll let her go to their house for Thanksgiving, and I’ll talk more to Zoey before she goes.” He looked into the car. Both of us noticed Zoey’s happy grin and animated face as she continued to talk to her grandparents. “I’ll let them know I want to try the mediation too.” Our lawyers had reached out to us last week and had determined that mediation might help us solve our dispute instead of going to court.

“You’re a great dad, Beckett. Don’t ever forget that.” I had to force myself to keep my other hand by my side. He looked so alone and all I wanted to do was comfort him.

“My lawyer, Reese, is going to shit a brick when I tell him.” He grimaced.

“It’s not his decision,” I gently reminded him.

He looked down at our joined hands. “Thank you for being here today. I needed someone to help me rationally think about it.”

“No matter what’s happening with us, you can talk to me about anything,” I said.

His reply was cut off by Zoey opening the car door.

Beckett quickly released my hand.

“Thanks for letting me talk to them, Daddy.” She jumped out of the car. Her happiness reflected in each step.

He pulled her in for a hug, his arms wrapped tight like he never wanted to let go.

“Daddy,” she squeaked. “I can’t breathe.”

Beckett kissed the top of her head and let go slowly. His reluctance showed me how much he feared losing his daughter. That a man who loved to be in control had only so much in this situation.

“I thought about it, and I want you to go to your grandparents’ for Thanksgiving.”

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