Page 119 of War

And as the text appears, I can’t stop the tears from streaming down my face.

FORTY-SIX

TYLER

It’slate by the time we make it home. And cold. “Jeez, we should buy a place in Florida. It’s too freaking cold here.”

“Says the man who glides around on knives in the freezing cold for a living.”

A laugh rumbles out of me. Ava was quiet on the way home, so the sarcasm is a relief. Like me, she’s nervous about the status hearing tomorrow, but Madi has assured me that this is routine and that the last report from the social worker was a good one.

“Bray, make sure you shower before bed,” I say as he hauls his suitcase to the stairs.

“I’ll bring the girls up for baths if you wouldn’t mind getting the rest of the stuff from the car,” Ava says as she reaches for Scarlett, who’s fast asleep in my arms.

I kiss my daughter and then press her into Ava’s arms before leaning in to give my wife a kiss too. “I had a really great time with you, wifey.”

Lip caught between her teeth, she smiles up at me. “Me too.” She turns and wraps an arm around a sleepy Josie’s shoulders. “Okay, love. Let’s get your sister bathed, and then you can get extra story time after your bath.”

There’s a good chance Josie won’t hold her to that promise tonight. Our girl looks beat.

We had breakfast with the Disney characters this morning, and I swear she sang more than Aiden does before a game.

At the thought of Aiden, I realize I haven’t responded to the guys’ messages in the group chat since after our game in Orlando a few days ago.

When I hold my phone up to my face to unlock it and the screen remains black, I realize I forgot to turn it back on when we landed. So I power it up as I walk out into the cold.

It vibrates at least a dozen times as I hurry out to the SUV. Not surprising. That group chat goes off. Especially since I agreed to appear on the Langfield brothers’ podcast. Being in a chat with them is like witnessing sheer insanity. Beckett tries for a normal conversation, Gavin taunts him, Brooks laughs, and Aiden says the most off-the-wall things.

Over and over. Day after day.

But when I tap on the messages app, my stomach sinks. The notifications weren’t from the Langfield chat. The texts are all from Madi, and each one gets more serious.

Madi: Call me.

Madi: Seriously, pick up your phone.

Madi: Tyler, this is serious. I need you to call me.

Madi: The judge wants us in court first thing tomorrow morning. I need to talk to you.

Madi: We need to get your story worked out.

Madi: PICK UP YOUR PHONE.

Heart racing, I navigate to the phone app, but before I can hit her name to call her back, the device buzzes, and her name appears on the screen.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Oh my god, Tyler. What the hell?”

“I’m sorry. I was flying, and I just turned my phone back on. What’s going on?” I lean against the car, ignoring the chill that instantly soaks through my clothing. With the way dread is quickly gathering in the pit of my stomach, I don’t want to bring this conversation into our house. The beautiful home I bought when creating a family with Brayden and Josie was merely a dream. My chest aches. I can’t lose Josie.

“Please tell me you didn’t marry Ava so you could con the court into giving you custody of Josie. And Tyler, I’m going to preface this by saying, anything you say to me is protected?—”

“I know?—”

“Unless you’re defrauding the court. So please think hard before you answer.”

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