Page 70 of Hot Shot

“Oh, that’s all right,” Patty says. “We’re going to a fair in Franklinville, so we’ll feed her.”

I try not to frown, but I’m disappointed. “Oh. Sorry, we thought we’d have a little more time with her. I guess I figured I’d hear from you if the plans changed.”

Patty seems unbothered and waves her hand. “It’s just a couple hours different. We must have forgotten. How was the week?”

I let it go, not wanting to rock the boat—I’m the new one to this party. Maybe I expect too much. I’m sure I just don’t understand the rules.

Makes me feel shitty anyway.

I give them the rundown of the week quickly, needing to ask about Trent before Cricket comes back. “I heard Trent was arrested yesterday. Do you know what happened?”

The levity seeps out of them. “From what I understand,” Paul starts, “they charged him with arson and first degree murder. He’s out on bail. I don’t know much more than that, only that there’s proof of him being at the house that night and that they had a fight. Caught him on a bunch of those doorbell cameras. They…well, the police had come before for fights they had. I just…” He shakes his head, runs a hand across his mouth, his eyes shining. “I have a hard time believing he’d do this.”

The screen door slaps against the frame, and Patty swipes at her eyes, smiling big as she rounds us to help Cricket with her bags.

“Should I be worried?” I ask Paul quietly. “Should we be worried for Cricket?”

“No,” he says without hesitation. “He’d never hurt her.”

“Would he take her?”

Paul blinks, surprised. We’re silent as they pass us for the truck.

“I’ve known that boy since he was fifteen, and despite him and Ashley fighting like cats and dogs, I believe he has a good heart. I can’t imagine he’d ever hurt Ashley, not on purpose. And I don’t think he’d interfere. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t,” he finally answers.

“But not certain.”

The exhaustion behind his eyes is total. “I don’t know if I’m certain about anything anymore, Wilder.”

I nod once and shake his hand again as Cass sidles up next to me and slips an arm around my waist. Cricket runs back over to us and gives Cass a hug first. I watch my wife smooth Cricket’s hair as they say their goodbyes, overwhelmed. The feeling deepens when I kneel and Cricket throws her arms around my neck and squeezes. I pretend like I’m choking and she giggles, harder still when I stand up, propping her butt on my forearm.

“See you soon, bug,” I whisper in her ear.

“Okay, Daddy,” she whispers back like it’s our secret. Like she’s trying on the word to see if it fits. When I set her down and she beams up at me, I hope to God it does.

Because I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose her now.

CHAPTER 27

WELL-OILED

CASS

We wave at Cricket, who’s hanging out of the back window as best she can from her booster seat, waving like a maniac. Wilder and I are just as crazy waving back.

I hate that she’s leaving.

When they’re out of sight, I sigh. My pout is epic as we walk back to the house. “I thought she was eating with us.”

“Me too. They decided to take her to some fair but…I don’t know. Felt kinda like they blew me off. Like it didn’t matter if we had plans. They’re just going to do what they want to do and I don’t need to know. Maybe they’re right. I mean, who am I to butt in when they have a whole routine and life going?”

“You’re herfather.”

“But she barely knows me. They’ve helped raise her. They have authority here that I don’t. And I won’t. Not until we get through all this custody shit.”

“You’re justified in wanting to know what the plan is. They should have texted you. It’s like they don’t have respect for you. I don’t like it.”

“Me either, but for now, this just might be what it is.”

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