Page 133 of Falling for Love

Kyle’s smirk widened. “I don’t need her permission. Hayden’s my son. I have rights.”

Before the deputy could respond, the sound of the front door opening caught our attention. Evie stepped onto the porch, the glow from inside framing her figure. She’d changed and was in a thick sweater and jeans. Her arms crossed against the biting cold. Her expression was unreadable—until her eyes locked on Kyle.

She froze.

Her lips parted slightly, as if trying to process the scene in front of her. Her gaze darted to me, confusion and fear swirling in her eyes. I took a step toward her instinctively, but she held up a hand to stop me.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Kyle’s smirk turned smug. “Evie. It’s been a while.”

Her entire body stiffened. She gripped the porch railing, her knuckles white. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see my son,” he said smoothly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Evie’s face paled, and she took a shaky step forward. “You don’t get to do this, Kyle. You don’t get to just show up like this.”

“I don’t need your permission,” he shot back, his tone patronizing. “I have every right to see Hayden.”

“Rights?” Her voice cracked, her hands trembling as she descended the porch steps. “You didn’t care about Hayden’s rights when you were busy ignoring him unless it suited your plans. You can’t just waltz in here and act like—”

“That’s enough,” the deputy interrupted, stepping between them. “Mr. Grayson, I suggest you leave. If you have a legal claim, you handle it through the courts. But showing up unannounced like this? Not acceptable.”

Kyle’s smirk faltered, replaced by a flash of irritation. “I don’t need advice from you, Officer.”

The deputy’s eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t advice. It was an order.”

Kyle glanced back at Evie, his jaw tight. “This isn’t over, Evie.”

Her chin lifted, though her voice wavered. “It’s been over for a long time, Kyle. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

The tension hung thick in the air as Kyle climbed back into his car. The deputy stepped back, watching as Kyle started the engine but lingered, his headlights cutting through the night.

I walked up her driveway to where she stood alone. Evie’s breathing was shaky, her shoulders trembling as she turned back to me. The look in her eyes—raw, vulnerable, and filled with pain—hit me like a sucker punch. I stepped closer, careful to keep my voice low.

“Evie…”

She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t do this, Liam.”

“You’re not doing this alone,” I said firmly. “I’m here, okay? We’ll figure this out.”

She nodded faintly, her gaze drifting to the retreating taillights. “I thought I left all of this behind.”

“You did,” I assured her. “And we’re going to keep it that way.”

But even as I said it, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that Kyle wasn’t done causing trouble.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Evie

I stepped back inside the house, shutting the door behind me with a soft click, but the sound felt as deafening as a thunderclap in the tense silence.

My hands felt numb and trembled despite the warmth of the house. I rubbed them together, futilely trying to settle the shake in my fingers.

Liam stood next to me. I could feel his eyes on me, and the weight of his concern made my stomach roil.

“I should put on some tea,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I moved toward the kitchen, my feet almost stumbling as I tried to focus on something—anything—that wasn’t the knot in my stomach.

---