Page 81 of Reckless and Rooted
“Someone needs to look out for your image. You think that hillbilly guy at your house cares about that? Huh?” He implores me with a look, a look that, maybe a year ago, maybe even longer than that, would have probably worked at making me feel guilty.
“Probably not in the way you think,” I reply, thinking about how Jax would absolutely care if my career was suffering, buthe would insist that my mental and physical health is ten times more important than what I look like.
“Exactly,” he replies, blowing out a breath as if we just admitted we were on the same page. He obviously doesn’t understand what I am saying, but I don’t have the energy to fight him.
“Zack, what are you doing here?” I run my fingernail along the edge of my mug, thinking again how adorable it is that this is a coffee house you can get real mugs when Zack tries to make me choke on said coffee.
“I want to be in the baby’s life.” His words are the words every mother of a child should want to hear. If it weren’t for the wary look on his face, I might actually believe him.
I scoff, staring at him, unable to work up my actor’s face for anything in the world. “I’m sorry. I must have heard you wrong.”
“No, we believe it would be good PR if we present a united front.”
Frowning at his use ofwe, I forge on. “Zack, no one even knows that you’re the father. You waived your rights. They fully believe I have a baby with my boyfriend.”
“It’s for PR,” Zack says, sitting forward. “When you move back to LA, I think you should come live with me.”
“I thought you just said you have a girlfriend.”
“I do.” He hesitates. “But she agrees this is the best move.”
I take a beat, sitting back in my chair, and think about this. “Why on earth does your girlfriend care about my career? And why would you think I care what she thinks?”
He sighs, leaning forward like he wants to take my hands in his. “Because she’s your manager.”
I lift a brow at that, flabbergasted at the thought. “Jeanette is your girlfriend?”
Nodding, he tries—and fails—to look remorseful. “We know that this is going to be shocking to you, and I’m sorry you didn’t know sooner. But we fell in love over the last few months.”
“Over the last few months? Why on earth were you even around each other the last few months?”
He shrugs his shoulders, giving me the smallshuckssmile that he is known for. “We were both worried about you. Who else would she turn to than the person who knows you best?”
I scoff again, not believing my ears. I couldn’t possibly be hearing what I was. “Knows me best, huh? Well, since you know me best, you must realize that I’m never moving back to LA.”
For the first time since we sat, he pauses. “You’re not?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not. And after this tour, I’m not planning on pursuing another one for a few years.”
“Felicity…” He gasps, acting like every bit the spoiled, snobby Hollywood actor that he is. “That’s going to kill your career. Everything we’ve worked for.”
“No, you don’t get to lump yourself in. Either of you.” I stand, my blood boiling as I lean forward. “If you come for my son…” I emphasize the word my, hoping he is getting the picture. “Then I will come at you with everything I have. It’s probably best, given that I have the best lawyers money can buy, that you leave this one alone.”
Scoffing, he sits back in his chair. “If you’re not coming back to our life, then what are you going to do?”
I shrug. “Well, first, I’m firing my manager.”
He blinks as if this news is actually shocking to him. He can’t be that clueless, can he?
“Felicity, she was only looking out for you.”
I want to scream at him, point at all the things she’s been doing that so were not “looking out for me,” but then I realize that it isn’t worth it. He’ll never see it that way. He’s selfish and always has been.
“And then,” I continue as if I didn’t hear him. “I’m going to make damn sure you have nothing to do with my kid. Ever.”
He crosses his arms, huffing in his seat. “That was all Jeanette. I’m far too young to raise a kid.”
I raise a brow, looking at him intently. “Zack, do yourself a favor and break up with her. She is in this for fame and fortune, not the best interests of you or me. Also, if you’re serious about what you just said, then please, I am begging you to drop it.”
