Page 24 of Big Balls
Zoe is breathing in these quick little pants. I know it’s because she’s upset, but she’s not off the hook with me yet. This is my daughter on the bed, little blue circles under her eyelids.
“Katy’s going to need a second surgery. In a few months.” Zoe lets the words spill out into the air between us. I feel like I’m caught in a loop where everything keeps getting worse.
I shake my head. “Anything else?” I say, my voice low and deadly.
Zoe’s eyes flash from mine to my shoulders then to my mouth. When she meets my gaze again, she takes a deep breath before answering me, in her best interview voice, “No, sir.”
My eyebrows rise slowly as the complete irony of the situation settles upon me. “Well, look how careful you can be when other people are watching.”
She sucks in a sharp breath, and a low murmur rushes through the others in the room. I’d forgotten they were here for a moment. “How dare you.”
She leans over and brushes Katy’s little fringe of bangs off of her forehead, then deposits a kiss underneath her silky hair.
“Get well, little one. You’re so amazing. Much more tough than everyone gives you credit for.” She glares at me, then turns on her heel and stalks out of the room.
My eyes scan the men in the room. “Did she just walk out on me?”
Tate nods. “You were being a colossal asshole. Why were you so mean to someone who has never even considered leaving your daughter’s side?”
I shake my head mutinously. “I wasn’t being mean. Katy got hurt when Zoe was supposed to be keeping her safe.”
Tate pulls his hair down, letting it spill across his shoulders in a luxurious mane. “Ethan, kids get hurt. It happens. It doesn’t mean Zoe wasn’t keeping her safe.”
He moves toward the seat that she rose from, lifting her tiny light pink purse from the back of the chair and wraps the strap around his hand a few times, like he’s about to lift weights. “If you’re too stupid to go apologize to her then I better be the one to bring her this.”
Tate shakes his head again, but it’s Sebastian who speaks next. “Nobody’s that stupid.”
I turn to snarl at him next, but he’s already giving me a look that makes me feel like a little kid caught throwing rocks at someone’s windows. “What?” I demand, then remember to lower my voice. “I shouldn’t have left her.”
Sebastian doesn’t let his eyes leave mine. “Get a grip, sir. You’re acting ridiculous.” The last word stops me cold. He’s absolutely right that I can’t afford to behave this way.
Otherwise, I can already see the headlines dragging me for losing it in public. Then all of my time spent making nice with the reporters would be for nothing.
I cannot afford to be that rich man having a tantrum at the children’s hospital. Not when Coach has made it clear that my contract with the Sinners is at stake.
I clear my throat. “I’m going to speak to Zoe for a moment, if you’ll excuse me.” I grab the purse from Tate and glare at him before I exit, nearly colliding with Zoe as I stalk down the hallway in search of her.
Her eyes are wet with unshed tears, and I feel like complete garbage. I push her handbag toward her. “Here.” My voice sounds cold even to my own ears.
She flinches, and finally some of those heavy tears she’s been holding in her eyes slip down the sides of her face. “I was already coming back to get it. I can’t leave without my keys.”
“Zoe–” I wait a moment, putting extra effort into viciously ignoring the clear evidence of pain on her face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you.”
She takes a shaky breath, then looks me right in the eyes. “I understand. You’re upset about your little girl. We all know how important she is to you.” She swallows hard. “Katy’s important to me, too.”
I nod, but I still have to do what’s necessary. Calmly though, not yelling or making some kind of awful scene. “All of that said, I can’t have you working as Katy’s nanny anymore. Not after she got hurt under your care. You’re done.”
Her face pales, and she swipes at the tear tracks on her cheeks. Then her cheeks redden, and her hands clench into fists. “You know what?You’redone. You’re a first-class asshole, Ethan Alexander, and I ammagnificentwith Katy. You don’t deserve me.”
She spins away from me and stomps off toward the elevators.
I watch her walking away, and a heavy wave of nausea climbs up my throat. But there has to be some other option, one that keeps Katy safe this time.
8
Zoe
When my dadand brothers watch the Sinners play, I groan and cover my face with my hands.
