Page 33 of The Parent Pick-Up
“She’s busy.”
I shift to look past him into the hallway and catch a glimpse of her, headphones clamped over her ears. I move to shoulder past him, but the man plants his hand on the doorjamb, blocking.
“Easy there, man,” he says, voice syrup-smooth. “She doesn’t want company right now.”
“Let her tell me herself.”
He tilts his head, studying me like a bug under glass. “Look, she’s exhausted. This whole thing’s a mess. Best thing you can do is just…” He flicks his fingers toward the street. “Go back to wherever you came from.”
I want to argue, but the truth scrapes at the back of my thoughts. If she wanted to talk to me, she would have answered the phone when I called.
“I need to see her.” It comes out rougher than I’d planned.
He shrugs, half-smirk. “Maybe later.”
He shuts the door in my face, and I hear the click of the lock sliding home.
Chapter Thirteen
Ivy
I’ve been listeningto music for hours. Same song over and over again. It’s the only thing that helps me de-stress. But when I hear the unmistakable sound of male voices in the kitchen, I hit pause mid-song.
At first, I think it’s just Axel on speaker phone with someone, then I recognize the other voice.
Owen.
I hurry into the kitchen, where Axel stands in front of the open fridge, shaking his head at the contents.
“Were you just talking to someone?” I ask pushing aside the curtain covering the window to peer into the back yard.
“Yeah, but don’t worry, I got rid of him.” He straightens and closes the fridge, wrinkling his nose. “You don’t have any oat milk.”
“Who was it?” But the sinking feeling in my gut tells me all I need to know.
“Neighbor or something. Came in around the back. Don’t worry—I made him leave. That’s what I’m here for, babe.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t call me that.”
“It’s nothing personal.” He cocks his head at me, grinning his winning smile. “Everyone is babe to me.”
I want to scream, but I hold it back. “You shouldn’t have come.”
He raises a perfectly-groomed brow at the hiss in my voice. “That’s what you pay me for.”
“You’re fired!”
He just laughs. “You can’t fire me. It’s in the contract thatyouwrote.”
I let out a frustrated sound, keeping it quiet since it’s barely sunrise, and Olivia is still sleeping.
Flinging open the back door, I hurry into the yard, my bare feet slipping in the dewy grass.
Owen is halfway across the yard, his back to me. I don’t have to see his face to know it’s him. Those broad shoulders and perfect posture give him away.
“Owen!”
He stops when I call his name. For one brief moment, I think everything is okay. But when he turns around to face me, the look in his eyes is so cold it makes me shiver.
