Page 24 of Fight For Us
Kendahl sipped her drink and shrugged. “Like I said, we’ll ease you in. By the end of the year you’ll be sharing all the dirty details. I’d put money on it.”
“Assuming I actually meet someone I’d want to date,” I said. They gave each other conspiratorial looks and I huffed. “Oh look, it’s time for Alex’s meds.”
I hopped up and made myself busy at the counter but I didn’t miss their shared whispers.
Chapter 10
Wes
I flipped the burgerson the grill, pressing Lilly’s down so it would end up like the hockey puck she requested. How was she my kid? That well done meat shit was all her mother’s doing. I guess it was to be expected since Sav came from the fiery pits of hell. I smirked to myself, picturing Sav with horns and a red face.
I hadn’t heard a word from her in the three months since she dropped Lilly off. Life was chaotic but if she wasn’t going to reach out, I didn’t need to either. I was struggling to keep up with work and Lilly but not bad enough that I’d go begging her to come back. Fuck that. Lilly didn’t ask about her much either, at least not anymore. If Sav was contacting Lilly on her phone, I wasn’t aware, but my instincts told me it wasn’t often.
Sav’s fucking mother has been up my ass nonstop though. I never liked her parents when we were together and they made it clear they couldn’t stand me. Their little girl deserved so much better. I didn’t blame Sav for limiting her relationship with them when Lilly was born. It made me wonder why Regina was contacting me now. Had Sav asked her to keep dibs on me?
My mom pulled the sliding glass door open and joined me on the patio. “Burgers almost done?”
“Yeah, except Lilly’s. You know how she likes hers burned to a crisp.” I shook my head.
“Okay, I pulled some potato salad out of the fridge. You should take your burger to-go so you’re not late.” She took out her phone to check the time. “Meeting starts in fifteen minutes.”
“Shit.”
Her eyes narrowed at me for cussing. “Excuse me?”
I cleared my throat. “Sorry. You sure you don’t want to go instead? You’ve been the one doing homework with her.”
She held the plate out to me so I could start taking the burgers off the grill. “You need to go. You’re her parent, not me. It’s important to see how she’s doing in school.”
“You’re right.” I wiped my hands on the leg of my shorts.
“Plus, you won’t be alone. Olivia should be here any second.” The smirk on my mother’s lips was nothing less than villainous. “I offered to watch Alex for her.”
On cue, Lilly dashed to the front door while Alex walked slowly beside her. He’d gotten his cast removed recently andwas in physical therapy but he had to take it slow. Mom patted my shoulder and walked the burgers inside, greeting Olivia and Alex.
After turning off the grill, I fixed my hair, hoping I didn’t look as grubby as I felt after a day of work and being in the heat. Not that I was worried about my looks for any particular reason.
“Ready to go? I’ll drive,” Olivia said. As I turned, I got a glimpse of her and lost my footing, tripping inside. She noticed my misstep and rushed over to me. Luckily, the doorframe kept me upright. “You okay?”
No, I was not okay. Olivia looked like my personal wet dream and I was so not prepared for that. She wore a deep purple cropped shirt, exposing her entire taut middle, and black workout leggings that hugged the curve of her hips. Her wavy hair was thrown up in a messy bun and her face was flushed pink.
I always noticed how beautiful she was. Anyone would. But I’d tried so hard not to sexualize her. She was my employee and more than that, my friend. And I was a fucking train wreck. But now I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her body. I was in so much trouble.
“Yeah. Lost my footing.” I cleared my throat and forced myself to look anywhere but at Olivia’s bare skin. Yeah that wasn’t going to happen. Especially not since she took that moment to step in front of me, reach up and pull something out of my hair. I looked down at her glowing face. Could she hear my heart pounding? See my uneven breaths?
“You had a leaf.” She held it in front of me and our eyes met for a fleeting second.
“Thanks.” I ran a hand over the top of my head. “Ready?”
“Bye kids, be good,” My father said, coming into the kitchen at the smell of grilled meat. I desperately needed to get my own place again.
On our way to Olivia’s car, my phone buzzed. I knew who it was and didn’t want to talk to her. Maybe if I kept ignoring her, she’d take the hint. Lilly was my daughter and Sav’s mother could fuck right off.
“Ready to go sit in chairs five sizes too small, Goldilocks?” Olivia asked, turning on the car. A deep voice spoke through her car’s speakers. Not spoke, growled. And then there was a moan. “Oh my God!” Her hand shot out to yank the volume dial all the way down.
“Was that porn, Tiger?” I chuckled and lifted a brow, ignoring the uncomfortable tightness in my shorts.
She groaned and swiped on her phone screen. “No, it’s not porn.”
