Page 61 of Grumpy Ex's Secret Baby

“Can you dig up any other dirt about someone else and start spreading that?” I asked before taking a long sip of my coffee. “Nothing bad, but I need something big enough to draw attention away from my family.”

“I’ll see what I can find and let you know. For now, just stay away from public places and let me work my magic.”

She ended the call without so much as a goodbye, and I made a mental note to send her one of the fruit arrangements she loved. Camille would do whatever it took to get the pictures gone.

Haley stepped out onto the deck as I finished the last of my coffee. She sat down in the chair beside me and ran a hand through her hair.

“I’ve got to take Trinity to school, and then I’ve got some work at the clinic I have to do. After that, I’m going to take her home and get her settled for the night.”

“You don’t want to stay here another night?” I asked, reaching out to take her hand and kiss the back of it. “You know you’re more than welcome.”

Haley shook her head. “With everything around us being so crazy, I need to give her as much stability as possible. If you want to come over tonight, you can, though. We could do dinner.”

“Dinner sounds good.” I looked back toward the house. “Do you want to take my truck?”

“You don’t need it?”

I shrugged. “I plan on heading to Roy’s later and checking on the laundromat before the opening, but other than that, I have nothing to do. Roy’s is only a short walk from here.”

Haley grinned and kissed me quickly. “Alright. That will make some of the trips I have to do to some of the farms today a bit easier. Just call me if you need it back, okay?”

“Love you, Hales,” I said as I got up and walked with her inside.

“I love you too, Ty,” she said as she grabbed the keys to my truck. “I’m going to get Trinity ready, and then I’ll see you tonight.”

“See you tonight.”

***

In a couple of days, the laundromat would be ready to open. The finishing touches were being put on the building, and everything was working well. Roy was excited, talking to anybody who would listen about all the changes that had been made.

“The place looks good,” Bret said as he walked in carrying a brown paper bag. “I brought lunch, and I was thinking that it was time you and I had a conversation.”

I studied him for a moment, wondering if this would be the same conversation we had back in high school. Bret had threatened to make my life miserable if I did anything to hurt Haley. Back then, I had been angry with him and had barely spoken to him for months after that. Now, I was grateful that Haley had him in her corner when I hadn’t been there for her.

Is he going to threaten me again? Lord knows I’ve hurt Haley enough in the past to deserve it.

“Do you mind eating while we walk?” I asked, already heading to the front door. “I need some time to clear my head.”

“Lead the way.”

Bret and I walked until we reached one of the little trails that led into the woods. He didn’t say anything until we came across a picnic table with chipped green paint. We sat down and unwrapped the burgers he had brought. Silence remained until the food was gone.

“You wanted to talk,” I said, packing the garbage.

“You love them,” Bret said, though it was more of a statement than a question. “And you’re changing your entire career. But there are still people who want all these little pieces of you. What happens when you don’t have enough pieces left for Haley and Trinity?”

“The pieces for them come first. Everybody else can take whatever scraps they can get.”

“You know,” Bret said as he eyed me. “I used to think that you were wrong for Haley. I hated watching the way she couldn’t seem to get over you. And then you came back, and I had to watch her throw up the walls she had just taken down.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know.” Bret smiled and shook his head. “You’re good for both of them, and I never thought I would say that. But you are, and their lives are better with you in it. She’s been waiting for someone to defend Trinity the way she does, and you do.”

“I’m doing everything I can to protect them,” I said as we stood up and started walking back to the laundromat.

“Oh, I know. She’s called me more than once to cuss you out for everything you’ve done to keep her safe.”

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