Page 11 of Bear

Justin’s jaw twitched. His eyes darkened. Fear curdled my stomach. He’d raised his voice to me more times than I could count but he’d never raised a hand against me. Suddenly, I didn’t feel confident he would maintain that record.

“Look,” he said. “Just hear me out.”

For a split second, I faltered. I hated myself for it. I wanted to stay angry at him. I wanted to kill him for walking out on me, on our daughter. But we’d been together since high school - well over twelve years - and my heart still tugged toward him. Just a little. Just enough to give him an opening.

“I’m still getting used to all this, okay?” Justin continued. “Being a father isn’t easy, you know.”

“It’s even harder when you’re doing it on your own because your partner left you,” I shot back.

Justin grimaced and held up his hands, palms out.

“Shelby, can’t we talk without getting heated? Please calm down.”

The brief generosity I’d felt toward him seconds ago vanished.

“I’m not interested in a goddamn thing you have to say.”

Maisie squirmed in my arms and began to cry, her face cherry-red, her fists clutching her blanket.

“At least let me see my own kid,” he countered, taking a step into the apartment. “She’s getting so big already.”

A spike of fear lanced through my heart. What if Justin had changed his mind? He could claim that he wanted shared custody of Maisie and I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. How could I entrust my little girl with a man who had abandoned her once before already?

“No. Leave me the hell alone, Justin, or I’m calling the cops.”

“Shelby?”

The rough rasp of Bear’s voice never sounded so good than it did in that moment. The urge to fling my arms around him in a crushing hug was overwhelming.

“Bear, hi,” I said, swallowing against my dry mouth. “It’s…it’s great to see you.”

As Justin turned toward Bear, his posture changed. A second ago, he’d been ready to push his way into my apartment. Now, he was all slick smiles and friendliness.

“Oh. Shelby didn’t tell me she was expecting company. I’m her boyfriend.”

He extended a hand with a mega-watt smile.

“Ex-boyfriend,” I amended. Loudly.

Justin glanced over his shoulder at me and his smile turned a little stiff and frosty at the corners. Bear cast a cursory look down at Justin’s hand but he didn’t take it. Then his gaze shifted over to me.

“Is everything okay, Shelby?”

I nodded, bouncing Maisie in my arms as she whined.

“I am now. Would you like to come in?”

Justin narrowed his eyes but I didn’t look at him. I kept my gaze glued to Bear, pleading with him that he wouldn’t leave me.

“Sure,” he replied, stepping past Justin and into the apartment.

He came to a stop by the end table near the door, leaning against it. The position put himself directly between Justin and me. There was no way Justin could get to me without going through Bear and I had a feeling that wasn’t going to happen.

Justin’s smile faded.

“And who are you exactly?”

“I’m Shelby’s neighbor,” Bear replied. “Just a few doors down. It’s been great having Shelby and Maisie around. They really brightened up the place.”

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