Page 60 of Make Me Whole

I looked down at our kids and said, “You guys head over to the house. Miss Molly brought some snickerdoodle cookies for us. We’ll be right there.”

Ella whined in a frightened protest, but after some encouragement from Max she did as she was told and followed Aiden toward Molly. Once the front door closed behind them, Max asked, “You ready?”

I inhaled, finally allowing the anger and disgust I was trying to keep at bay to bubble to the surface. “More than you know. Let's go.”

Hand in hand, Max and I walked toward Eli. His thumb rubbed up and down the back of my hand, calming me and assuring me that we were in this together. I’ve never appreciated anything or anyone more.

“Well, isn’t this an interesting plot twist?” Eli raised his brows as we approached, a gross smirk on his lips. “Is Miss Frigid playing outside the wedding vows sandb—”

Being called frigid in front of Max was the straw that broke this camel’s back. Acting instead of thinking, I released Max’s hand and swung my right arm toward Eli’s face. “You small-pricked fucker, first you kidnap my daughter then you call me frigid? What the fuck have I ever done to you to deserve the hell you keep putting me through?”

It was hard to say if it was the slap or the fact that I had stood up to him for the first time ever, but Eli just stared at me like a stunned idiot for a second. High on pride, I took advantage of the momentum.

Closing my hand into a fist, I aimed a jab at his chest, but Eli snapped out of his shock before my hand hit its target. His blue eyes grew the icy shade I was all too familiar with, and with one fluid motion, he clasped a hand around my right wrist, the one he had punched and damaged months ago.

My hand felt like it would fall off, and I howled in pain. The scream still echoed when Max stepped closer and sandwiched Eli’s neck between his forearm and the SUV.

“Let go of her,” he ordered.

Proving that he had some protective instinct, Eli released my wrist and raised his palms in surrender. I took a step back, clutching my arm against my chest, and watched as Max released some of the pressure on his throat.

He took a breath and smirked at me. “You really are screwing the old-timer, aren’t you?”

I retract what I said about his protective instinct. Eli had none.

Max pushed his forearm harder against his throat. Eli’s face grew a bit purple, but he still found the energy to mutter, “It’s ill advised to punch a mayor.”

Deaf in his anger, Max pulled his arm back in preparation. I called his name, hoping that by looking at me he would snap out of it, but he was deaf even to my voice. Self-hatred filled me for thinking that I could slap Eli and not deal with consequences. Standing up to himalwayshad consequences, only this time, Max was my consequence.

I considered jumping between them to put a stop to this, but salvation came just in time.

“Listen to the asshole, Max,” my dad said, holding Max’s fist back. “He’s just looking for trouble.”

Like a man possessed, Max turned to look at my dad. I couldn’t see his face, but I knew all too well the expression my dad gave him. It was his “go to your room” face, and apparently, it worked on grown men as well as it did on children.

Shaking his head, Max lowered his fist and released Eli’s neck. Then, he took a step backward.

As soon as he was free, Eli fixed his suit jacket and tie. “Today was a good day, I think. I got to spend time with my daughter, saw my wife’s hideout, and hopefully, got the point across that unless she comes home where she belongs,nothing” —he emphasized the word, looking at Max— “she cares about is safe.”

“Hell with it,” Max muttered and took another step forward.

Reacting quickly, I took a step in front of him to block his path to my ex at the same time that my dad grabbed Max’s arm.

“Good. Then go home, Eli,” my dad said in a no-bullshit tone. “Leave us alone and focus on your defense. I know that you’re the lawyer, but as far as I know, badgering and kidnapping never sit well with judges. I’m not sure your dad will be as pleased as you are.”

“It sits as well as assault, right, darling?” If spines could get goosebumps, I’m sure mine would have at that moment. “Good night.”

With that, Eli walked away. As soon as his car disappeared, Dad sighed. “With all due respect, sweetheart, you didn’t marry well.”

“Said the pot to the kettle.”

Both Dad and Max stared at me as if they couldn’t believe what I had just said. I didn’t blame them because I couldn’t either. I never talked back like that to my dad, and I never, ever brought up my mom.

I was going to apologize for being unkind, but Dad started laughing. “Guess you’re right. Still,damn. . .”

I rolled my eyes and smiled at him, even though I was still too mad for it to be a real smile. “Can you go inside to check on the kids, Dad? I need to discuss something with Max.”

He looked from me to his friend with a quizzical expression but quickly nodded and walked away. I waited for the sound of the closing door before looking at Max.

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