Page 7 of Enemy Ex's Secret Baby

Stella flips around first, smile reappearing on her lips followed by Gillian who is much less smiley.

Still. I can’t help it. Gillian has always intoxicated me. I’ve kept her at arm’s length for years now after we crossed a line while Lola was away doing volunteer work. I’ve never been able to forget that summer as much as I’ve tried to push her away and tune out her noise.

Gillian Solace is just too much for me to ignore. Now that we are locked in this standoff, I’m in her thrall all over again. Sure, she’s a pain in my ass.

But what was it Sun Tzu said? Know thy enemy or something?

Sure. That’s what I’m trying to do. Get to know my enemy.

“You have something to say?” Gillian asks in my silence.

“Y-yes! Yes, um.” I stride over to them, trying to maintain an affable smile. “Look, I don’t think Harley probably wants a visitor like me this late in the day. I’ll come by tomorrow. Let me join you guys.”

Now it’s Gillian’s turn to pale. “Axel, I–”

“Yippee!” Stella cries out, jumping up and down. “Ice cream party!”

Gillian’s brow locks together; she looks down at Stella and sighs. I know she can’t deny Stella her happiness. Not when she’s such a sweet, cute kid.

“It’ll be fun,” I say firmly and reach into my pocket for my car key. “I’ll drive.”

Gillian chews on the corner of her lower lip, shakes her head, and then sighs. “Fine. But no speeding.”

“I can manage that,” I reply. This might be a bad idea. But I can’t help it. Anger and desire are so close to one another that I must be getting confused. Stick to the plan. Play nice, get some intel. Get this shit built.

“We’ll see about that.” Is that…is that a smirk on her lips?

With that, Gillian walks with Stella out the front door of the hospital, expecting me to follow.

I need a moment alone, though. She’ll castrate me if she’s seen I’ve gotten hard just by talking to her.

3

GILLIAN

I stare at the many flavors in the ice cream counter. There are two vegan options, and of course, a couple sorbets, so that’s where I’ll go if I decide the calories are worth it. In the meantime, Stella is bouncing up and down the length of the counter, unable to decide what sounds best to her.

“Cookie dough? Or birthday cake?” Stella wonders aloud.

“I’m partial to buttered pecan myself,” Axel says with a smile.

“Just like grandpa!” Stella says with a smile gape as if Axel and her grandfather sharing a favorite ice cream is the most novel thing in the world.

Axel grimaces. “Well, when you put it like that…”

I can’t help but laugh to myself. Yes, my dear, keep him humbled. “Is that what you’re getting?” I ask.

“I was going to until I was called old by your daughter.”

Ouch. That stings. Your. Like I somehow manifested her in my womb without help.

“I’m surprised you let her have ice cream.”

I frown at him.

“Cause milk, ya know?”

I sigh. “Raising a kid vegan is very difficult. I couldn’t handle that on top of everything else required of being a single mother.” That’s my jab back even if he might not feel it as harshly as I’d like him to.

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