Page 73 of Enemy Daddy Next Door

Veronica raises her head sharply. “Of course. His little flavor of the day knows that and I don’t.”

Flavor of the day. I know she’s saying that to get under my skin. But it still stings, especially remembering his string of ex-lovers.

“Anyway, if Jessica has school tomorrow, I’m sure they’ll be back today.” Veronica traipses over to the wicker bench on the porch. “I’ll wait here. I brought a book.” She whips out a brightly-covered novel, one that’s been on the front tables of every bookstore I’ve had a reading at.

Dammit. I inadvertently gave away when Hunter would be back. Although, as is the case with bed bugs, Veronica would manage to catch him at some point. Was only a matter of time. I can’t just let her sit here, though. I have to do something. At least attempt to. Don’t be a coward, Amy. She’s just a woman. I don’t know much about her. Other than her role in Hunter and Jessica’s life. Who knows? Maybe she’s dangerous. Or maybe she just needs one more person to let her know what her place is around here. “I can’t imagine Hunter would appreciate you waiting around for him.”

Veronica lifts her eyes from her book. “You’re speaking on behalf of him now?”

I screw my lips together.

“Goodness gracious, you’ve got it bad for him, don’t you? What is he, twice your age?”

“Not twice.” Not quite nearly. But…older still by a mile.

“Oh, sweetie, you’ve barely been around the block. You have no idea what a man like Hunter is capable of.”

I scoff. “Your attempts to intimidate me are –”

“Not attempts to intimidate. Not at all. Woman to woman, I’m warning you…” Veronica’s tone of voice has shifted to something, dare I say, almost motherly. Her smile is wan as she speaks. “Men like Hunter, they pick who they want and they use them up until they’ve gotten their fill. Take it from me. I would know.”

I narrow my eyes. “You left him.”

“Yes, I did. Because I wasn’t ready to be what he needed me to be. So, I left. I was the bigger person.”

“I’d hardly call ‘abandoning’ your child being the bigger person.”

“He got her, didn’t he?” Veronica asks.

I pause.

“Got to watch her grow up. Be the father he wanted to be for her. Didn’t have me in the way.” Veronica looks off into the distance and sighs, an abused heroine in a soap opera. “I’m just letting you know. Would hate for another star to dim.”

I resist rolling my eyes. “I’m going to warn him you’re here.”

“That’s just fine. Where else could he possibly go?” she asks, leaning back in the settee and tucking herself back into her book. “Good to see you again…” She trails off. She doesn’t even know my fucking name.

“Amy.”

Her eyes flick to me briefly. They scald every inch of my skin. “It’s cute you think I care to remember.”

I open my mouth to respond but my jaw tenses before I can speak. She doesn’t deserve another moment of my time. Not another word. As quick as I can, I dart back to my house, my pulse not settling until I’m in past the front door with all the locks set.

Something about that woman is terrifying. Insidious. I swear, it’s not just because she’s threatening Hunter and Jessica, my future. I bet if I walked past her on the street, she’d still terrify me.

“Dropped off the basket?” I hear Dad call out from the kitchen.

I force a smile. “Yep. All ready.”

The hairs on the back of my neck will not go down no matter how I try to distract myself. Drawing doesn’t help. Neither does talking with Kira while she takes her lunch break. I can’t even drown out my feelings and take a nap. I just toss and turn.

What does Veronica mean that he’ll use me up? She can’t possibly believe that’s what happened to her, can she?

Unless there’s something Hunter is hiding. A darkness veiled beneath his charm.

Is it possible he just wants me for now? Until the next younger, prettier thing turns his head?

But Jessica…she knows about me. She cares for me.

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