Page 78 of Enemy Daddy Next Door

I glance at him with a smile. “You’re welcome.”

His warm caramel eyes catch mine; my heart races, but I don’t deign to look away. “She’s been asking for you.”

“Well, you know I’m just next door.”

Hunter breaks eye contact first, looking at the toe of his shoe as he drags it through the mulch. “You’ve been a little harder to catch.”

I hadn’t noticed that. But yeah. I guess I have been. I’m slower to respond to texts and I’ve been out with Fiona more, brainstorming ideas for my book. My publisher is getting huffy with me after the past couple months of churning out idea after idea they deem too dark. I’m losing my touch.

“You’re not avoiding me, are you?”

I could ask him the same question. “Just giving it all some space.”

Hunter chews on his lower lip. “We never talked about the Veronica thing.”

Which thing? I’m tempted to ask. However, I know exactly what he’s referring to. I had sent him the warning text, as promised. In response, all I got was a thumbs up reaction to the message. “What is there to say?”

“Well, are you okay? I can’t imagine she was too friendly…not really her M.O.”

I glance at Jessica, still obliviously flying through the air. “Don’t worry about me. In regard to Veronica at least.”

“Amy, I am worrying about you,” he says, brow hardening.

I sigh.

“Did she say something about me?”

My face betrays my desire to hide my thoughts, eyebrows rising, jaw dropping slightly ajar.

Hunter’s shoulders tighten. “You know she’ll say anything to make me look bad.”

“Of course. That’s why it wasn’t worth bringing up,” I reply.

“Are you watching?!” Jessica cries out.

“Yes, we’re watching, sweetheart!” I say in response and, when she flies back, catch her at the top of her swing and give her a big push. She lets out a burbling laugh. A much needed moment of levity.

“What’d she say?” Hunter asks urgently.

I shake my head. “It was noth –”

“Bullshit,” Hunter spits.

I recoil from him slightly, quickly making sure Jessica didn’t overhear him.

Hunter takes a few deep breaths, closing his eyes tightly. “Sorry. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

He gulps, protruding Adam’s apple rolling up the front of his neck. “Please, just tell me what she said. It would make me feel so much better. And maybe I could make you feel better about it too.”

In my mind, if I say it out loud, that means it’s a threat. Keeping it in, it’s just a delusion. I nod toward a bench facing the swing set. “Let’s sit.”

We bid Jessica to keep going as long as she likes (hopefully, a while on those little legs) and cross to the bench where we plop down and fall into silence.

Hunter watches me. Waiting.

“She just said some nasty things about how you’re going to use me up and discard me. Like you did her.”

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