Page 30 of Play For Keeps

“No.”

“Do you hear yourself?” He glares at me. “You sound like a brat.”

I couldn’t care less what I sound like. I’m not moving back there. I knew having a conversation with him was going to be pointless. “You’re an ass, Grant. I signed a lease. Birdie is settled into her new school, she’s happy. We can figure out the two-hour drive very easily if you’d like weekly visits.”

He rolls his eyes at me. I look past him, trying to stay calm, and my breath catches in my throat when I see a familiar face in the restaurant foyer. I’d recognize that man anywhere, even if his eyes weren’t narrowed on me.

Jake.

A hostess grabs a couple of menus and signals for Jake to follow her. He makes his way through the busy restaurant, his eyes on me the entire time. I know that Reed Point is a small town, but I can’t believe Jake chose to come to this restaurant today of all days. I am sure he has all kinds of thoughts running through his head, and I want to go to him, to explain why I’m here, tell him about Grant before he gets the wrong idea. But I can’t. Grant is looking for whatever ammunition he can find, and if he thinks he can use Jake against me, he will. I just want to get through this lunch without Grant flying off the handle.

“Who is he?” Grant sneers. My gaze snaps back to my ex-husband. He doesn’t have the patience to wait for me to respond. “Are you fucking him, Evy?”

“He’s a friend.”

His eyes narrow. “Are you fucking your friend then?”

I clench my jaw so tight that my molars grind together. “That is none of your business.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jake sit down a couple of tables over, close enough that I’m sure he can hear this interrogation. I’m mortified. I sit uncomfortably across from Grant, who looks like he’s ready to flip the table, praying he’ll keep his voice down. He stares at me for a long moment, nostrils flared like he’s ready for a fight. I can already tell my prayer is not going to be answered.

“So did you move here for him?”

“Lower your voice, Grant. The entire restaurant can hear you,” I whisper through clenched teeth. “And I told you it’s none of your business.”

“It is my business when you take my daughter and move her two hours away. And now I find out there’s some frat boy I’ve never met hanging around. Who is he, Everly? Or maybe I should go ask him.”

Grant couldn’t care less that he’s in a room full of people. “I told you that he is a friend. That’s it. Now drop it.”

“You can’t do this forever.”

“Do what forever?” I ask, my eyes darting to where Birdie is still playing on the patio.

“Live here,” he says with disdain in his voice. “Work a shitty waitressing job. It’s an embarrassment. You’re a Billings, for fuck’s sake. Act like one.”

I hear the legs of Jake’s chair screech across the floor, and three seconds later, he’s standing at our table, hands clenched into fists. “Everly, can we talk?”

Grant throws a wad of cash on the table then gets up. “Talk to your boyfriend, Everly. I’m going to say goodbye to Birdie. But we’re not finished with this.”

I can’t stand him.

No, that’s not strong enough.

I hate him.

It’s hard to believe that there was ever a time I loved this man. I thought the world of him. How did he turn out to be so terrible?

Grant storms outside towards the patio where Birdie is playing. My stomach in knots, I watch him bend down to Birdie’s level with his hands on her tiny shoulders. He says something to our daughter that causes her smile to fade. Then he kisses the tip of her nose. I watch them through the glass like I’m watching a movie.

“Sorry. Can you give me a minute?” I ask Jake, trying to stay as calm as possible.

“I’ll be right here.” Jake nods with a serious expression on his face. Very serious. Very intense. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I reach the patio in time to hear Grant tell Birdie that he’ll see her for her birthday. She’s clearly upset that he’s leaving so soon, but he promises her he’ll make it up to her with a very big birthday present. She smiles, but I can see how disappointed she is. My heart shatters like it always does when she’s hurting.

Grant pulls Birdie into a hug and then stands, taking a step towards me. He’s so close to me now that I can smell his expensive cologne. “I want her in Brookmont. It’s non-negotiable. I’ll be in touch.”

Grant turns, and I can see the muscle in his jaw tick when his gaze lands on Jake, who is now standing at the edge of the patio. I scoop Birdie into my arms and hold her close to my chest. She’s on the verge of tears. I run my hand over her curls, kissing the top of her head as Grant storms through the restaurant doors.

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