Page 76 of Play For Keeps

“If you value your life, you will never talk about her like that again.”

“Grant, if you want to be mad at me, go ahead. But leave Jake out of this.”

“Then you shouldn’t be dragging him into it. It’s not my fault that you are revenge-fucking a guy half your age. My bad for not being kinder to your new boyfriend who needs to learn how to mind his own fucking business.”

I roll my eyes. Is this guy fucking serious? “It’s fine, Ev. I can handle this idiot,” I snap, and if he can’t tell by the tone of my voice, I am three seconds away from knocking his teeth out.

“Let’s not forget why I divorced you in the first place. I believe it was you who wanted to explore other people.” Everly glares. “I seem to remember you parading them in and out of our house like they were trophies.”

“They weren’t trophies. I just didn’t give a shit about you.”

My jaw clenches as I grind my back molars into dust.

“Clearly. The same way you don’t give a shit about Birdie. I’m done. We’re going home.”

“Good idea, your friend here is probably out past his bedtime anyways.” Grant glares at me, and the only reason my fist doesn’t meet his face is because Birdie is in the car and might be watching. This guy is mouthy for being half my size. I’m at least four inches taller and have at least 30 pounds of muscle on him.

“I want you and Birdie back in Brookmont, or I’ll take you to court, and we both know I’ll win.”

“Goodbye, Grant.”

“Don’t play these games with me. You won’t like the consequences.”

The door slams behind us, and Everly flinches. Walking away without knocking that guy out is the most self-control I’ve ever shown in my life.

If I ever see Grant again, he will regret it.

TWENTY-FOUR

LOVED, PAST TENSE

Everly

It’s been three days since we got home from Brookmont, and I have a million things rattling around in my head. I feel frazzled and on edge, and I know that it’s starting to show. Yesterday, I dropped Birdie off at school and burst into tears watching her walk inside. Last night, I cried in Jake’s arms after we tucked her in.

Grant has been threatening me for months and I’ve ignored him, but something in his eyes this time felt different. This time I actually believed him.

It’s so frustrating that he thinks he can dictate what I do with my life. Coming to Reed Point was the best decision I’ve ever made, the fresh start that Birdie and I so desperately needed.

I throw a sweatshirt on over my head and walk into the kitchen, where Birdie and Jake are sitting at the table. Jake is teaching her how to draw—another one of his many talents.

“Are you going to stay tonight?” Birdie asks him, looking up from her notebook.

“Would you like me to?” Jake stops drawing to look over at her.

“Of course!”

“Then I will.”

Jake has been sleeping here most nights. At this point, he only stops by his place to grab more clothes. We’ve fallen into this comfortable routine. The three of us wake up together and Jake gets breakfast started while I get Birdie ready for school. Then one of us drops her off. Jake has been picking her up from school some days too. Birdie loves it when he does the after-school pick-up because he usually takes her for a treat on the way home. Yesterday, the two of them went through the McDonalds drive-thru for caramel sundaes. He’s promised to take her with him to one of the job sites later this week so he can show her a new house he is building. She’s been talking about that for days.

I gave my notice at the restaurant, but in the meantime, I still have to cover some late-night shifts.

We spend the rest of the night watching a movie and by the time it’s over, Birdie and Jake have both fallen asleep on the couch next to me. I grab my laptop from the coffee table and Google places for rent in Brookmont. I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do, but I have to be realistic. Grant has no shortage of resources, and if he really wants to force me to move Birdie back there, he may be able to make it happen.

I glance over at my daughter, who is nestled into Jake’s arms, and my heart lurches. How will we ever be able to leave him? I worry about what this will do to Birdie. The two of them have gotten so close.

“Are you going back?” Jake asks, startling me.

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