Page 16 of Just a Little Crush

Her words made my blood run cold, because I had no doubt that she’d twist this situation to her advantage, regardless of the fact that she’d brought him home early. Not because she wanted custody of Owen, but hurting me was her goal and the only way to do that was through our son. She’d backed me into a corner and I only saw one way out. I had no choice and I’d deal with the repercussions of what I was about to do later. Right now, it was all about self-preservation and making sure my custody of Owen wasn’t jeopardized in any way.

“Stevie isn’t random or casual,” I said, looking Alyssa dead in the eye and knowing that Stevie could likely hear this entire conversation. “She’s a serious girlfriend and we’re in acommittedrelationship. I am not in violation of the morality clause.”

Alyssa’s gaze narrowed skeptically. “Owen would have told me if you were seeing someone.”

Why? Did she actually grill our son and try to pump Owen for information when she had him?Of course she did.

“Becauseof the morality clause, I was waiting to tell Owen about Stevie until I knew it was serious, and it is. And she isn’t a stranger to Owen. He’s met her many times in various public settings. He knows who she is.”

“Where did you meet her?” Alyssa demanded to know. “Because clearly, she is not someone in our social circle. Trust me. No woman that I know would be caught dead wearing that cheap dress and those budget-friendly shoes.”

“Yeah, well, some of us don’t give a shit about those kinds of things,” I said, which held true for me. Alyssa, on the other hand, had grown up surrounded by wealth and sadly, she measured a person’s worth by those material possessions.

Alyssa stared me down. “Where did you meet her?” she asked again.

I knew she wouldn’t hesitate to hire a PI to find out the answer to her question, and the last thing I wanted was anyone digging around in what I knew of Stevie’s painful past and handing that information over to Alyssa to use as leverage. “I met her through Raven,” I replied truthfully. “She works at The Back Door.”

Alyssa gaped at me in shock, then she burst out laughing, the sound harsh and cruel. “Wait, she’s a waitress? Isn’t that a bit like slumming it for you? Or are you just thinking with your dick and not your head?”

My jaw clenched so hard I thought I’d break a molar. My protective instincts flared to life, and I glared at her, no compromise in my expression. “I’m only going to tell you this once, Alyssa. Unless you want to be slapped with a defamation of character suit, watch your mouth and what you say about Stevie. She’s my girlfriend and a part of my life. She will also be in Owen’s life and spending time with him, and I will not tolerate another inflammatory word against her, do you understand?” Considering the words that just came out of my mouth were unrehearsed and improvised, Stevie being my girlfriend sounded convincing even to my own ears.

Alyssa’s lips pursed, her expression filled with spite after the way I’d just put her in her place for being disrespectful. She stood up, chin jutting out. “Sure, I’ll watch what I say about her, but you’d better be careful, too. I’d really hate for you to lose custody of Owen if this ends up being a bunch of lies to cover your ass.”

“Get out,” I snapped, done with her bullshit. “I may have to deal with you because you’re Owen’s mother, but I do not have to put up with your condescending attitude in my home. Leave.Now.”

The corner of her mouth lifted in a sneer, but clearly realizing how pissed I was, she wisely didn’t say anything more. She headed toward the elevator, not even bothering to say goodbye to Owen, as most mothers would considering she wouldn’t see him for another week. But then again, as much as it pained me, I knew that Owen was nothing more than a pawn for her to use against me.

Once she was gone, I sank down into a chair, scrubbing my hands over my face and feeling emotionally drained.Fuck, now what was I going to do? The only thing I could, I realized, because I didn’t have a choice.

I was going to make Stevie an offer she hopefully wouldn’t be able to refuse.

CHAPTER SIX

Stevie

I’d never beenone to eavesdrop, but it was difficult not to overhear the heated conversation between Caleb and Alyssa as it drifted down the hallway and into his bedroom. Their voices were raised, and there was no mistaking the anger in Caleb’s tone, or the disdain in hers when it came to me.

I was normally a confident woman, but I couldn’t deny the way she’d initially called me a whore, then mocked my clothing, my job, and insinuated that Caleb wasslumming it,had dug up old insecurities. Because for a girl who’d grown up in a trailer park, a man like Calebwasout of my league. Not that he’d ever made me feel that way, but I could understand why anyone in his affluent social circle might look at me and wonder what a wealthy, gorgeous man like him was doing with a simple, unworldly woman like me.

There was also no misconstruing what he’d said to Alyssa.Stevie isn’t random or casual. She’s a serious girlfriend and we’re in a committed relationship.

Yeah, that declaration made my jaw drop in shock.

Having been privy to their discussion, I understood why he’d tell Alyssa that lie. He had Owen to think about, and even though I doubted Caleb had violated that morality clause they’d talked about since Owen hadn’t been here during our time together, he’d been nervous enough about the situation, and how Alyssa might twist it to make that statement.

And now, as I sat on his bed and listened to him order Alyssa to leave, I wondered how he was going to get himself out of that little lie.

A few minutes later, I heard him heading down the hall, then he walked into the bedroom carrying my dress, bra, and shoes. He looked harried and distressed, and I hated seeing him so troubled when he was a man who was always so composed and seemly unflappable.

“Is it safe to come out?” I joked, trying to lighten the moment.

A deep sigh escaped him as he set my clothing on the mattress beside me. “Yes, and I’m sorry you had to hear any of that.” Genuine regret shimmered in his eyes.

My fingers absently pleated the hem of the T-shirt I was wearing. “You dug yourself a hole,” I said with a teasing smile, because there was no ignoring what I’d overheard. “I’m not even close to being your serious girlfriend.”

He grimaced and rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. “Yeah, about that…” He trailed off, obviously unsure of what he wanted to say or perhapshowhe wanted to say it.

“Yes?”

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