Page 93 of Love Is Ale You Need

I huff out an exasperated breath. “I guess I should call Kyle and let him know not to come.” Reluctantly, I pull away from Trey’s warmth and snatch my phone off the counter. With heavy steps, I make my way into the living room, dreading the phone call I’m about to make. Somehow Kyle will spin it to make it about him because he always does. Blowing out a breath, I pull up his number and press call. After four rings, he finally picks up. “Hey Kyle, just wanted to let you know you don’t have to pick up Abby tonight.”

“But it’s my day with her. I cleared my schedule for this and now she’s not coming over?”

Done with his bullshit, I get straight to the point. “She says all you do is work.”

“I have shit I have to do, Rylee.”

“Apparently, spending time with your daughter isn’t one of them.”

“I can’t ignore important work calls.” He grumbles something I can’t hear. “I’m doing the best I can. I can’t just drop my entire life.”

I roll my eyes. If I could reach through the phone and strangle him, I would. “It’s called being a parent, Kyle. Sometimes you have to make those sacrifices. I just want to let you know not to bother picking her up.” If I was a betting person, I’d placed a million dollars on the only reason he wants to see her tonight is because if he doesn’t spend so many days a month with her, he has to pay more in child support. When it involves anyone else, Kyle is the epitome of stinginess.

“You’re just going to let a six-year-old do whatever she wants?”

I bite my tongue, wanting to keep my tone as neutral as possible. “I will not force her if she doesn’t want to go,” I say through gritted teeth.

“None of this was like this until you started dating him.”

“Trey?” My fingers clench around my phone. I’m surprised it doesn’t snap in half.

“Yeah.”

I turn around so I’m facing away from the kitchen and lower my tone. I don’t need Abby listening. Who am I kidding? She’s six. She hears everything. “This has absolutely nothing to do with Trey, so keep his name out of your mouth,” I sneer.

He scoffs. “Brainwashed. Both of you.”

“You’re so full of it.”

The call disconnects. My blood boils. I don’t know how I ever dated that guy, let alone married him.

Trey tiptoes into the living room as if he’s approaching a wild animal. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah. It’s just Kyle being Kyle.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Why don’t you get Abby? I’ll finish cleaning up in the kitchen and we’ll have our own movie night.”

“Or you get Abby and I’ll finish cleaning up.” He cups my cheek. “Kyle’s not the only one who can rent a princess movie.”

I lean into his warm palm. The simple gesture gives me the comfort I need. He makes everything better. “Have I told you yet today that you're my favorite?”

“You haven’t.” The corner of his lips tip up into a smile.

“Because you are.”

“Thank you.” He winks. “I love you.”

From what could have been a disastrous night, Trey turned it around, not only for me, but for Abby. Now, I need to get my shit together to give him everything he’s given me. It would be much easier if I wasn’t so broken.

THIRTY-FOUR

MEATCUTERIE

Rylee

“Wow. This is a lot of food.” Dessa places a Crockpot down on the massive white quartz island next to the other twenty Crockpots and platters of food. “Are you expecting a small army?”

“It’s a little bigger than what I was expecting.” I move the napkins and silverware from the counter next to the fridge to the island. After I vetoed Trey’s gender reveal party, I let him take the reins of the baby shower. I told him generally it’s just the mother and friends and family, mostly females, but he wasn’t having it. He wanted a party for everyone, and he insisted that we have it at his house.

“Look at you compromising already.” Dessa rests a hand on her hip.

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