Page 70 of Takeover

“Oh,” she says, coming to a stop midstride in the middle of the kitchen. She’s pulling in Ethan’s carry on bag and holding his garment bag. “I didn’t realize you had company.” She drops the handle of the carry on and puts the garment bag on the kitchen table. She clears her throat and grabs the top of her coat, pulling the lapels closer together.

“What is it, Lindsay?” Ethan asks.

“I need to talk to you about our son.” She clears her throat again and looks away from us. She might have her reasons for coming here, but I’m pretty sure they have nothing to do with Vincent. It’s nine-thirty on a Saturday morning and she’s fully made up. I’ll give her points for subtle though. Her rosy cheeks have the just woken up look, and her lipstick is a soft pink. She has a knee length coat this time, and her tall boots have what looks like six-inch heels. The way she’s holding her coat together tells me she’s likely wearing nothing underneath. “You’re back in town, and he hasn’t heard from you since you were in Detroit.”

Ethan crosses his arms, but I don’t miss the way she ogled his naked chest.

“Really, Lindsay? You are going to judge my parenting? You of all people. I don’t think that’s a fight you want to have with me. Not now or ever.”

“I’m here now, Ethan. I’m trying now.” Her cheeks turn red from Ethan’s last rebuke.

“Well, good for you for being here now. I’ve always been here. What are you doing in my house?”

She clears her throat and looks at me. I hold her stare the entire time. She tilts her chin and turns back to Ethan. “I need to talk to you.”

“Go ahead. I’m standing right here. And why the hell aren’t you with Vincent right now?”

“I asked Phyllis to come in for the morning. Can we talk in private?” She turns around and starts to walk away, expecting Ethan to follow her.

“No.” That one word makes her stop in her tracks. She slowly turns around, her eyes wide. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it right here.”

She looks from him to me and back again. She shakes her head while twirling a piece of hair in her fingers. “I will not discuss our child in front of your plaything.”

“Excuse me?” I ask. “What did you just say?” I do my best to push Ethan out of the way so I can hop off the island and slap his bitch of an ex-wife, but the wall of muscle doesn’t move. He pushes his body further into mine, rendering me immobile.

“Either say it here or leave. And do not come into my house and disrespect my woman, Lindsay. You have five seconds.” Like a deer in headlights, she stands frozen in the middle of the kitchen. Under different circumstances, I might feel bad for her after the verbal beatdown she’s gotten from Ethan, but if anyone deserves a verbal beatdown, it’s her.

“Vincent left some toy dinosaur here. He was upset about it last night, so I promised I’d get it in the morning. Do you know what toy he’s talking about? He says it’s green.” Her nostrils flare, and she licks her lips.

“This is what you couldn’t talk about in front of Tara?” he asks.

“I’m here about our son. If I’m being honest, I don’t really give a shit about Cara’s feelings. Can you find the damn toy or not?” She practically spits out the last word, and I can’t help the small laugh that escapes at witnessing Lindsay not only lose control but lose face. When her angry eyes look my way again, I do my best to school my features, but I can’t seem to wipe away my smile.

“He has lots of dinosaurs.” Ethan scratches his head while he thinks. I put a hand on his shoulder and get his attention.

“That’s the one he was playing with Thursday morning. He was jumping on your bed with it while you were in the shower. It’s on your dresser.”

“Thanks, Cara,” Lindsay says. “No wonder I thought you were the nanny. You’re so efficient. I’ll go get it.” She spins on her stilettos and starts to walk away.

“No, you won’t. The only bedroom you will go to in this house is Vincent’s.” That stops her in her tracks. She turns around, eyebrows raised, and takes a few steps closer to Ethan.

“I’ve always been welcome here, Ethan. We not only shared this house, but we shared that bedroom.” Her words are to Ethan, but her eyes are on me. “I bet you still have the same sheets.” Her lips curl as if she’s won this round.

“No, actually,” Ethan says. “Everything’s newer and better now.” He puts a strong arm around me and kisses my cheek.

“Maybe, but we were together here many times after the divorce was final. Many, many times.”

The three of us are silent while we wait for someone to speak. Lindsay’s eyes leave mine only for her to look down and snarl at the arm around my waist.

“Are you done, Lindsay? Because I am.”

She takes a step closer, but the look Ethan gives her stops her in her tracks.

“We share a child. We created a life together, so we will never be done. Does she know you still take care of me financially?” All the air gets sucked out of the room. Lindsay gives me another haughty look, and in that moment, I can’t help but be embarrassed for her.

“Yes, I already know he donates to a lot of charities,” I say. I smile to myself when her eyes shoot fire at me.

“Because my son spends time with you. Everything I do that involves you is because of him. What about that don’t you understand?” Ethan practically hisses his words, and Lindsay takes an involuntary step back. The arm around my waist tightens, almost as if he doesn’t want me to go.

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