Page 58 of Fake To Forever

"Theresa knows," I admit. "She’s been difficult, as always. She’s trying to paint this picture that I’m using Haven to win custody, spreading rumors, making it harder than it needs to be. She’s making this custody battle personal, trying to get under my skin."

His brow furrows, his jaw tightening. "And does Haven know about that? That Theresa’s still running her mouth and making things harder for you two?"

"She knows," I reply. "Haven’s aware of everything. I’m not keeping anything from her when it comes to the situation with Theresa. It’s been messy, and it’s not going to get easier, but Haven’s strong. She’s standing by me through it all, and she is very protective of Oliver. She wants what’s best for him as well"

He takes a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don’t trust Theresa. Never did. The way she left, the way she’s treated you since—it’s always been about her, not about what’s best for Oliver. You need to be careful, Chris. She’s not going to stop pushing, and if she thinks Haven’s the weak link, she’s going to go after her."

The truth in his words hits me hard, but I refuse to let it shake me. "I know. I’m doing everything I can to protect Haven from Theresa’s games, and I won’t let her hurt Haven or use this against us. Haven’s stronger than Theresa realizes. She’s not just doing this for me, Garrett. She’s doing it for herself too."

He stares at me, then says, "Alright, but you better be ready for whatever Theresa throws next, because if she goes after my sister, you know I’ll have to step in."

I nod, fully understanding the weight of his words. "I wouldn’t expect anything less. But Garrett, I promise you, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Haven. This is real to me now. I won’t let anything happen to her."

“I also don’t want anything happening that will cause my mom unnecessary stress,” he continues in a sharp tone. “She’s too delicate to deal with Theresa’s bullshit. If you and Haven are going to do this, any messiness needs to be kept from Mom.”

“I swear, Garrett, I’ll do everything in my power to shield your mom from Theresa and any other complications that might arise.”

At that, he finally relaxes fully, though the tension between us still lingers. He’s not fully convinced, but he’s trusting me, and I can’t take that lightly.

"I’m still wrapping my head around all of this," he says, leaning back. "But if Haven’s happy, and if you’re serious about making this work, then I’m behind you."

"Thanks, Garrett," I reply, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. "I won’t let her down. Or you."

As I stand to leave, he moves to stand in front of me, his face softening just a bit. "Take care of her, Chris. And be careful with Theresa. I know how she operates."

"I will," I assure him, gripping his shoulder in a gesture of solidarity. "I’ve got this."

Walking out of Garrett’s apartment, the conversation weighs heavily on me. Telling him the truth about Haven and our arrangement was hard enough, but knowing that Theresa is still in the background, waiting to strike, makes everything feel more fragile than I want to admit.

***

Arriving home from my visit with Garrett, I step into the house, closing the door quietly behind me. The soft murmur of voices reaches my ears, followed by the sound of Oliver’s high-pitched laughter. I can’t help but smile, the tension from my conversation with Garrett loosening its grip on my shoulders. Walking toward the living room, I pause in the doorway. Haven and Oliver are sitting on the floor, surrounded by a mess of blocks and toy cars. Edna is nearby on the couch, watching the two with a soft smile on her face. Oliver is animatedly explaining the “car race” they’re about to have, his little hands waving in the air, while Haven listens intently, nodding with mock seriousness.

I lean against the doorframe, watching them. The sight of Haven laughing with my son does something to me—something deep. It’s not just comfort or happiness. It’s a kind of peace I didn’t expect to find in the middle of this chaos.

Haven looks up, catching my eye, and her face lights up with a smile.

"Hey, you’re home," she says softly, rising from the floor and brushing a strand of hair from her face. "How did your meeting go?"

I’d told her I had an early morning meeting so that she didn’t worry or feel the need to come with me. That conversation was something I had to have with her brother on my own. I gesture toward the kitchen. She nods, and after giving Oliver a quick kiss on the head and giving Edna a nod, she follows me. The second we’re alone, she turns to me with an arched brow.

"What’s up?" she asks.

Sighing, I confess, “All right, here’s the thing… I didn’t actually have an early morning meeting. Garrett’s back in town and I went to talk to him.”

Her eyes go wide. “What? You went without me?”

I nod, letting out a heavy breath. “I did, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I needed to talk to him alone. Man-to-man.”

She scowls. “You still should’ve told me.”

“I’m sorry.”

Letting out a huff of breath, she murmurs, “So… how did he take it?”

I place my hands on her shoulders, my thumbs brushing gently across her collarbone. "It’s okay, Haven. Garrett was shocked, sure, but he’s going to be fine. He just needed some time to process it all."

Her brows knit together, and she bites her lip, something I’ve noticed she does when she’s holding back her nerves. "Was he angry? Did he… did he understand about the arrangement?"

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