Page 179 of Mended Hearts

Katie raised a brow at me. “Keep this one, Ollie. I like her. She’ll lighten you up.”

“That’s the plan,” I said, the lump in my throat turning that into more of a croak.

Katie laughed, slapped my back, and dumped her gum in a hallway trash can. “Come on, slugger. Let’s get this over with.”

“Please,” I muttered, guiding Leighton forward with a hand on her back. I’d rather be anywhere else. The feeling only worsened when I saw the empty faux-oak tables flanking the judge’s bench. Leighton followed Greyson into our usual row, but hesitated and turned back toward me.

Katie paused, pulling out her phone. “I’ll give you a second. You remember the rules?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. I’ll see you up there.”

As she moved toward the front, I stepped into Leighton’s space and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It’s just five feet, love.”

“I know,” she whispered, voice barely audible. “I just wish I could be up there with you.”

“I know, baby.”

She forced a smile. It almost worked—if I hadn’t known the ache behind it.

She was about to say something else when the hinges groaned. We both looked up as Carly walked in with her lawyer, Niko Volkov. He made a beeline for the table, but Carly paused long enough to level a slow, smug glare at Leighton.

“Still playing house?” she drawled, just as the bailiff cleared his throat. “Cute. One way or another, someday our kids will know you stole them from me, Oliver. They’ll come home. To their real mother.”

Leighton didn’t so much as flinch. She ran her tongue across her teeth, lifted her chin, and turned back to me with icy poise.

Me, though? My hands started to shake. Goosebumps crawled up my neck. All the months of prep felt suddenly, completely inadequate.

But before I could react, Leighton grabbed both of my hands in hers and curled my fingers over the backs. She brought them to her lips and kissed each knuckle, then pressed her forehead to mine.

“Hey,” she whispered. “This is going to go our way. Don’t let her see you rattled.”

I nodded.

But God—was it hot in here, or was it just the noose tightening around my throat?

“Ollie,” she breathed, squeezing my fingers. When I forced my eyes to meet hers, she nodded incrementally. “We’ve got this. I’m right here.”

The bailiff signaled for the beginning of our session, and I pressed a kiss to her forehead before moving around the divider in a rush, sitting just in time to be told to stand for the judge entering the chamber. As we all sat, I shot a glance backward, my chest constricting when I found my brother with my girl tucked under his arm—I wasn’t sure if it was in comfort or to keep her from rocking in her seat like I wanted to. She offered a smile, which I returned quickly before forcing my game face on and looking up at the woman who would determine our future.

She looked bored—like she’d smoked one too many cigarettes on the roof, thinking dark thoughts about petty human drama. The judge rifled through the folder in front of her, letting out a deep sigh before announcing, “This hearing is regarding the motion filed by Ms. Carly Hart…”

My mind went blank—a dull buzzing in my ears as we went through the agonizingly familiar motions of introductions. It wasn’t until Niko said the words, “Petitioning for full custody based on evidence that the change will be in the children’s best interest,” that my soul snapped back into my body. As he assured the judge they had evidence to present, I glanced at Katie, who sat with her hands folded together, elbows braced on the table, looking entirely unfazed.

My job—that was Carly’s angle. That I was gone too much, that my career meant I was neglecting my kids.

Bull. Fucking. Shit.

My kids were my fucking world. My heart pounded, my head spinning with a million variations of the same question—how could she do this? How could someone so selfish pretend to want the kids she’d walked away from?

My shark in a pantsuit set her hand on my forearm, and I realized I was trembling. I quickly stuffed my fists beneath the table, settling them in my lap, flexing and balling them against my thighs as I listened to Katie counter through what felt like a hundred-foot tunnel.

“Your Honor, my client, Mr. Oliver Hart, has had full custody of both children for the entirety of their lives. He has provided a stable, loving environment for them, and we strongly oppose the motion to change custody.”

The judge turned her attention to Niko, whose smug face looked spectacularly punchable.

“Your Honor, we are requesting full custody of Matilda and Beau Hart, as we believe Ms. Hart is the more capable parent and better equipped to meet their needs. She simply seeks the opportunity to care for them.”

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