Page 74 of Play Dirty

“You’re quiet,” she says, lifting her head.

I like that she can read me so well, but I truly don’t want to worry her.

“I’m fine,” I say. “It’s always rough when I have a run-in with Brenna. But tomorrow I’m changing the locks.”

“Is she taking anything else from the house?” she asks.

“She already took most of the cookware, some of the fancy crystal and china we had, and her car. All of that stuff is already worked out. The only things left are custody and then the house, but we can’t decide on the house stuff until we finalize custody. I’m going to keep the house if I get the kids, and my lawyer will be offering three years of alimony if that’s the case. If not, then I’m going to sell the house and give her half of the equity, which isn’t a lot since she wanted a lot more house than we could afford when we first bought it.”

“Then there’s no reason for her to have a key, right?”

I chuckle. “That’s why I’m calling a locksmith as soon as possible.”

“Good.”

“The next couple of months could be hectic,” I admit. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with the custody battle.”

“Whatever you need, I’ll be here for you,” she whispers.

“I appreciate that, baby.”

“Itwaskind of crazy getting home and finding her here.”

Home.

She just called my househome.

Like she belongs here. With me. With us.

I really like that.

I really likeher.

Hell, I think I more than like her. I’m starting to fall, and even though I promised myself I’d take my time before I got serious with anyone again, it’s already too late. She’s literally the girl of my dreams, and I refuse to let Brenna make me doubt her—or myself.

I’ve worked too hard and come too far to let her pull me back into the chaos that was our marriage and the early days of our separation. She’s moved on, so there’s absolutely no reason why I can’t. If she’s jealous, that’s her problem. She made her bed and now she’s lying in it.

It no longer has anything to do with me.

If she wants to make this a fight—beyond the custody issues—I’m fully prepared.

She’s the one who cheated, so I refuse to let her get away with anything else. The only reason I’m even entertaining three years of alimony is so that I can get custody of my kids. Beyond that, I don’t give a fuck about her, her life, or anything else. Money is just money, I can make more. My kids are my priority.

And now Stevie.

I plan to be a better man this time around, whether it’s as a boyfriend, husband, or something in between. Stevie deserves better.

She deserves everything.

And I want to give it to her.

Chapter24

Stevie

We spend the kids’last full day in L.A. together…as a family. They love being in the pool, so that’s where we spend most of our time. Afterward, we give everyone a bath and then take them to Casa del Papaya for dinner, where Martin spends about a hundred dollars at the claw machine so he can get the stuffed toy pony he desperately wanted.

And then, after hugs, kisses, and reading them about a dozen stories, I go home. Not because Marty doesn’t want me to stay but because we both think it will be easier on the kids if I’m not there when Brenna arrives in the morning. Emma has become extremely attached to me, and Bradley only seems to want his dad, so neither of us want there to be another scene like the one in the kitchen five days ago.

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