Page 100 of Defending her Heart

“Seattle?”

“Nash’s sister needed to go on bed rest, so their parents flew out to help out with the kids. Nash asked if I could pick up Paisley. My sister is still in town and is with the kids now.”

“Oh.” Nash asked for Mindy’s help and not mine. My stomach drops and I do my best to hide my disappointment. “Paisley will be excited to play with your boys.”

“I hope so. They’ve only met once before. As you know, Nash is as private with his daughter as he is himself.”

“Yes, he is.” I turn from her and crouch next to Paisley, who is playing paper dolls with Olivia. “Paisley, do you remember your daddy’s friends, Darius and Mindy?”

She looks up at me with eyes as dark as her father’s and scrunches her nose. “Daddy doesn’t have any friends except you.”

I chuckle. “You went to their house for Mikey’s birthday party a few weeks ago.”

“Oh yeah.”

“Well, Mindy is going to bring you to her house to play with her boys today. Let’s get your winter gear and your backpack.”

She hops to her feet and rushes to her cubby. Mindy joins us and helps Paisley with her coat. “Do you like sledding?”

“Yeah!”

“We have a small hill at our house. Robbie and Mikey will love having you over to sled with them.”

“Can Miss Wentworth come too?”

I smooth Paisley’s hair down. “Not today. Go have fun with your new friends.”

“Okay. Bye Miss Wentworth. I love you.” She hugs my legs and takes Mindy’s hand.

My throat catches as I watch them leave my room and I realize how easily I’m replaced. I never mattered to Jason. I matter to Paisley when I’m with her, but out of sight, out of mind. And if I meant something at all to Nash, he would have called me when he needed help with Paisley.

Three months ago, he was pissed as hell at his parents for entrusting his daughter’s life in my hands. Then I became the only one other than family who he trusted. Now, I’m no one again.

After my last student is picked up, I sign up for a kickboxing class to get out my anger and to hide my grief. When I get home two hours later, Dani reminds me how special I am. That I’m needed and loved.

I spend the evening playing a Disney matching game with her and Mom and ignore my phone until I go to bed. When there are still no messages from Nash by my lunch break on Wednesday, I contemplate checking in with him to see how his sister is doing.

But I don’t. Reaching out shows a sign of weakness. That he can get to me. His sweet words last week when we made love—because that’s how he made me feel—and then again in the car Sunday night, are nearly forgotten.

They’re words. Empty words. Jason was filled with them. Actions speak a fuck ton louder than words. The only way to get over a broken heart is by showing Nash I don’t care. That he doesn’t matter.

It’ll be easier since he’s away this weekend in Texas for a game. I won’t have to worry about him or his friends showing up at a bar while I search for my next hookup. I should text him now to let him know our friends with benefits status is over and I’ll be spreading my legs for someone else—someone who can’t hurt me—but I foolishly wait.

The kids are restless and extra crazy on Thursday. Or maybe it’s my patience level dropping. Owen spilled red paint on Olivia’s desk, and she screamed and cried, thinking it was blood, even though she saw the painting Owen was working on. That escalated into three other students crying at the sight of blood, which it wasn’t, but tell that to a classroom full of five and six year olds.

The end of the day couldn’t come soon enough. I plaster on my pleasant teacher face as parents, grandparents, and nannies pick up their children. A young woman, one I’ve never met before, stands in the doorway, glancing around my room.

With so many wealthy families connected to the school, security is tight. I make sure the six remaining students are accounted for, then block the woman’s view of my kids.

“Can I help you?”

She hands me the ticket the main office gives when there’s a new person vetted and approved for pick up.

“Hi. I’m Ella. I’m here to get Paisley Humphries.”

Prickles rush up my spine and my protective hackles come out. “And you are...?”

“Ella. Ella Thornton.”

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