Page 17 of Biggest Player

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But there is such a thing as stranger danger; the world is full of creeps, and therefore, “I’m going to check on her.”

I need an escape from this conversation.

My parents nod when I stand, and resume eating as I excuse myself to see about my daughter.

I stop short when I round the corner and find her chatting it up with a glamorous couple several tables away from the powder rooms, bantering and tossing her head back, giggling as if she’s known the man all her life. As if he’s said the funniest thingever.

“Wyatt Hazel St. John!” I gasp, horrified. “I was about to send out a search party for you!” I chastise, heart racing like a bullet train, about to thump right out of my chest.

I put my hands on my daughter’s shoulders.

“I am so sorry.”

Stop speaking.

Stare at the man who just two seconds ago was giggling with my kid.

I don’t recognize the voice, but I definitely recognize the face.

The hair at the back of my neck rises as I study him.

The man turns his head in my direction, catching my gaze.

“No. Way.” Is there sound coming out of my mouth? “It can’t be.”

There is no way.

But it is him. Has to be, there is no mistaking it.

The guy from the dating app—the one I got into an argument with because I implied he was a catfish.

Idiot.

Asshole.

Narrowing my eyes, I direct my glare at his face and give him my haughtiest tone.

“You. What are you doing with my daughter?”

Chapter 5

Dex

What are you doing with my daughter?

I don’t recognize the voice, but I sure do recognize the face. When I tell you I’m about to be in a world of trouble, I’m not exaggerating.

Actually.

Pause.

Let me rewind and tell you how I got into this mess in the first place.

Bear with me, would ya? It’s a long ride.

Remember Madisson? The young woman on the dating app with twos’s in her name that I said was annoying? Yeah, that one.

Well. I swiped on her.

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