Page 137 of One Good Puck
I clench my jaw so hard that my head starts to ache. Is he seriously trying to convince Abby to give him visitation rights to see Emma?
I watch as her eyes water and all the color drains from her face. “Don’t you dare threaten me,” she says in a shaky voice.
The anger simmering inside of me turns to a full-blown bonfire of rage. No way this asshole is going to get away with threatening Abby.
Levi’s voice booms from her phone, and she winces, holding it away from her ear.
Gently, I touch her arm, then take the phone from her.
“Levi.”
He’s quiet for a second. “Who’s this?” he asks, clearly annoyed. “Wait, are you that guy from earlier today?”
“Yeah. That’s the first and last time you ever raise your voice to her. Understand?”
He scoffs. “Dude, I don’t have anything to say to you. Put Abby back on.”
I glance at Abby, who’s wiping her tears on the sleeves of her sweater.
“Do you want to talk to him again?” I ask in a soft voice. She shakes her head “no.”
“She’s done talking to you.”
He exhales sharply. “Fucking ridiculous,” he mutters. “Look, I know you’re her boyfriend or whatever. And I know who you are. You’re the head coach of the Bashers.”
“I am.”
“You think you’re hot shit and can take over the conversation I was having with my daughter’s mother,” he says. “I bet you convinced her to keep me from seeing Emma.”
“You’re wrong,” I say curtly. “I don’t tell her to do anything. Abby is capable of making her own decisions about her daughter. What I am going to do is tell you to leave her alone. She’s made it clear that she doesn’t want you contacting her or Emma. You need to respect her wishes and back off.”
“You fucking prick,” he shouts. “This isn’t over. She’s my daughter, and I have a right to see her.”
I hang up the phone and set it back on the counter, then pull Abby back into my lap. She’s shaking when I wrap my arms around her.
“He threatened to get a lawyer involved so he can get custody of Emma,” Abby says, her voice watery. “I…I don’t know what I’m going to do, Gavin. Legally, I have full custody of her, but he can still take me to court. He’s going to try and take her from me.”
Her voice breaks. My chest cracks in half hearing the fear in her voice.
Protectiveness soars through me. For her and Emma.
I kiss her temple. “No way that’s happening.” I lean back and look at her. “Jason’s wife is a lawyer who handles complicated custody situations. I’ll reach out to her so she can help you navigate all this. Levi isn’t taking Emma from you, ever. I’ll make sure of it.”
She blinks at me, and a small bit of the worry in her eyes fades. “I don’t have the money for an expensive lawyer.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
Her mouth falls open. “Gavin, no. This isn’t your problem.”
“Your problems are my problems, sweetness.”
She’s quiet for a second. “I can’t believe you’d do that for me.”
“I would do anything for you, Abby. I love you.”
The words fall from my mouth without hesitation. Like I’ve never been more certain about anything, ever.
Because it’s true.
