Page 94 of Cross Check Daddies
Brooke steps forward, steady and calm, but there’s fire under every syllable. “You don’t get to show up unannounced and make decisions. The custody agreement says you notify me in advance, Aaron. Not hours before. Not showing up at restaurants and trying to play hero. That’s not how this works.”
Jackson leans into her side now, pressing his shoulder into her arm. She wraps one arm protectively around him and doesn’t break eye contact with Aaron.
“You want time with him?” she continues. “Do it the right way. Call. Coordinate. Don’t pull this ambush crap and pretend it’s parenting.”
Aaron’s smile falters, and he turns to me. “Did she ever tell you how she used to hang your trading cards on the fridge?”
My trading cards. My gut twists.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask flatly.
He shrugs. “Back when we were still pretending to be happy. She said our son should grow up knowing what real grit looks like. Her words. Not mine.”
Brooke stiffens.
My hand curls around my glass.
Aaron shrugs. “I used to think it was harmless. Then I realized she was just chasing ghosts.”
Tanner moves to shield Jackson, but Ivy is already pulling him into her lap. “Hey, bud, wanna help me with the stickers on your new notebook?” she whispers, tugging the headphones from her bag and sliding them gently over his ears. “Super quiet time, okay?”
Jackson nods, oblivious now as she hands him a juice box and lowers her voice even further.
Aaron keeps talking. “She always had a thing for broken men. Guess I just wasn’t broken enough for her to stick around.”
My jaw tightens. My whole body starts humming.
Then he adds, “But at least I gave her a real kid. Not just nostalgia.”
My fist slams into his jaw before I even register standing.
The impact sends him staggering to the edge of the booth. He catches himself, one hand going to his face. Ivy stands, half-shielding Jackson without making a scene. Tanner’s next to me in a flash, gripping my shoulder.
Aaron straightens, swiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “You think that wins you anything?” he sneers.
“No,” I bite out. “But maybe it reminds you not to run your fucking mouth in front of your son.”
Brooke’s voice slices clean through the tension. “Get out.”
Aaron’s eyes flick to Jackson—still distracted, headphones on—and back to her. “I’ll call him later.”
“Don’t bother,” she snaps.
He mutters something under his breath and leaves without another word.
Jackson peels off his headphones a minute later. “Can we go home now?”
Brooke pulls him into her lap. “Yeah, baby. Let’s get out of here.”
Ivy packs up the leftover food. Tanner’s already out the door to bring the car around. I carry Jackson, his arms looped around my neck, his head tucked in close.
He doesn’t say much, but I know this stuff sticks. It always does.
When we get back to her place, Jackson goes straight to his room without a word. Ivy and Tanner follow him, saying something about Legos and cartoons. Brooke stands in the kitchen like she’s waiting for the next blow to land. I pull her close.
“I’m sorry,” I say quietly.
She nods against my chest, but it’s tight. Not yet ready to let it go.
