Page 121 of CowSex
Gracie steps back to give me space, but I grab her hand and keep her at my side.
“Carmichael.”
“Can you collect Malia tomorrow rather than Saturday? Something came up.”
My ex-wife doesn’t even bother with a greeting before making her request. I’m not surprised or upset, what concerns me is what influence this lack of manners might be having on my daughter.
“Sure, happy to.”
“Good, we’ll drop her to you early.”
“I’m at the cabin. I’m not in Aspen.”
“Oh, how come?”
“None of your business.”
“Don’t be petty, Koa.”
“Not being petty, just saying.”
“Well, I guess we’ll drop her at the cabin. Like I said, it’ll be early, before nine.”
“That’s not a problem. Can I talk to her?”
I fucking hate asking.
“I suppose. Just make sure you’re awake and not wallowing in a hangover of bourbon and self-pity when we get there tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll do my best.”
I don’t knowexactlywhat it was I did to make my ex so pissed with me. I gave Lucy everything, and she took it gladly. Shannon reckons she’s a narcissist, I reckon she may be that and more.
Gracie has laced our fingers together and is staring down at her boots. She’s standing close enough to be able to hear both ends of the conversation, but I’ve no clue what she’s thinking.
“Hey, Daddy. Happy holidays day.”
My daughter’s voice carries through the phone, and I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. I love my kids equally, but the urge to protect my daughter and keep her safe from the world is something I worry might be a little irrational. I hate being apart from her and not having her in my life every day.
It’s not that I don’t feel it with Kai, I do, especially after his recent fuck up, but he’s older and can protect himself to some extent. Malia’s only four and lives with my self-serving bitch of an ex.
“Hey, baby girl. Happy holidays day to you, too.”
“It’s your weekend to have me, Daddy. What we gonna do?”
“Not sure yet. Is there anything you’d like to do? Kai’s home, too.”
“He is? Well, that’s so cool. We can hang out and maybe watch a movie together.”
My kid sounds like a teen already, and I shut that thought down in an instant. I have at least nine years before I need to worry about all that entails. Twenty if I can find a way to lock her up without alerting the authorities.
“Sure, we can do that. We’ll be staying at the cabin.”
“Cool, can we go to the diner that Kai goes to for pancakes?”
“Of course. The winter festival is going on this weekend, too, we can go visit that if you’d like?”
“That sounds perfect, Daddy. I’ll be sure to pack my new jacket. You should see it. It’s pink and purple and has blut-buf-butterflies on it.”
