Page 111 of Perfectly Complicated
“I’m just trying to be helpful.”
“Helpful?” I huff out a laugh. “Is that what we’re calling this now?”
Nick’s jaw tightens. “Well, we should probably go.” He finishes off his punch. “And about Christmas…we’ve had a change of plans.”
My body stiffens. “What do you mean?”
“We’re heading to Aspen for Christmas. Lia found a great deal online.”
The words don't register at first. “But I thought…” I shake my head, trying to process what he’s saying. “…you wanted to see Aria on Christmas.”
He looks over at his fiancée. “Lia really wanted to take this trip. Besides, Aria doesn’t even know it’s Christmas, so she won’t miss me. It’ll be just like every other day of the year for her.”
For a second I think, I’ve misheard him. Then it all clicks. He never really cared about spending Christmas with his daughter.
I should call him out. Tell him what a real father would do. But all I feel is relief—and a deep sadness for Aria that her biological father cares so little.
“Thanks,” I say quietly.
“When we get back, let’s definitely talk about arrangements,”he says over his shoulder as he turns to go.
The custody fight isn’t over, but I have Christmas with my daughter. And suddenly, all I want is to share that with Rourke.
I push through the remaining crowd, looking for him.
“Hey, have any of you seen Mr. Rourke?” I ask a group of kids by the cookie table.
“He was back there a minute ago,” Jack says pointing down the hall where the dressing rooms are.
“I saw him leave,” Lily says, then she steps closer to me, her head tilting. “He looked like he was sneaking out.”
“Why do you think that?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. He saw you talking with that man, and then he just turned around and left.”
I excuse myself from the kids and hurry toward the dressing rooms. When I reach Rourke’s, the door is ajar.
I walk into an empty dressing room and that’s when I see it—the costume folded neatly on the counter, all arranged for me. Beside it is an envelope with my name. I tear open the flap, scanning the paper quickly.
Janie,
The past few weeks with you and Aria have been the best of my life. Every memory we made—I’ll carry it with me, always.
I know you’re thinking about what’s best for Aria right now. You shouldn’t have to fight battles just because of who I am or what I come with.
You deserve everything good, angel. And I love you enough to get out of the way so you can have it.
Love, R
I stare at the paper, not understanding.What does he mean by getting outof the way?
“Janie?”
I whirl around to find Brendan in the doorway behind me.
“You came tonight?”
“Yeah, to support Rourke. Half the team showed up to support him.” He glances around the empty room. “I was supposed to get something he left behind.”
