Page 81 of Rooster

“There wouldn’t be a point,” I scoffed. “He thinks he’s right about everything.”

“I’m so glad you don’t have to deal with him anymore.”

“I wish that were true, but as long as the kids are young, I’ll be dealing with him all the time.”

“Yes, but you have to set some boundaries and make him stick to them,” Mom pushed. “He shouldn’t call or expect to talk to you unless it has something to do with the kids. And he certainly has no business coming into your place of work, especially when you are alone.”

“I have a feeling that’s not going to happen again any time soon.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Ronin went to talk to him.”

“He did!” Mom gasped. “What did he say?”

“I have no idea. He hasn’t called to tell me about it yet.” I glanced over at the clock, and my chest tightened when I saw it was almost nine. I’d been so busy helping Samantha with her project that I hadn’t realized that it had gotten so late. It had been at least three hours since I left the shop, and I still hadn’t heard from him. Fearing that something might’ve happened, I told her, “I should probably call and check on him.”

“I certainly would because you never know what Chad will do.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” she fussed. “I need to know tonight if everything’s okay.”

“I’ll text you as soon as I know something.”

“Okay. I hope everything’s okay.”

“Me, too.”

As soon as I hung up, I dialed Ronin’s number and let it ring numerous times, but he never answered. I called a second time, and again, no answer. I needed to know that he was okay, so I sent him a text.

Me:

Hey.

Are you okay?”

I waited and waited,but no response.

Thinking he might be in bed or driving home, I decided to give him a few minutes and went to my room to change into my pajamas. As I started down the hall, I heard Nathan talking, and there was something about his tone that brought me to an immediate halt.

I put my ear closer to the door and listened as he said, “I don’t know, Dad. I think he’s a pretty cool guy.”

There was a long pause, and then Nathan whined, “But I don’t want to live over there, Dad, and neither does Samantha.”

I couldn’t believe it.

The asshole was trying to manipulate the kids into moving in with him—even though I knew damn well he didn’t really want them there. He was too busy with his new fiancé and his fancy job to care about where the kids lived. He was just trying to hurt me, but I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.

Nathan sounded truly distraught as he muttered, “Don’t do this, Dad.”

Unable to hold back my anger, I opened the door and found Nathan sitting on his bed, and he looked to be on the verge of tears. And that angered me even more. I extended my hand as I demanded, “Give me the phone.”

“It’s Dad.”

“I know. Now, give me the phone.”

Nathan looked horrified when I took the phone from his hand and stepped out into the hall. I kept my voice low as I hissed, “You have some nerve. I can’t believe you would try to pit the kids against me.”

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