Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
DEREK
Sutton
Good luck today
Not that you’ll need it, but I’m thinking of you
Derek
I love you
I love you, too
See you after?
You couldn’t stop me
I pocket my phone, but not before checking the time. Missy is twenty minutes late. This doesn’t bode well.
People are stuffed in every table at the seaside diner. A jukebox in the corner hums a low tune. The smell of fries hangs heavy in the air.
I fiddle with the straw wrapper of my ice water.
I hate that I’m even here. I thought the last time I saw Missy was going to be the actual last time. She wanted nothing to do with Troy. Was it wrong to throw money at her to get her to leave?
Maybe.
But it’s what she wanted.
Troy was better off without her. I didn’t want him to have a mother who was constantly in and out of his life. A kid needs stability.
Not a parent who has no interest in being there for him.
Chimes from over the door break into my intrusive thoughts. And there she is. Missy’s eyes scan the space before she spots me.
As she walks toward me—no, struts toward me—I give myself a mental pep talk to keep this civil. If not for me, then for Troy. Because maybe if Missy is here, she wants to turn over a new leaf and be there for my son.
Missy drops her bag onto the plastic leather seat and slides in. “Hey. Thanks for agreeing to meet today.”
“You’re late,” I snap.
So much for keeping this civil.
“Really?” She huffs. “I can’t help traffic in this godforsaken city.”
“Hi there,” the waitress interrupts. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Coke, please,” Missy tells her.
Blue eyes stare back at me. Her hair is pulled back in a complicated bun. Probably the reason she was late.
Not sure if she thinks she needs to impress me to make this happen, but after a conversation with my lawyer, he said it’d be better to do this on my terms than get courts involved.
“Are you just going to sit there and stare at me?” she asks as her drink is set in front of her.
“You’re the one who showed up out of the blue, Missy. I’m trying to figure out what you want.”
She rolls her eyes as she stabs her straw on the table to pop it from its paper prison. “I told you. I want to know my son. ”
“Why now? You show up out of the blue on Christmas of all days.”
“It’s only because I knew you’d be home.”
I quirk a brow at her. “You know you could have called, right?”
“And have you decline it? Yeah, like that was an option.”
She’s right, and I hate that she’s right. If she had called, I would have sent her straight to voicemail and never listened to what she had to say.
“So what, you want to be his mom now?” I lean back into the booth and cross my arms over my chest. Almost like I’m protecting myself against whatever she’s going to tell me.
“What’s so wrong with that?” she asks before taking a long sip of her drink.
“You’ve been in and out of his life since he was born. Sorry if I’m skeptical.”
“I’m not a bad person,” Missy tells me. “I’m a free spirit. You can’t tie me down.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better about you playing an active role in your son’s life?”
I take a deep breath and hold it, trying to calm the rage simmering just below the surface. That’s her reasoning for being out of Troy’s life? Fuck that. She told me she was pregnant and I made my son my entire life.
Retired from the NFL.
Moved out of Vegas to be closer to my parents.
Gave him the life that he deserved.
A steady parent surrounded by nothing but love and family, even if it’s only me and my parents.
“Can’t you just give me a chance?” Missy asks. “That’s all I’m asking for. Please.”
“Fine,” I bite out. It’s painful to even be considering this, but I have to if I want to stay in control of this situation. “I’ve got plans on Friday night. My nanny will be there, but why don’t you come over then? ”
“Friday? I have?—”
“Friday night,” I interject. I’m not letting her say when she’s free. “If you really want to be a part of Troy’s life, you’ll be there.”
Missy gives me a clipped nod. “Fine. Friday night then. What do you need from me?”
“I’ll text you the details. Shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll take care of dinner and then you can play with him until bed. Think you can handle that?”
“Sure. Do I need to change his diaper or anything?”
“Christ, Missy. He’s almost five. He hasn’t worn diapers in years.”
“Sorry.” She throws her hands up. “It’s not like I grew up around kids. You don’t have to be so judgmental.”
“Troy is my son. I have to do what’s best for him.”
“If you’re so worried, why won’t you be there?”
“I don’t think me being around would let you get to know Troy.”
“He’s a daddy’s boy?” she asks.
“Damn right he is.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. Until recently, it’s always been me and Troy. “Besides, I’ll be gone for two hours max.”
“Okay.”
His nanny is one of the few people I trust with him, besides my parents. And with them being gone, maybe Troy might open up to Missy more without me there.
God, I hate that I’m entertaining this idea at all.
We were better off without her. I know we were. Is it bad that I’m hoping she’ll get bored and leave in a few weeks? But the only person that hurts is Troy, leaving me to pick up the pieces.
I hate what this woman brings out in me. It puts me back in that place when we first met and I was a person I didn’t really like.
Now that the details have been sorted, I don’t really need to stick around. Pulling my wallet out of my jeans, I grab a twenty and drop it on the table.
“I’ll let you know what time to come over.”
Missy grabs my hand before I can leave. “I appreciate this, Derek.”
“I’ll see you Friday.”
Then I’m out the door, breathing in the salty air. Fuck. I needed that. Every nerve is fried at the thought of letting Troy be with Missy.
But I have to do this.
I only hope it’s not the worst decision I’ve ever made.