Chapter 7
PRESLEY
I stare at my phone intently, reading the short conversation over and over again.
If you can call this a conversation. Because I can only think of one thing in response.
He did not just fucking say that…
Except he did. I can see the words right there on my screen.
I’ve mocked up some ideas for the stranger danger series. When are you available to go over it?
Jace
Just email them to me
We really need to discuss the whole series. Which ideas you like, which ones you don’t.
I have a couple really fun ideas for the first set of videos. I’ve been keeping an eye on some of the trends and there are a couple that I think would lend themselves well to this project.
Jace
If you keep an eye on the trends as well as you do your kid, I’m not sure I trust this
I blink, hoping that the movement of my eyelids will erase his comment. It doesn’t. Those words are still there.
And I still don’t have a response.
Because how does one respond to that? Other than telling him to fuck off, but that I can’t do. He’s an executive for this company, and I need this job. Not to mention, I pride myself on being professional, and telling a colleague to go fuck themselves is the exact opposite of professional.
I’m sure Jace would have some smart-ass response locked and loaded for that anyway. Probably one telling me that if I had done just that, I wouldn’t have ended up the world’s worst mother. Something Jace Hayes clearly believes that I am.
Someday I hope he ends up with a kid who is not only a runner, but a biter. Then we’ll see how he deals with small humans, their big personalities, and their very short attention spans. Oh, and the judgment of everyone around him on why he can’t control said small human.
Because there is nothing quite like those looks from strangers.
My thumbs hover over the screen, my brain trying to figure out what to reply. I’m not fast enough on the draw though, another text appearing right below his last. And this one is just as snarky. Maybe more so.
Jace
Or maybe that’s why he was able to escape, because you were watching videos
Oh, fuck him. It’s like he’s just purposely trying to be an ass now.
There are so many things I want to say. So, so many. All of which I’m going to keep to myself. All while repeatedly reminding myself that we don’t say the inside thoughts out loud.
Instead, I go with the most passive-aggressive thing I can think of.
I apologize for not being as perfect as you are. It must be very tough living a life where nothing ever goes wrong.
Never said I was perfect
No, just that you’re a better parent, even though you have exactly zero experience. You’re not even an uncle.
And yet, I had no problem getting your kid to hold on to me so he didn’t run away, unlike you
Steam bellows from my ears, like an old-school cartoon. I bet if I looked in the mirror, my face would be as red as a fire engine as well. There might as well be freight train noises emitting from me as I huff through my nose.
Jace Hayes has to be the most infuriating man on this planet.
And I say that as a woman who has spent the last three years in court with her ex.
More importantly though, I need to respond. I can’t let him get in the last word. Especially when those are the words in question. Snark is not my strong suit, however. Light, fluffy, cute—that’s my wheelhouse. Warm and fuzzy is my vibe.
One more thing that made me an easy target in high school.
It took me way too long to learn to stand up for myself. Actually, I’m still not great at that. It’s Otis who I learned to defend first. Who I will always defend—with every last fiber of my being.
Including now. Via defending my parenting skills.
You keep believing that
The higher the horse, the harder the fall, Jace. And I hope you land on concrete
There. That was sufficiently unkind. And should hopefully make him shut up.
Or at least be able to return to the matter at hand—getting this project going.
My outline maps out an entire schedule for the rest of the fall, incorporating the holidays and other big events kids and families have coming up. But that means we need to get moving.
Jace
At least I didn’t cheat my way into the saddle
That’s it. The gloves are coming off. I don’t care who he thinks he is or if his last name is Hayes. I’m not putting up with this. If I get fired, I get fired. I can find another job.
“Mama!”
My thoughts are interrupted by my baby’s sweet voice, startling me enough to drop my phone.
I look up, smiling as I watch him run through the front door of our little cottage, my father right behind him.
The sight of the two of them calms me instantly, my insides easing, reminding me what’s most important.
“Hey buddy,” I greet, pushing up from the couch and letting my papers scatter to the floor. I scoop Otis up, twirling him around as I hold him close, inhaling his sweet scent. “Did you have a good day at school?”
“Yup.” He nods, his eyes lighting up. “We played Play-Doh and had cock porn.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, holding back my laughter.
Someday, Otis will learn to properly pronounce popcorn, and I will be very sad.
But today is not that day. Until then, I’m going to giggle incessantly to myself every time he says cock porn.
While simultaneously hoping that he never asks for it in public.
My father isn’t as good at hiding his reaction, his deep chuckle slipping through, stealing Otis’s attention.
“Paps like cock porn too!”
I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in with that statement. My father’s eyes go wide, face turning beet red as his eyes meet mine. He speaks Otis as well as anyone on this planet, but that doesn’t stop anyone from unhearing that last declaration.
“I do like popcorn,” Dad says, emphasizing the proper pronunciation.
“I go play trains?” Otis asks, wiggling in my arms.
I nod, lowering him to the ground, and he’s off before I can blink. The soft sounds of his little feet pounding on the hardwood floor fill the air, making my heart squeeze.
“Thanks for picking him up,” I say.
“Did you finish your project?”
I turn, looking at the mess of papers covering the sofa and area rug around it. Sorta…
I shrug, making a face. “I got the timeline complete, but I still need to work on getting it implemented.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it.”
He kisses my cheek, squeezing me tight, like I’m still a little girl. I suppose to him, I am still his little girl. Same way Otis will always be my baby boy, even after he starts to tower over me and sprouts facial hair. Two things I hope are a long, long way off.
Picking my phone back up, I reread Jace’s last text. The perfect response comes to me in a flash.
Same. I rode bareback until I earned mine.
There.
Jace
Pretty sure there’s a dirty joke in there
His response takes me by surprise. Is he being…funny? Flirty?
No, I’m imagining it. Because I can’t let myself go there. I can’t flirt with Jace. No matter how many fantasies I have about such a thing. That’s all they are. Fantasies about a cheesy made-for-TV movie coming true. Ones I need to save for later, after bedtime.
Please send me your availability next week for us to start reviewing the timeline.
Jace
I’m out of town until next Wednesday afternoon teaching Self-Defense 101 classes on campuses up in VA
Okay, then I will put something on the calendar for Thursday or Friday
Fine
There, was that so hard?
I smile to myself, tapping out a reminder message to get something scheduled for next week. It’s later than I had hoped, but this will give me some more time to come up with fun ideas. Maybe even create the templates I’ve envisioned.
My phone buzzes again, and I look down, confused by Jace’s name. Our conversation is finished. What else is there to say?
Jace
What do you call a horse that can’t lose?
Is he serious? I suppose a better question is did he really mean to send this to me. I’m almost afraid to reply, not sure I want to know the answer to this.
What?
Sherbet
I giggle, my hand covering my mouth almost instantly as I realize my reaction. Because the last thing I need is for Jace to be charming.