Chapter 6 Liam
LIAM
My breath clouded in front of my face as I watched my best friend glower at me. He was pissed, and I guess he had every right to be, but he didn’t get it. He of all people should, but he didn’t.
“You can’t treat her like that,” Colson said, taking a step closer.
This was bullshit. I had heard the way he talked about Haley. On more than a few occasions when he’d drink until he couldn’t think straight. He’d go off about the sister he never wanted. The girl who ruined his life. Yet here he was, protecting her.
But, she didn’t need protecting, did she?
She understood my panic, and that was odd for me.
Most people didn’t get it…not the teachers, when they couldn’t place where my kid was if I randomly showed up to pick them up.
Not their doctors, who didn’t understand why I was so adamant that they not allow Lacey to call and ask about her kids records.
No one understood this fear that rattled my chest and tore at my soul on a regular basis.
No one got that it was like fighting in the ring: A darkness clouded my vision, and survival kicked in, making it to where no one else but my kids mattered.
Somehow Haley understood.
I glanced back toward Nora’s house on instinct, unsure how I would go about fixing this. That hug and the sad way she pulled away from me tugged at my chest. I owed her an apology.
“I know.” I swallowed, looking down. “I’m sorry…it won’t happen again.”
Colson flicked his gaze to my car where my girls were waiting, and he seemed to soften.
“You know I would never let anything happen to them.”
I nodded, I did know that, but… “You’re busy right now, distracted, and at the end of the day, it’s not you who has to worry about them. Not completely. You love them, but I’m the one who keeps them safe. It’s on me if something happens.”
I had to get home. I needed to calm down, hug my girls, and get reassurance that they were okay.
Stepping away from my friend, I waved him off. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
With one last glance at the door that swallowed Haley up, I got into my truck.
“Daddy, why are you so mad?” Mila was the first to ask, always chomping at the bit.
Maddy turned around from her spot in front to scold her little sister, but Seraph beat her to the punch.
“Yeah, what did Haley do wrong? We heard you yelling at her.” Seraphina asked, sounding guarded. Seraph was the easiest going out of the group, and it took a lot to get her interested or upset about something.
Shit, I had my work cut out for me. I had fucked up in a big way.
“Nothing. She didn’t do anything. Daddy just had a bad day.”
The silence stretched as I navigated the streets.
We lived just a few blocks from Colson, so it didn’t take long to pull into our driveaway.
I helped the girls out of the car and couldn’t help noticing once again that their hair all looked silky and shiny, like Haley’s always did.
Once we were inside, the girls kicked their boots off and shed their coats.
“So…what did you do today?” I asked, trying to fix what I’d messed up.
Each one of my girls was somber and seemed sad, their faces drawn in tight, heads lowered as they fixated on putting their stuff away. Which they never did…
“Come on, guys, I’m sorry…talk to me,” I begged, loosening the tie I’d been wearing all goddammed day.
Maddy finally huffed and looked up at me. “She took us to a fancy spa. They washed our hair, gave us fluffy robes—”
“Painted our faces!” Mila joined in, talking over Maddy.
Seraph added, “We got to wear cucumbers on our eyes, it was cool.”
Wow…she had to have spent a fortune.
“Then we ate lunch, and it was so cool!” Maddy regained the conversation, eyeing her sisters, daring them to interrupt again.
Seraph ignored Maddy’s warning. “There was a fountain, and this view of Mount Macon that was really pretty, and she gave us money to make wishes!”
I tucked my boots under the bench near the door. I had worn nicer shoes in the meetings, but honestly it didn’t make a lick of difference with how those men saw me.
Not a safe bet.
Too much of a risk.
“Wow, sounds like you had fun.”
“Haley’s nice. She doesn’t act like she only likes us for your sake. She’s not like those other women you’ve made us meet.”
Those little ball busters. They meant their other babysitters.
Unless I found a high schooler looking for some cash, which was rare, I had to find someone older, and usually whoever I found wanted to date me.
Honestly, I’d indulge in a few dates, and as shameful as it was, I did it because I wanted them to keep babysitting.
My girls always saw through it every time.
“But Haley doesn’t talk about you. She cares about us.
She cares that we have nice hair and eat near fountains, she let us throw in all the coins in her purse even though we weren’t supposed to throw in any at all.
So, all the wishes belong to us.” Of course, the one girl who didn’t want anything to do with me would treat my kids like they were her own.
Fucking figured.
Mila ran upstairs and emerged a few seconds later with her blanket.
I knew she had to be tired. Once she was snuggled on the couch and the other two had set up a movie, I grabbed myself a beer and began hunting for dinner ideas.
I had no idea what to make. Nothing was thawed out, and the kids had that big fancy lunch.
I didn’t want to follow that up with macaroni and cheese, but it didn’t look like I had much of anything else.
Just as I was about to set the hot water on the stove, a knock sounded at the front door.
“I’ll get it,” Maddy yelled, running down the hall until her hand just barely wrapped around the knob. Right as she was about to pull it open, I placed my hand on the frame above her head and stared down at her.
“Remember?”
Rolling her eyes, she released the handle and slid away from the door. “You need to answer it after dark.”
“Yes, now go sit down.”
Maddy skulked back a few feet, but her gaze was still fixed on the door.
It made my stomach clench. I didn’t think she even realized she did it.
Whenever there was a knock on the door, especially in the evening, she would watch and wring her fingers together.
Subconsciously I thought maybe she was expecting her mother to show up.
It didn’t seem to matter how often I told her I would never let her back in, or that she never had to worry again, she was still afraid.
I swung the door open and froze on the spot.
Wearing a tiny scowl, Haley stood on my porch in a white coat that looked soft and molded to her frame so perfectly. I wondered if it was designed for her. Before I could even invite her in, she shoved past me.
“I just wanted to bring these for the girls. The hairdresser gave them to us, along with this spray stuff to help detangle their hair.”
The girls all crowded around her as I secured the door.
“What’s in the bag?” I couldn’t help but ask. She had four large containers stuffed inside a plastic grocery bag, dangling from her arm.
Haley’s gaze swiveled to mine, just as she began pulling each girl in for a quick hug.
“Here. The girls had leftovers.” Her blank expression made something pull in my gut.
Pride was a fickle thing, hardening my heart, but I forced it down as I accepted the bag.
Haley wouldn’t meet my eyes.
Once my kids took their containers to the table, Haley spun on her heel, facing me. Her green eyes narrowed as she stepped away. I followed suit until we were in the foyer, away from little ears listening in.
Clearing my throat, I decided to just pull the Band-Aid off.
“Look, about earlier—I shouldn’t have yelled at you. It was an overreaction…”
I couldn’t really dive into it much deeper because Haley was still a stranger. She didn’t need to see everything under the surface. She’d run if she knew how fucking deep and messy all this shit was. Didn’t change the fact that I owed her an apology.
Firming up her delicate jaw, she lifted that chin and glared.
“Thank you for the apology, but you owe me one for what you said before you left, too.”
What was she talking about?
“I didn’t say anythi—”
She took two steps closer, her pouty pink lips curved upward like she was about to enjoy this. “I don’t believe in holding on to grudges or staying mad. I think it’s a waste of time. I also don’t believe in misunderstandings. So let me be clear.”
Her hair hit her waist as she tilted her head back.
“I am rich, but I earned every fucking penny. I will not be treated less than because you’re too insecure to accept that I have money. It doesn’t make me a bad person that I was born into it. Men like you will not make me feel like I’m not worth your time simply because you’re a dick.”
Jesus. I—
“And I am not too delicate for self-defense. I like yoga, but I need someone to train me to defend myself against a man twice my size. If that’s not you then fine, just say so, but don’t ever try and make me feel like I can’t fit into your world simply because mine is made of gold and yours is currently being held together by duct tape. ”
Her green eyes took on a determined sheen, and there was this swirling happening in my gut.
No woman—fuck, no person—has ever put me in my place like she just did.
It felt exhilarating… like a spark just landed in a dry forest full of dead trees.
Like I’ve been waiting for the right person who could not only make me burn but withstand the heat.
I was so awestruck, I hadn’t even noticed that she’d sidestepped me and was nearly out the door. Regaining composure, I quickly walked after her, tugging the door and trailing on her heels in my socks.
“Haley.”
Her hair bounced, shifting against her back as she stalked to her SUV.
“Wait!” I finally caught up and tugged her hand until she faced me.
I wasn’t even sure what I would say once I caught her, but now that burning…that roaring in my chest created more clarity than I’ve had in a really long time. I dropped her hand like it was made of that fire.
“Do you want to do this”—I waved between us—“watch the girls, I mean…?”
Out here, in the dark, it was difficult to make out her expression. The streetlight only provided the most basic of features, and the cloud in front of her face hid the rest. I wanted to pull her closer so I could catch the glint in her eye and see if those pouty lips had thinned.
“Like on a regular basis?”
Nodding, I stepped closer because I couldn’t stand the space.
“Yeah, whatever you want. You’d help with getting them to school.
I mean, there’s no pressure…basically just helping me with them.
You’d be the first person I call when I need a babysitter.
You could pick them up after school. I work every day from eight to six, sometimes later depending on what’s going on, but if that’s too much for you then I—"
“You can’t pay me.” She said it almost like she was reminding me, ensuring it wasn’t something I would offer.
The tightening in my stomach was pure fire. I hated this. I fucking loathed it, but she was right. I couldn’t treat her like she couldn’t be in my world simply because I was insecure.
“I’m offering a trade.”
That seemed to pique her interest. Her head tilted the smallest bit, and I quickly made my offer while she seemed in a listening mood.
“I’ll teach you self-defense. Once a week.”
“Three times a week,” she countered with a twitch of her lips.
Her nose was getting red from the cold. My feet were numb, and I didn’t have a coat. But fuck if I cared.
I stepped closer, and at this point it wasn’t really appropriate. There wasn’t any space left between us, but she didn’t shy back.
“Two.” Why exactly was I trying to get less time with her?
Because she’s too young and way too beautiful.
“Deal!” Her hand jutted out and a brilliant smile spread across her face.
I took her hand and closed mine over it, sealing a deal I hoped I wouldn’t regret.