Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
LIAM
The only thing that’s saved me from a huge blowout fight with George is his having no idea where I live. Cici has been making it to school and back without incident, which in itself is a little sad.
Mom and George can’t be bothered to try and pick her up. If they wanted their daughter back and truly cared, they’d be there every day, fighting to get her back. They may not care, but I do.
I idle in the pickup line, drumming my fingers on the steering wheel.
Liv’s honey and vanilla scent lingers on my skin, comforting and warm.
She’s taken to Cici better than I could have ever hoped.
The two of them have already developed that special girl code with shared looks and smiles that I still don’t understand.
The bell rings, and seconds later, kids flood out of the school, as if they can’t escape fast enough.
I smile to myself, searching for Cici’s familiar face.
I spot her in the middle of a group of friends, head thrown back and arms wrapped around her middle as she laughs, so carefree. As she should be.
The cars start to move, and by the time I get to the front, she’s said her goodbyes and bounds over to the passenger side. She hops in, smiling and eyes alight with happiness.
“Hey!”
“How was school?”
She buckles up. “Good. We had an assembly today, and the principal’s pants fell down.” She snorts, slaps her hands over her mouth, and loses it.
The image makes me chuckle. “How did that happen?”
She trembles with laughter. “I . . . I . . .” She gasps for air, giggling uncontrollably.
I side-eye her. “Are you going to make it?”
Nodding, she takes a breath. “I don’t know, but he was across the stage and they fell. He had—” She pauses, fighting another bout of laughter. “Ketchup bottle boxers.”
“Poor dude.” I shake my head.
It’s another minute before she gets ahold of herself, clearing her throat even as another giggle escapes. “What did you do today?”
“I worked, met with a lawyer.” I pause, wondering whether I should tell her and ruin her day or wait to tell her another day.
“What?”
“George was officially summoned to court.” I shoot her a worried look, but she’s stronger than I gave her credit for.
At first, she was heartbroken. I’ve had the uncomfortable experience of my sweet and gentle sister hardening.
Witnessing some of her innocence disappear, thanks to that fucking sperm donor.
I clear my throat and continue, coming to a stop at the light.
“Josh and Lalo were wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner tonight. We don’t have to if—”
“I want to,” she says quickly. She’s been talking to them on the phone, and they took her out for ice cream the other day.
“How do you feel about them getting custody?” We’ve discussed it, but part of me is worried she thinks I’m pawning her off. I’m not. I just . . . she has two other dads.
“Great,” she says, squeezing my arm. “They’re my dads, Liam. Our dads.”
“I know,” I tell her. “You could live with us in a heartbeat if that’s what you wanted.”
Her nose wrinkles. “And deal with your budding romance? As cute as it is, it’s also nauseating.” She shudders. “And Liv is about to go into heat.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Omega, remember?” She points to herself. “Trust me. It’s happening soon.”
I nod. “Okay, oh wise one.”
She jabs me with her elbow. “Shut up.”
“No, you shut up,” I say, making my voice high and tight.
“You’re insufferable.” She rolls her eyes.
“Love you too, sis.”
“Yeah, yeah. Love you too.” She’s trying hard to sound like she doesn’t care, but her voice softens on those three words. “So, dinner with our dads?”
I nod. “Yup! At your favorite restaurant.”
That gets her going. Cici starts planning what she’s going to eat, talking so fast it’s hard for me to keep up, but after seeing her with her friends, seeing how she’s handling herself, I know Cici is going to be all right.
So long as George doesn’t get custody.
Quartino Ristorante is always busy, especially with it being by Navy Pier, but tonight there are a couple of large parties. The already lively atmosphere is a riot of noise, laughter, pizza, and pasta.
Cici sits next to me at the booth, across from Josh and Lalo, who look exactly the same as they did ten years ago and yet older all at once. Cici’s been chattering about school and her friends, filling them in on everything they need to know. I admire her ability to simply forgive and move on.
I’m still holding on to some frustration.
I know it’s not healthy. Trying to release my annoyance, I take a sip of my water, watching the waitress place the pizza we ordered on the stand in the middle of the table.
Josh and Lalo were trying. They made the best of a shitty situation.
They were there for all my big moments. Maybe it’s unfair to be mad that they weren’t always there, considering George had a court order and full custody.
Lalo catches the furrow of my brow. “How about you, Li? How’s the job going?”
“Good. I’m managing a few accounts on my own and taking on more responsibility. My boss thinks I’m on track to move up to senior manager in the next year or so.”
Lalo beams at me. “That’s amazing. You’ve worked so hard to stand on your own. I hope you know how proud we are.”
“So proud,” Josh cuts in. “I tell all my golf buddies about you, and I can tell they’re jealous. Their kids are too busy wasting their trust funds to get serious about a career, but not my son. My son has drive.”
My throat is suddenly thick. “Thanks, Dad.” The nature of them being my dads has been a sore subject ever since the custody case. George was vicious, tried to destroy our relationships, but they didn’t give up. “How’s the gardening going?”
“More like not going,” Lalo says with a laugh.
Josh gives him a look. “I got some tomatoes this year.”
“Two, and they were rotten.” Lalo shakes his head. “His green thumb is broken.”
Cici perks up. “I can help garden! I took care of a bamboo plant . . .” She trails off. “But it’s probably going to die now,” she finishes softly, features pinching.
Lalo and Josh both reach across the table for her hands. “We’ll get you as many bamboo plants as you want.”
She smiles and sniffs. “Thanks.”
“So,” Josh hedges, “is that an omega I scent?” He arches his eyebrows.
“Probably some whore,” a gruff voice sounds, sending dread through my entire body. Fucking George. How did he know we were here? More importantly, who the fuck does he think he is calling my omega a whore?
“Watch your mouth, old man.”
George’s fake tan has sunk into his wrinkles, making him look like a creepy tangerine. “Or what?” he demands, glancing at my sister. “You left without saying goodbye.”
Cici fidgets. “Uh, sorry?”
I place my hand on her back. “You don’t have to apologize to him.” Glaring at George, I lower my voice. “Does your lawyer know you’re here?” Thanks to some of Josh’s connections, we have an expedited hearing with the judge.
“I thought I could come join the celebration.” He starts to take his seat next to Cici, forcing her to scoot over into me or get squashed beneath him.
She hides it well, but with her sitting so close, I catch the way she trembles as he settles into his seat.
My hackles rise. “You’re intruding and need to leave.”
He scoffs. “Don’t be silly.” George smirks at his former packmates. “You two look geriatric.”
“Still an asshole, I see,” Lalo growls.
“George, you need to leave,” Josh demands, alpha bark crashing into me and Cici, who cringes. Josh shoots her a worried look. “Shit, sorry, C.”
“Cussing in front of my daughter.”
“Please don’t fight,” Cici begs, wringing her hands, and I wrap my arm around her shoulder protectively.
“You’re scaring her,” I tell my sperm donor. “Is that any way to win custody?”
He rolls his eyes. “She’s being dramatic. What she heard was only a joke, no harm in it.”
Lalo leans across the table. “What exactly is funny about arranging her mating?”
“What do you care? She’s not even your daughter.”
Lalo shakes his head. “She’s always been my daughter, ever since the day she was born.” He nods at Cici, letting her know she’s okay, but she still presses into my side, trying to get away from George.
George notices and releases a warning growl. “What? Are you scared of me now?” he shouts.
“I–I–”
“You, you,” he mocks. “She’s lucky I’m finding her a pack! She can’t even fucking speak without stuttering.”
The waitress appears, eyeing George and the rest of us like we’re schoolchildren in need of correcting. “Is everything okay here?”
“You tell me,” George says, gesturing to all of us. “These three are trying to steal my daughter from me.”
“She doesn’t want to live with you anymore,” I counter.
“Like hell. Cici. You want to live with me, right, sweetheart?” His alpha bark is subtle, but I feel it crawling over my skin.
Cici’s lips slam together and her eyes water as she fights his command.
“Don’t answer,” Josh commands.
“Stop using your alpha barks on her!” I snap.
Cici sniffs and I curse, looking at the waitress. “You have the tab?”
She nods. “You’re all set. Do you want any boxes?
” Cici was so excited for the food, but my main priority is getting her out of here, far away from this pissing match.
The waitress senses my dilemma and grabs a to-go box from a passing busboy.
“Here, I’ll pack the pizza for you.” She picks up the pan without a glove, sliding the pie into the cardboard container and giving George a scowl that would make weaker alphas cower.
“Sir, if you’re not a patron, you need to leave. ”
George scoffs. “Excuse me?”
“I’ll have to call the cops if you don’t get up in the next three seconds.” She hands me the pizza. “I hope you have a good night,” she murmurs to Cici.
“This is ridiculous.” George’s voice carries through the main room, but he stands up anyway, at least having enough sense to not get arrested. “Tell your boss he’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”