Chapter 15 #2
"She was served a temporary one upon release. I’m supposed to go before a judge next week for a permanent one.
I’ve already spoken with the guardian ad litem assigned to Dash.
He did a home visit right after the TPO was filed.
I can hope with this little stunt she goes back inside.
The deputy and my lawyer are going to see what they can do.
Barnes said he’ll also reach out to the guardian ad litem for me. "
“Barnes?” I give him a questioning look.
“He’s my lawyer, but he’s also my uncle,” he answers.
“Oh,” I draw out, nodding.
“Yeah,” he grunts.
“Is there anything else you can do?” I ask.
“Not right now.” The way he grimaces makes me think there’s something else on his mind.
"But?" I don’t want to push, but this is the most he’s talked to me all week, and I don’t want him to shut down.
"Megan is good at getting out of trouble when she wants to. The woman is a master at manipulation when she needs to be. They might just give her a slap on the wrist and a warning since she didn’t get past the gate.
If she had been able to get near Dash, the situation would be different because the order is for him and he wasn’t on the premises. "
I really hated that. Why do women have to be such manipulative bitches sometimes? Seriously, is it so hard for them to be honest and not have to be so conniving about things? Or worse, throw the mother-load temper tantrums when they don't get their way?
Yes, I might pout, I might bitch, but I'd never be devious about getting what I want.
"You know I wouldn't do that to you or Dash?" I blurt out before I could stop the words from spilling out of my mouth.
Tyler's brows furrow and cocks his head slightly. “What?”
“I wouldn’t put you or him through anything like what she put you both through,” I whisper. “I’d never cause any harm to a child.”
"You think I think that?" he asks, one brow cocked.
"I'm not sure what you think," I admit. "But I don't want you to believe I'd do something so vindictive. So vile and hateful. I truly debated about telling you. When you came into my classroom for the open house, I nearly freaked out and let it slip, but that day was all about Dash. And I was scared out of my mind that you wouldn't want them. Even when I came to you and told you, I didn’t think you’d want them. But you had the right to know. They’re a part of you.
I didn't think you'd want anything to do with me, and I was okay with that. I didn't want you to feel as if I was trapping you. I’m not that type of woman. I’d be okay with it if you simply wanted to co-parent together.”
"I don't think you're trying to trap me.
Look, neither of us planned for this, but these kids are coming, and it would be in their best interest if their parents got to know one another before they arrive.
I'm not an easy man, Delaney. My ex, she did a number on me.
Left scars no one sees. I'm no one's first pick when it comes to building a life together.
But we're in this situation, and I think we should give one another a shot.
Take things slow. Get to know one another. "
“I agree. I’m sorry for what your ex did to you and Dash.
For the number she did on you. The scars that people leave behind aren’t easy to live with.
They can be blinding at times. I hate that you don’t see yourself as someone's first pick. But if you think back to that night we shared, it was my choice to go with you. It was my choice to sit with you while we talked at the wedding. You didn’t twist my arm.
There were a lot of guys there, but it was you that I picked.
I didn’t care if we just went somewhere else to talk, I simply enjoyed spending time with you . . .”
“Fuck,” Tyler growls and shifts us so that I’m straddling his waist. “I messed things up with you big time. We’re going to get to know one another. See what happens. I can’t say I won’t fuck things up along the way. I’ve got a shit ton of baggage.
“I have my own baggage.” My lips part on a slow breath. My eyes burn to keep the tears at bay.
"You know what else?" he asks, pulling me in closer.
"What?" I manage to get out, my chest tight, heart racing.
“When Della told us she was going to the hospital because someone attacked you, my only thought at the time was making sure you were okay. I wanted to tell myself that it was about the babies, but it was you. I needed to see with my own eyes that there was still a chance to make things right between us.” His lips were barely a hair's breath from mine. "I'm going to kiss you now."
"Okay," I respond, my lips brushing against his with such a simple word.
Tyler does as he says, taking my mouth so different from the last time he kissed me.
It's sweet. Caring. Gentle. His tongue slides against mine, and I melt into him, my hands coming up to rest on his shoulders.
There's something so tender about this moment that makes my heart ache in the best possible way.
When he finally pulls back, his eyes are dark with emotion, and I can feel my own pulse racing.
"I've been waiting to do that for too damn long. Hell, even before I knew you were pregnant, if I’m being honest," he murmurs, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw.
"You have?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh yeah." He nods and presses another kiss to my lips and rests his forehead against mine.
We sit there in comfortable silence for a moment, the swing still gently rocking beneath us.
The weight of his confession about his ex hangs in the air between us, but somehow it feels like we've crossed a threshold.
He's trusting me with his painful past, and I'm trusting him with my uncertain future.
"So, what happens now?" I ask, my fingers playing with the collar of his shirt. "With her, I mean."
Tyler's expression hardens, the tenderness from moments ago replaced by a protective edge that makes my stomach tighten with worry.
"A report has been filed. However, I doubt anything will happen.
" He shakes his head. "The deputy who was here, he's a newbie.
Not someone familiar with her, but he seemed genuine.
My lawyer's going to look into what he can do.
Contact her probation officer. See if he can't get her probation revoked. "
"But what's stopping her from coming back?" I question, understanding dawning on me. "She's already proven she doesn't care about protection orders by coming here."
"No, she doesn't. It's always been about what she wants and when." His jaw clenches. "I'm going to get some cameras installed today. We’ve got them all around the ranch and Maddox’s, but I haven’t gotten to putting any up around here yet. I’ve got them in the hall closet, so I'll do that before going to pickup Dash from school. That way, if she does show up again and gets past the gate, I have proof. I doubt she can get past the gate, she’s not smart enough to do that, but who knows what she’ll try. I’m just going to be on the cautious side of things. '"
The swing creaks as he shifts, his arm tightening around me. I can feel the tension radiating from him, the way his body has gone rigid against mine.
"I need you to promise me something," he says, his voice low and serious.
"What's that?" I ask, searching his gaze, like that will give me the answer to all the questions swirling around in my head.
"If she shows up here or anywhere you are, you get away from her and call me immediately.
The school knows she's not allowed to pick him up.
She's not on any of his paperwork. They have a copy of the TPO and will have the PPO when it’s granted.
Dash doesn't know her. He doesn't ask about her, hasn’t seen pictures of her, and I don't want her to see him.
It'll only confuse him, and he's still too young to understand what's happening. "
I nod, understanding the gravity of his request. "I'll call you," I promise. "But I don't know what she looks like."
His eyes search mine, looking for any hesitation, any sign that I might not take this seriously. I hold his gaze steadily, wanting him to see that I'm not going to be reckless.
"You'll know it's Megan because she will make sure you know it's her, but she's got dark brown hair, taller than you, and wears way too much makeup. She's dangerous, Delaney. Not just to me, but to anyone she thinks is taking her place. Taking what she deems hers."
The way he says it sends a chill down my spine. "I understand."
Tyler's phone buzzes in his pocket, breaking the intensity of the moment. He pulls it out, glancing at the screen.
"It's Barnes," he says, standing up from the swing while keeping one hand on my waist to steady me as I stand too. "I need to take this."
"Okay. You take it. I'm going to go inside and make myself something to eat."
"Wait for me. I’ll help."
I let out a sigh and nod. With all that he's shared and put up with already today, I'm not going to argue with him on this at least for the time being.