Chapter 6 #3
“I’m hoping it won’t get that far, Son,” I murmured. “Kennedy also asked me to speak to you. If your dad calls and tries to involve you in all this, would you be okay with telling me? I just need you to take a screenshot of the call log with the date and time stamp so I can pass it on to Kennedy.”
“Why?” Gabby asked.
“It would be inappropriate for him to try and involve you in our beef, Gabs,” I explained. “If he does, we need to know so we can stop it. I’m not saying you can’t speak to him, guys; you know I’d never do that. It just wouldn’t be right for him to engage you in any details of the case.”
“He tried to call me and Gabby this afternoon,” DJ told me. “We declined his calls.”
I shrugged. “You’re both old enough to decide who you speak to, but please remember he’s your dad and he loves you.
I know he comes at things sideways sometimes, but I think you should give him a chance to sort out his living arrangements with Rachel before you make any big decisions.
Kennedy’s going to write and request that she’s not at the house when you visit.
” My eyes rested on my daughter’s pretty face.
“What she said to you wasn’t okay, Gabs.
Nobody has the right to speak to you that way, not even an adult. Especially not an adult.”
“I know,” she murmured. “And I know I’m not fat or a bitch.”
“You’re beautiful,” I told her. “But you’re also more than just a pretty face. You’re sweet, smart, and kind. I lucked out when God gave me you, and it broke my heart that you were spoken to that way by an adult whose job should have been to protect you.”
“I don’t care what Rachel says,” she assured me. “But I was hurt when Daddy didn’t have my back.”
My heart dropped. “I’m sorry, Gabs. That disappointed me, too.”
“He’s a fucking dick,” DJ muttered.
“Stop saying fucking,” I admonished gently, before adding, “And stop saying dick.”
He let out a snort.
Gabby’s downcast eyes lifted, and she murmured, “I’ve decided that I don’t want to talk to Daddy for a few days. He upset me when he took Rachel's side, so I think I should have some space from him.”
“He might be calling to apologize,” I pointed out.
She gave me a look that conveyed she thought I’d gone and lost my mind. “Doubtful, Mom. He never apologizes because he always thinks he’s right.”
I opened my mouth to defend Evan, the same way I automatically did every time he fucked up, but I stopped myself.
Donovan had made a good point the night before.
It was time to stop making excuses for my ex-husband.
DJ and Gabby’s feelings about their dad’s behavior were valid, and they were entitled to them.
It wasn’t my job to keep defending Evan and smoothing things over between him and his kids.
It was his job to stop screwing up with them.
Life wasn’t always rainbows and unicorns.
Protecting my kids when they were younger was the right thing to do, but to keep shielding them from the shittier side of their dad meant they weren’t learning how to deal with him.
Plus, while I was running interference, Evan wasn’t learning to communicate with his kids, either.
I gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze. “It’s up to you, Gabby; you’re not a baby anymore. If your dad upset you, then you’ve got every right to deal with it your way.”
DJ’s lips quirked. “Aren’t you gonna try to convince us to give him another chance?”
“I can’t keep defending your dad, Son. He has to take responsibility for his own actions.”
“Hallelujah,” DJ muttered. “Finally, she sees the light.”
I gave him ‘the look’ and advised him, “Don’t get fresh, Son.”
“Sorry,” he said quietly. “It’s just that you’ve always defended him, but he’s never deserved it.
After what he did and the way he fucked you over, he doesn’t deserve it.
He doesn’t treat any of us right, and I’m kinda over it.
I’ve been over it for years. I only go see him so I can be there for Gabs and because you’ve always encouraged it. ”
“He’s still your dad,” I stated. “And don’t say fuck.”
“Yeah, he is our dad,” my boy concurred. “But he’s also a narcissistic know-it-all who doesn’t put us first. Not like you do.”
“DJ’s right,” Gabby agreed. “I love Daddy, but sometimes he is a dick.”
“Lord,” I murmured, looking up to the heavens. “Now both of my kids are cussing, and about their father no less. Jesus, save me, I’ve raised two thugs.”
“Mom,” DJ admonished. “Stop being a dork.”
“I like it when you’re a dork,” Gabby told me. “You’re funny.”
I raised an eyebrow at my son. “See? I’m funny when I’m a dork.”
“You’re a dork when you’re a dork,” he muttered. “It’s okay when we’re alone in the house, but don’t do it in public. Don’t want any of my honeys to think I’m from a long line of lunatics.”
“Well, you are.” I leaned to the side and planted a big, sloppy, gooey lip gloss kiss on his cheek.
“Jesus,” he bit out, swiping his face.
I laughed.
“What time’s Donovan picking you up?” Gabby asked.
I checked the kitchen clock on the wall. “Five minutes ago. He should be here anytime now.” I looked at my kids in turn. “Are you guys good? Any questions for me?”
“I’m okay,” Gabby assured me. “I’m gonna take a break from Dad though.”
“That’s your choice.” I smiled, my eyes veering to DJ. “How about you, Son?”
“I’ll play it by ear,” he said decidedly. “But I don’t think I’ll be taking his calls anytime soon.”
“Again, your choice,” I told him. “But remember, if it gets too much, come to me. We can talk about anything. You both know that, right?”
A text came through on DJ’s phone, and he picked it up, his mind already elsewhere. “Yeah. We know.”
Gabby gestured toward the couch. “Can I finish my movie now?”
I took my phone from my purse to check my messages in case Donovan had texted me and replied, “Of course, baby.” Glancing at the clock again, I could see it was almost ten past seven, and Donovan hadn’t tried to contact me either.
A heavy feeling slid through me, and a dark voice in the back of my mind whispered, He’s not coming.
I knew I was being stupid; Donovan would never stand me up. That would be the biggest asshole move in the history of asshole moves and pretty unforgivable in my book. I was being paranoid; surely he’d be here any second?
My stare seemed to be glued to the clock as I watched the minute hand move to fifteen past the hour, then twenty, and then thirty, all the while becoming painfully aware of my kids’ furtive glances toward each other and pitying looks.
Over the following hour, my face became more heated and my embarrassment more acute. I kept reaching for my phone, checking for messages. Then I wondered if something had cropped up, but surely, he would have called me?
With every second that ticked by, my stomach sank a little more. I sat there in front of my children, all dressed up, feeling humiliated for almost an hour before I finally threw away the last ounce of pride I possessed and typed out a message to Donovan.
Hey. You’re late. Are we still going out?
I stared down at my phone, willing it to ring, but it didn’t. I checked the message I’d just sent and noticed that it never delivered, which meant Donovan had either switched his phone off or he’d blocked me.
Either way, it spoke volumes. I wasn’t an idiot; I’d been around the block a time or two, so I knew that no man ever ghosted a woman he was interested in, and he certainly didn’t stand her up without even a message of explanation.
Donovan’s lack of communication told me everything I needed to know, and it made the pit of my stomach churn because, just for a while there, he’d made me feel special.
My cell suddenly pealed and my heart leaped. I made a grab for the phone, my hopes soaring until I looked at the caller display and they quickly sank again.
It was Tristan.
I connected the call while sliding down from the stool and making my way into the hallway, murmuring, “Hi.”
“Gabby just messaged me,” my friend snapped.
“I’m on my way over, and I’m bringing Magic Mike One and Magic Mike Two with me.
If Mike, Dallas, The Kid, and Big Dick Richie can’t make you smile again, I’ll stand there and goddamned strip for you myself, and I’m telling ya, girl, Jagger’s got nothing on my moves. ”
I half giggled half sobbed down the phone.
“Don’t you cry over a pig who’s not worth it,” Tristan rasped, his tone full of fire.
“I’m crying because you’re fucking amazing.”
“Ditto,” my friend replied fiercely. “See you in ten.”
I ended the call and a soft hand slipped into mine. “Love you, Momma,” Gabby whispered.
Smiling, I looked down at my daughter. “I love you too. Thanks for looking out for me.”
“Huddle,” DJ demanded, pulling me and Gabby close. “We don’t need anyone, right? We all look out for each other.”
“Right,” I agreed.
“Are you okay?” Gabby asked.
“Yeah,” I replied. “I just feel a bit stupid.”
“It’s him who’s stupid,” my boy snarked. “He’s a fucking idiot.”
I gazed at Gabby’s earnest face, and my eyes slid to DJ, taking in his angry expression.
Leaning toward my girl, I kissed the top of her head, then I reached a hand up to my son’s face and touched his jaw before drawling, “How many times do I have to goddamned tell you, DJ? Stop saying fuck.”