Chapter 11
Bronson
Dominik – If you're done fucking around, she’s going out on a date at Giovanni’s.
Me – What do you mean?
Dominik – You know what I mean, brother.
Dominik – You don’t do something, and I mean soon, you're going to lose your shot.
Me – I don’t know what you're talking about.
Dominik – Right. Like, I don’t watch you any time some other fucker looks at Lila for longer than necessary.
Me – Fuck.
Dominik – Yeah.
I sighed.
Then I sat there... and rubbed my hands down my face.
And like a shot from a bullet, it hit me.
I was being fucking stupid.
Her smiles.
Her body.
Her heart.
Her mind.
The way she was with my kids.
... the way she was with my kids.
She was the best woman I had ever met.
And if I didn’t pull my head out of my ass... I might have taken too many blows to the head, but I was far from stupid.
I stood up, tagged my keys, and called out, “I’m going out for a bit.”
I didn’t wait for my kids to say anything.
I prowled to my bike, something that I hadn’t ridden in a while, climbed on, started it up, and roared down the driveway.
***
I watched as Lila moved across the restaurant, and that was when I noticed the man at her back.
The man who had his hand on her lower back.
I ground my teeth together so hard that I felt a molar chip.
Fucking. Hell.
I sat there as I watched her sit down, then he took the seat across from her.
And when she smiled at him, it took everything I had in me not to flip this table over and storm across the restaurant.
Those were my smiles, goddamnit.
It was high time I got off my ass and did something about it.
Therefore... I planned.
Meanwhile...
Squirrel Text Thread
Cole – What are we going to do?
Madalyn – I don’t know, but we have to do something.
Cole – She’s going to walk away.
Madalyn – *gasp* How do you know that?
Cole – Heard her talking to Everly.
Madalyn – Crap.
Madalyn – Okay, what do you think we should do?
Cole – Talk to Dad?
Madalyn – We have to, because I view her as my mom.
Cole – Same.
Bronson
“Dad, you got a minute?” Cole asked as he entered the gym, I had set up in the basement followed by Madalyn.
I looked at them, took in the looks on their faces, and nodded.
They both walked over to me, where I was on the bench press.
“It’s about Lila,” Cole shared.
Madalyn opened her mouth, but I brought up my hand and halted her.
“I know. Tomorrow I’m going to talk to her. And hopefully, get her to give us a shot.”
The moment the last word fell from my lips, a slow beaming smile formed on Cole’s face.
Madalyn jumped up and down while clapping.
“You mess this up, Dad...” Cole warned.
I got his meaning.
If I messed this up with her, then my kids would never forgive me.
I nodded. “I won’t. Promise.”