Chapter Thirty-Seven
Marina
The arena is finally empty when I get Rowdy through the gate.
My shoulders ache. My feet hurt. And my stomach is growling loud enough that Rowdy is looking at me sideways.
It’s been a long damn day.
All I want is a shower, something hot to eat, and to get home to Ryder and Royce.
The thought of them waiting for me puts a little bit of warmth back in my chest.
I grab my phone from my back pocket as I lead Rowdy toward the stalls. I should call Royce and let him know I’ll be on my way as soon as I get Rowdy settled and brushed down.
But when I wake my phone, my steps stop.
Twelve missed calls.
Several text messages.
My stomach drops.
For one horrible second, all I can think is Ryder. Something happened.
I swipe into my call log, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Blaze.
Every single missed call is from my ex. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. Then I open the first text.
Blaze: Where are you?
The next.
Blaze: Marina, the condo complex called about a realtor blocking someone’s parking space.
Another.
Blaze: Why aren’t you answering your fucking phone?
I stare at the screen for a long second before typing.
Me: I was working. I’m tired. I’ll call you tomorrow.
Three dots appear almost immediately.
Blaze: Working? Where?
My jaw tightens.
Me: Not really any of your business.
His response comes back instantly.
Blaze: You moved with my kid without telling me. That is my fucking business!
I close my eyes.
Me: We’ll talk tomorrow.
Blaze: I’m calling now. Pick up the damn phone.
The phone starts vibrating in my hand. I lean my back against the stall door. I could ignore him. God knows I want to. But if I don’t answer, he’ll keep calling. And I’m too damn tired to listen to my phone buzz all night.
I accept the call.
“What the fuck, Marina?” he demands before I can say hello. “I signed the condo over to you so you and Ryder would have a place to live. Why are you selling it?”
I take a slow breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “Because we needed to downsize.”
“Downsize? What does that mean?”
“It means I couldn’t keep paying the HOA fees, homeowners’ insurance, and taxes on my own and still put groceries on the table to feed our son. That’s what it means.”
Silence stretches between us.
“If you needed money, you should have asked.”
A bitter laugh almost escapes me. “I shouldn’t have to track you down to ask for support.”
“Track me down? You have my damn phone number. You could’ve used it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I assumed your phone didn’t work anymore. Since you haven’t used it to contact your son in, what’s it been, Blaze? Eight, nine months?”
“Called him at Christmas. Sent gifts.”
“Right.” I swallow. “Over six months and one ten-minute phone call.”
“Don’t start. You know my career has me all over the place.”
“I know it had you in Fort Worth. Thirty miles from our home. For the finals last month.”
I can hear his sigh over the line.
“It was a busy weekend. I tried to make time to swing by. It just didn’t work out.”
If I could launch myself through this phone and wrap my hands around his throat, I would.
“I’m sure you and Francey had lots of business to attend to that was much more important than seeing your little boy. Who, by the way, watched every second of the finals just so he could see his daddy.” I make sure that last word lands.
Silence.
Then, “Where is he? Let me talk to him.”
“He’s not here right now.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m at work. That’s why.”
Rowdy chooses that exact moment to snort his protest at having to wait for his brushing.
“Was that a horse?”
“Yeah. It’s Rowdy. And I need to get off here to take care of him.”
“I thought you said you were at work.”
“I am.”
“Where the fuck is work?”
I don’t reply.
“Marina.”
I try to collect my thoughts before I answer.
“Marina, don’t make me call the police and tell them you’ve taken off with my kid and refuse to tell me where you are.”
My blood runs cold. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“If you don’t tell me, I will!” He’s screaming now.
I close my eyes. “We’re in Wyoming.”
A beat of silence.
“Wyoming? You left Texas?”
“Yeah. We left Texas. I’m working for Bryce Raintree. Teaching at his rodeo school in Wyoming.”
“Bryce Raintree.” He says the name slowly.
Bryce is someone he once considered a friend and a mentor.
“You don’t think you should’ve asked me for permission before moving out of state with Ryder?”
A disbelieving laugh bursts out of me. “No. No, I don’t think I need to ask your permission for anything.”
“Marina—”
“Why do you care where we go? We’ve been gone for a month, and you didn’t even notice. And if it hadn’t been for the nosy-ass HOA, you still wouldn’t have known.”
“This is about Francey.”
My eyes narrow even though he can’t see me.
“You jealous of her and want to punish me?”
I bark out a laugh. “Jealous of what?”
“Her career. Me choosing her.”
“I’m not jealous of her, Blaze.” My voice drops. “If anything, I feel sorry for her.”
He exhales sharply. “This didn’t have to be bitter, you know. I still love you and Ryder.”
My chest tightens.
“I don’t care what you feel about me. But if you do love your son, start acting like it.”
There’s silence on the other end.
“Now, I’m tired, and I want to get home to my baby. You can call him tomorrow if you want to talk to him, but I’m done.”
“Marina—”
I hang up before he can say anything else.
For a moment, I just stand there with the phone pressed against my palm.
My heart is pounding. Maybe I should’ve consulted with him before moving, but I was drowning, and Bryce offered me and Ryder a lifeline. I took it. And I didn’t stop to think about Blaze.
Because why would I?
He certainly hadn’t stopped to think about us.