Chapter 29 #2
When I made my way back inside, I walked down the hallway.
I paused in the doorway and watched as Tara made her voice high and low for different characters.
Cutler was laughing, but there was still apprehension there.
The way his shoulders were stiff and his smile was forced.
I could see the discomfort, even if he didn’t want to say it aloud.
“Hey, you can stay one night. Cutler, I want you to go get in my bed. You can sleep with me tonight. Tara can sleep in here.”
“I love sleeping in Pops’ bed.” He pumped his fist upward, crawling from beneath the sheets.
I followed him into my room and tucked him in. “Goodnight, buddy. I love you. I’ll be in in a little bit.”
“Daddy,” he said, catching me off guard that he didn’t call me Pops.
“Yeah?”
“Do you think Tara came because she knows it’s my Star Student Day next week?”
“I don’t think she knows about it. Do you want her to be here for that?” I asked.
“Well, Sunny is going to make me unicorn Krispies for my big day. I didn’t know Tara would be here, so I don’t know what to do.”
“Listen, you don’t have to do anything tonight, okay?” I leaned down and kissed his forehead. “It’s been a long day. I’ll be back in a little while. I love you. Get some sleep.”
“I love you, Pops. Will you text Sunny and tell her I love her, too? I didn’t get to say goodbye.”
“Of course I will.” I pulled the door closed and walked out to the kitchen, where I heard Tara’s muffled voice.
“I don’t care, Mark. Two can play that game. I’m going to spend some time with my family.” She stood in the corner, sipping a glass of wine and pinching the bridge of her nose. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I’m staying at the house with Nash and Cutler.”
I made my presence known and moved around the counter to empty my half-drank beer in the sink before tossing it into the recycle bin. She turned to look at me and quickly ended the call. “Nash is here, and we want to hang out. I’ve got to go.”
She set her phone down on the table and walked back to the counter to refill her wineglass.
“Don’t be using me to make your boyfriend jealous. You weren’t invited here. You left me no choice.”
“So what is this? Now you have a girlfriend, so I’m the enemy?”
“That’s not it, and you know it. You can’t just show up and expect to stay here.
We have lives of our own. You don’t get to come and disrupt everything just because you and your boyfriend are fighting.
For once, think about that little boy in the next fucking room.
Don’t complicate his life just to make your boyfriend jealous. ”
“Fuck you, Nash. You know nothing.” She tipped her head back and downed the whole glass she’d just poured.
“I know enough. What are you here for, Tara?”
“I’m here to spend time with my son. And I don’t appreciate you making that hard for me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry that I’m not making your unplanned visits easy for you. You haven’t seen that boy in two years. I can count on one hand how many times you’ve called during that time.” I moved closer, squaring my shoulders. “It’s not about making it easy on you. It’s about making it easy on Cutler.”
She caught me off guard when she lunged forward and tried to kiss me. I caught her by the wrists and pulled her back. “What the fuck are you doing, Tara?”
Her gaze hardened, and I wasn’t sure what the hell she was up to. We’d never once hooked up since the day she walked out that door over six years ago.
“I came here to see if I still had a family worth coming back for.”
“You’re delusional if you think I’ve been waiting for you.” I took the wineglass from her hand and set it in the sink. “You’re upset about your boyfriend, so you came here. Come on, Tara. Do the right fucking thing, and don’t be selfish when it comes to Cutler.”
“Fuck you, Nash. You think you have all the power?” Her words were slurring a little now as she’d obviously downed the two glasses of wine in a short period of time.
“It’s not about power. It’s about being a parent to that little kid in there,” I hissed, pointing toward the hallway.
“Well, don’t be so quick to write me off. You don’t have a leg to stand on where our son is concerned. Remember that.”
“The fuck did you just say to me?” I moved close, venom leaving my lips.
“You never wanted a paternity test after I gave birth. That’s a card that’s yet to be played. So watch yourself when you start thinking you’re calling the shots.”
My head spun as she marched down the hallway toward my son’s room, like she didn’t just drop a bomb on me.
I picked up my phone and typed into the group text.
Tara’s here. She was just sitting on my porch and insisted on staying the night. She just made a comment, questioning my paternity. I’m trying to remain fucking calm, but I’m ready to lose my shit.
River
What the fuck? Don’t react. Say nothing. I’ll be there first thing in the morning. She’s signing something this time. She’s not going to hold paternity over your head.
Hayes
I never fucking liked that girl.
Romeo
Who the fuck comes into town after being away all this time and fucks with the dude who has been raising that little boy?
King
Ride or die, brother. We’ve got you.
I was shaking as I made my way down to my room and shut and locked the bedroom door. I quickly changed clothes and got into bed, and I lay on my side just staring at my little boy.
The light of my life.
And I’d do whatever I needed to make sure she didn’t fuck with either one of us again.
I was done playing games.