Chapter 20 #2
Instead, I opened it and tried to pull myself together. I could be the adult in this situation. "Maya's packing. Want to come inside?"
The house smelled like marinara and melted cheese. There were toys strewn about the first floor, which Kinsley worried about but I enjoyed. It meant that someone lived here. A family. One I didn't want to let go of.
Derek stepped inside. "This is a nice house."
"A family home. You know how it is," I said matter-of-factly when I was positive he had no idea what I was talking about.
"You inherited it or something?"
"Or something," I said, feeling the need to be cryptic. I didn't owe this guy anything. Especially not the little girl I'd come to care so much about.
His jaw set. "I heard you've been filming the renovations with my daughter."
That was something we hadn't even thought about. What if Derek didn't want her filmed? I was fairly positive Kinsley was the one who was tasked with making decisions regarding their daughter, but I wasn't entirely sure how that worked. "It was something fun we did."
"I don't know if I like her hanging out with someone like you."
The someone like you zapped through my chest, causing more destruction in its wake than I liked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
His nose crinkled. "Everyone knows you're a player."
"Isn't that a concern for Kins, not Maya?" I'd stepped in for Maya when he hadn't. He had no business criticizing me in that role. But I had a feeling he was jealous about my relationship with Kinsley.
His eyes widened at the shortened nickname, but I didn't feel the need to explain myself or the nature of our relationship. I should talk to Kinsley about that before her ex.
He raised an indignant brow. "You think it's a good idea for a little girl to have her own streaming channel?"
That made me pause. "I don't know much about social media, but I'm fairly sure it's Kingston Construction's channel, not Maya's."
Maya jogged down the stairs and did her usual jump, this time from the third step.
"You're jumping too high again, missy.”
Maya just giggled. I was going to have to work on my stern voice before she became a teenager and started dating. When she looked up at her dad, her eyes lit up, and she ran toward him, pausing before she got to him.
She usually jumped into my arms, knowing I'd catch her. But it was interesting that she'd drawn up short with her father. Did she not trust that he'd catch her?
"She's all packed." Kinsley came down the stairs at a slower pace.
"She should be ready when I get here," Derek said stiffly, as if he had better things to do than wait around for his daughter to pack a bag.
"You know it's hectic after work. We had to cook dinner and eat," Kinsley said defensively.
I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting to see what Derek would say.
"Why don't you get in the car? I'll be right out," Derek said to Maya.
Kinsley hugged her tightly, reminding her to be good, then handed her the bag. At the last second, Maya ran over to me, and I dropped down to her level to give her a big hug. She pulled back, patting my cheek. "Be good."
"You be good too," I said, grateful my voice didn't waver.
My heart hurt when she walked outside.
"I saw the videos you're making of Maya online. Do you really think they are appropriate?"
Kinsley's forehead wrinkled. "They are renovation clips. Hardly anything to worry about."
"Shouldn't I get a say in where her photo appears?"
"Every sport I enroll her in requires me to sign away rights to any pictures that are taken. It's inevitable that she'll be included in something online by another parent or a friend. It's unavoidable these days, and as long as she'd not taking off her clothes, what does it matter?"
Derek blanched at that. "I should hope not."
"You'll remember that I make the decisions regarding her upbringing."
Derek's jaw tightened. "I could go to court and get it changed."
Kinsley maintained her calm expression. "You could try, but you won't win. I'm her primary caretaker. I've always been there for her, and I always will be. I'm a great mother, and you won't be able to prove otherwise."
Internally, I was cheering for her. I loved the confidence. She wasn't going to let this prick get to her.
"I don't like it."
"I thought the videos were sweet."
"Speaking of the videos, why is this guy spending so much time with my daughter?" Derek waved a hand at me.
"We live together at the moment, and he's been showing her useful skills, like how to tile a bathroom. He even got her tools."
"I show her how to do the simple stuff, and she always wears protective gear," I assured him.
"Maya's waiting for you outside," Kinsley gently prodded him.
He turned to go. "This isn't the end of it."
Kinsley merely sighed. "Of course not. Have a great weekend with Maya."
Derek grunted as he turned and walked out.
I let out the breath I'd been holding. "He's something else. He always talk to you like that?"
Kinsley shook her head. "I think it has something to do with you."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"He's threatened by you, which is ridiculous. He didn’t fight for our relationship, but he doesn’t want me to be with anyone else?”
The fact that Derek wanted her because I did set something off inside of me. Something feral. Something that wanted me to claim her for my own.