A Redo (Sterling Shore 6)

Why am I doing this? I got divorced for a reason.

“She won’t take money from me for anything. Not yet. I’m still working on convincing her to take it. Now, it’s time for you to go.”

“I’m not leaving,” she says stubbornly, her chin lifting in defiance.

“Erica, you’re leaving and not coming back. We’re not married, and now it’s called trespassing when you’re not welcome. So get the fuck out of my house. I’ve been as nice as I can be.”

She glares at me, and I stand up, ready to haul her ass out if that’s what it takes. After calling me a few choice words, she storms out, and I take a deep breath. Never again will I do something as stupid as marry someone. It’s not like she broke my heart, but she sure as hell broke my tolerance level.

It’s funny how she used to accuse me of being too nice, and Allie hates me for being the biggest dick in her life.

Fucking irony. Got to love it.

Chapter 5

ALLIE

“I’m confused… You said yes? I thought you were already regretting ever telling him about Angel,” Bella says from the sofa.

Wren is by far the most… I don’t even know what to say about him. I keep waiting on him to mess up and show me that this is all a game, but he keeps surprising me, and Angel seems to genuinely want to get to know him.

“I didn’t want to say yes, but then again, what choice do I really have? Legally, he could take me to court and get more than what he’s asking for. Even though he has nothing child-friendly in his massive house, Angel still loves going over there. She always smiles when I pick her up, even if she isn’t smiling in front of him. I think I’m holding her back more than anything, because she wipes her smile away the second she catches me looking at her.”

“Afraid she’s betraying her momma because she can tell how you really feel about him,” Bella says in agreement. Great. That just makes me feel like a bitch.

“I feel like my right to hate Wren Prize is slowly being pulled away. Angel is more important, so I have to learn to get along with him. If he’s making the effort, then I need to meet him halfway.”

But damn, seven years of built-up resentment is hard to let go right away. I expected things to go totally different than they have. I’ve spent so long preparing for the worst, and I don’t know how to handle things… the way they are, which are surprisingly… decent.

So confusing.

Bella nods slowly, digesting my words. She looks odd in a room so barren and devoid of her personality. The fresh white paint on the walls makes her beach tan pop.

All the boxes are neatly packed and ready for our move. I don’t know what I’d do without my best friend. I sure as hell couldn’t have raised Angel without her help.

“So, why are you so mad right now if that’s how you feel?” she finally asks.

“Because he’s doing everything right. He picks her up and drops her off when he says he will. He’s always where he tells me he’ll be, and he’s been amazingly patient. I have to look for reasons to be pissed, because he’s so damn perfect.”

Bella cocks an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You’re right. I’d be furious,” she mocks dryly.

I groan while dropping to the other sofa. “He put Angel’s birthday as his gate code. He’s bringing me a key to his houses—all of them. He’s also giving me the alarm codes and keyless entry codes—just in case I ever need anything from there.”

“Wow.” She whistles low, seemingly impressed. “So cut the guy some slack. It’s been three months, and he’s still hanging in there. He wants a relationship with Angel. Isn’t that why you moved out here?”

I laugh humorlessly. “I moved out here because this is where you wanted to go, didn’t you know?”

She snorts while shoving my shoulder playfully. “Whatever. That girl has been asking questions you’ve avoided for years. I’m proud of you for facing this. For doing this for her. It proves you’re a hell of a woman. Now prove you’re even better and start letting her feel like it’s okay to want to know her dad.”

That strikes a nerve, only because I’ve been feeling the same way. The day I found that interview on the Internet with him and Tag Masters… I didn’t think my heart was going to slow down. There he was. Wren Jacobs unmasked as Wren Prize—Sterling Shore royalty.

Bella had just moved out here from our small town three hours away. She’d been begging me to make the move with her because she couldn’t pass up her job. Considering my best friend helped me raise Angel, I hated to split them up. Angel loves Bella like a second mother.