“What’s left to say? You were at the appointment, and you don’t want to sign any paperwork. Hanging around, trying to figure out who is in my life, and what I’m choosing to do with my time off isn’t part of the co-parenting plan.”
“So brave and brazen, aren’t we?”
“No. I’m tired. Flora is constantly resting on my bladder, I’m carrying fifteen extra pounds, and my body is rapidly changing to expand to house her.” I sigh. “I want to get things settled, so I’m prepared to focus all my attention on her.”
“You’re the one keeping that from happening,” Preston says coolly.
I shake my head, saving my breath. “Let’s get inside. Monty looks cold.”
I finish unlocking the door and let James step inside. “Preston, we don’t have anything to talk about unless you change your mind. Because I can promise you, I won’t be changing mine. I hope you have a safe flight home.” Once I move inside, James stares Preston down a
nd closes the door in his face.
James remains at the door. “I don’t like him.”
“I’m not particularly fond of him myself these days.”
“You need to have a plan for the day your words aren’t enough. Bullies don’t stop until they’re made to.” I shift my weight. He isn’t saying anything I haven’t thought of before, but hearing it from a third party is disconcerting.
“I’ll handle it if it comes to that.”
Not if, when.
JAMES
“Hey, bro. I’m glad you could make it out,” Daniel says, clapping my back after I sit beside him at the bar.
“Me too. How was Christmas?”
“Shelly and Jackson had a blast. Laura and I used gratuitous amounts of coffee to stay awake after being up all night assembling items Santa will take credit for.”
I laugh as he rolls his eyes. The three and five-year olds are cute as a button but full of endless amounts of energy.
“Laura says hi, by the way. She practically kicked me out the second I mentioned your name.”
“I feel honored.”
“Don’t. She has some Tupperware party. I think I was cramping her style.”
I shake my head. “Is Mikey joining us?”
“If he can get out of work. They have some new campaign launching, and he’s been burning the midnight oil in the office.”
“Yeah, I remember him mentioning that.” I nod.
“What’s new with you?” Dan asked.
I take a long draw from my bottle of pale ale. “I met somebody.”
Dan leans toward me on his stool. “This is new.”
“Yeah. Faye is amazing, man. She’s an E.R. nurse at St. Ann’s Hospital.”
“How did you meet?”
“That’s the crazy story. Faye’s dog ran away on Christmas Eve. I found him and called the number she left on the poster. She came over, and then a street sweeper took out her car.”
“What in the Rom-Com?” Dan snickers.