Double Bossed

I barged through the door to the field and waited outside. This conversation wasn’t over. Far from it.

I knew what Hunter needed. And I had the resources to give it to him. If he needed tutors or a swim coach. If he wanted to take fucking piano lessons or hell, give soccer a try. I could do all of that and a lot more.

The kid needed stability and I wasn’t the poster child for that, but I was getting ready to be. I’d be the best damn father on the planet.

I hadn’t filled out the first application yet, but I had never been more certain. More resolute.

What did shake me was Julie’s reaction.

I sat on the bench and thought about yesterday. The whole damn time I’d been at this school. Didn’t she know I was in this? Who helped her when the kid went missing? Who made sure he was included in club every day? Who gave him the Sharks winning game ball?

I did. Because I was ready to move mountains for him.

I looked up and saw the back of her sweater through the window. She was far away, but I could see her writing on the dry erase board. A second later, the bell rang and the kids darted from the class and ran outside.

Fuck. I forgot about recess.

It might be my chance to talk to her. I dodged the little minions and raced to her room.

She was sitting at her desk, her head buried in her hands.

“Jules.”

She looked up.

“How could you?” she choked. “How could you do this?”

I closed the door. “What is it you think I’ve done?”

“Adopt Hunter.”

“And that’s bad because …”

Her hands flew in the air. “You’re such an asshole.” She pushed off the desk and walked around to face me. “I told you I’ve tried to adopt him. I’ve told you I tried to foster him. I’ve told you so many personal and private things. You know what he means to me. How much I love him. How I’d do anything to be his mother. And this is what you do? You take him?”

And then I felt the punch to the gut. The swinging uppercut of what she thought I’d done. Double fuck.

“I’m not taking him from you.” I put my hands up in a defensive position. “I’m adopting him—if that’s how this goes—for you. For me. For him. It’s for all of us.”

“What?” Her crystal blue eyes filled with tears.

“I thought the three of us made a pretty damn good team.”

“We do,” she whispered.

“And I know what he’s going through. He needs a home. I’ve got the money to make this happen. I can do it. I know it sucks that it’s because I’m a celebrity. It’s fucking unfair, but let me use that to our benefit. Let me cut through the red tape for you.”

“For me?” She looked completely bewildered.

“I’m not doing this alone.” I dared to step forward and snag her into my arms.

“You want me too?”

I nodded. “Somebody has to do all that bedtime story shit.” I laughed.

“I’m not the nanny.” She pressed her lips together.

I waggled my eyebrows. “Now that is kind of hot.”