In His Eyes

3

It’s been a long grueling day. My entire body is tired. The last person I want to deal with is Dallas, but he has Kellan, and I’m supposed to meet them at his house in an hour. He wants us to have dinner together and talk. That barely gives me enough time to shower and change.

I found out everything I could about Dallas before even letting him meet my son. He’s a General Sessions Court Judge in Nashville. No kids. And he’s never been married. Which isn’t shocking.

Kellan is already so fond of his uncle. He lights up when Dallas is around. The two of them have been going on all types of adventures the past two months. I tagged along the first couple of times to make sure they would get along. Which they did. A little too well.

Seeing them together gives me mixed emotions. On the one hand, I’m glad Kellan finally has a father-type figure in his life. On the other, I don’t want him to need anyone else. I want to be enough for him.

My stomach drops as my apartment comes into view, my steps quickening as my landlord steps out of the open door. “What are you doing?”

Dan eyes me with contempt before hurriedly locking up the apartment. After months of being behind on rent and dodging all his attempts to collect, I’d finally received my eviction notice this morning. But he can’t legally kick me out for thirty days. And the bastard will have his money before then. It wasn’t easy to ask Dallas for help, but he assured me he’d take care of it. Unless he’s changed his mind and that’s what he wants to talk to me about.

Dan quirks an eyebrow, his lips pressed with annoyance as he turns to face me. “Well, well…look who it is.”

“You’re going to get the rent. I just need—”

“Already did. Your boyfriend took care of that this morning.”

Boyfriend? He must mean Dallas.

“Okay, good. Then stay out of my apartment.”

His head tilts, his brow knitting with confusion. “It’s not yours anymore. Your boyfriend said you were moving in with him. The movers showed up shortly after he paid me and cleaned out the apartment.”

“He did what? And you didn’t think to clear that with me first?”

Dan shrugs. “He paid everything you owed plus next month’s rent, and you’ve been ducking me for months, so…no.”

“Thanks so much,” I grit as he walks off. “You fucking dick.”

My blood is boiling as I head back to my car, pulling my phone out of my purse to call Dallas. The man has seriously crossed a line this time. It’s my fault though. I should’ve known it was a bad idea to go to him for help.

“Hi, Mommy,” Kellan squeals into the phone. “Uncle Dallas said we get to live with him now and he’s going to buy me whatever I want for my new room. Isn’t that great?”

The asshole is trying to use my son like a human shield. It doesn’t surprise me that Kellan is thrilled with the idea of living in that huge ass house with Dallas. It has a pool and a damn theater room for Christ’s sake. What little kid wouldn’t want to live somewhere like that?

“Oh boy…that sure is something, baby. Can I please talk to Dallas for a second?”

“Okay. Mommy wants to talk to you.”

Dallas clears his throat as he takes the phone, letting out a bored sigh before speaking. “Hello, Cara. How was your day?”

“Well, let’s see…I came home to find my apartment empty. According to Dan, you’ve decided we’re moving in with you. Would you care to explain what the fuck you’re thinking?”

“You had a problem and I’m fixing it,” he answers, his tone calm and cocky.

“You were supposed to help me pay my rent, Dallas. Not move us into your damn house. There’s no fucking way we’re living with you.”

“Hey, buddy…why don’t you go pick out which room you want.” He waits for him to leave the room before replying to me. “I knew you would make this into a thing.”

I grind my teeth at his condescending tone. “I’m sorry, how is one supposed to act to someone moving them without consent?”

“Why ask when I knew you’d say no without thinking it through? This makes the most sense. You won’t have to worry about paying rent anymore, and my house is way nicer than that overpriced shithole you were living in anyway. Plus, I can help you with Kellan. It’d be nice to spend more time with him. Seeing him once or twice a week for a couple hours isn’t enough.”

“And did you think about Kellan? How confusing this might be for him, or how upset he’ll be when it’s time for us to go?”

“Who says you have to move out?”

“We can’t live there forever. Don’t you think you’ll want to get married and have kids of your own one day?”

“Nope.”

I groan. “This is crazy. We can’t live with you.”

“We can discuss this further when you get home.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before hanging up, leaving me staring with disbelief at my phone.

Home.

I’ve never lived anywhere that truly felt like home, somewhere I truly felt safe and secure. And the idea of finally finding that is appealing. But there’s absolutely no way I’m going to find that with Dallas.

He’s right, though. As much as I hate to admit it. Moving in with him might give me a chance to get back on my feet. I’m never going to be able to afford this apartment on what I make at the diner.

* * *