The entire place nothing but running and screaming and laughter and the loud pop music that Penny and Kallie were pumping through the speakers.
I didn’t mind.
I sat back and smiled.
Relished in the small things. The perfect moments like these.
I startled when my phone rang where I had it clutched in my hand.
I cringed when I saw the name lighting up on the screen.
There it went—my one moment of peace shattered.
Tamar looked at me in concern, and I angled my head toward the door. “I’ve got to take this. I’m going to step out.”
“No worries. We’ve got them.”
With a nod, I rushed outside, nothing but wary as I accepted the call and put the phone to my ear.
“Nix, hi.”
He breathed out a gush of relief at my voice. “Mia, what the hell happened? I could only make out a couple of words . . . something about Penny.”
I started to pace, my attention turned toward the ground, my windpipe feeling like it was completely constricted as I forced out the words. “We had a close call yesterday.”
“A close call? What exactly does that mean?” His words were slowed. Vicious stakes that impaled the air.
God, I had not been looking forward to this. I knew he was going to freak out.
I swiped the sweat that was already beading on my forehead, long pieces of my hair getting matted to my skin. “We were taking a walk to the park. Some out of control driver nearly hit Penny in the crosswalk.”
“Shit. Is she okay?” His demand was hard. Concerned. The miles separating us just making it worse.
“She wasn’t hurt. She was shaken up pretty bad, though.”
No doubt he could hear the warble in my voice. Could sense the absolute horror at what I’d felt.
Distress rippled through his harsh breath, protectiveness rising up. “How close was it, Mia? What are we talking about here?”
More of that dread laced up my chest. Too tight. Squeezing me in a vice of what-if. “It was close, Nix. Too close.”
“But she managed to get out of the way?”
“Uh . . . um . . . yeah,” I started to ramble, not sure how to explain, but just knowing Nix this wasn’t exactly something I wanted to confide in him.
But this was his daughter we were talking about. I couldn’t gloss over the details. “The drummer filling in for Zee was there. He was heading to play football with Lyrik and the rest of the guys. He was crossing the street behind her. He got her out of the way before she was hit.”
Silent animosity echoed from the other end of the line.
Distrust.
Ancient hurt that was never going to heal.
“Who the fuck do you have hanging around my daughter, Mia?”
It was just so typical.
His jealousy.
His accusations.
Except he’d forgotten he didn’t have a say over me anymore.
My own anger tremored through my muscles. “Tell me you’re joking right now. This man saved your daughter’s life, and you’re questioning why he was there?”
He chuckled a demeaning sound. “Told you I didn’t want you going to Savannah, Mia. I told you I wanted you to stay here. Where I can take care of you. Protect you.”
“It was an accident, Nix.”
“Bullshit.”
The word reverberated through the air.
I think we both knew it was exactly that.
Bullshit.
My life was unraveling. My children unsafe.
He exhaled heavily, his tone softening. “Damn it, Mia. What the hell do you expect me to do? I’m stuck here in L.A. while you’re all the way across the country.”
I pressed my palm to my forehead. “I don’t expect you to do anything. I just wanted to let you know what happened.”
Silence pulsed through the line.
Weighted.
Drenched in apprehension.
“You should be here. All of you. It isn’t safe. I need to be able to watch over you.”
I released a helpless sigh. “Honestly, Nix, I’m not sure that I’m safe anywhere. I think it’s best we stay here.”
“God damn it, Mia.” The gritted words were barely a whisper.
“We’re fine.”
It was all hapless defense.
Issued without truth.
Because I wasn’t so sure that we were or that we were ever going to be.
“Going to make sure you are. I promise you. Have shit I have to take care of here, and then I’m coming to get you and my kids, Mia.”
Before I could refuse, the line went dead.
I dropped my head into my hands, trying to keep it together.
The last thing I could handle right then was Nix trying to get in the middle of my life. Take the reins the way he always did. Cause more trouble than he ever solved.
My spine stiffened when I felt the presence fall over me from behind.
Blinding and dark.
Perfect and disastrous.
Warily, I peeked at him from over my shoulder, my body slowly swiveling around. Reeled in by the tether that stretched tight between us.
“Who was that?” Leif’s entire demeanor was rigid. Opposing. His attention dropped to the phone I clutched in my hand.