Mr. Masters (Mr. 1)

“Our first fight,” I whisper. “Over the kids.”

He frowns and smiles at the same time. “I hate that you said you’d choose her over me.”

“Julian, I wouldn’t choose anyone over you. But I have to do what I feel is right.” I take his hand over the counter. “I’m genuinely concerned for her. If something were to happen, I would never forgive myself.”

His eyes search mine. “Do you really think she’s in danger of becoming depressed?”

“Yes, I think she already is, a little bit.”

He drops his chin to his chest.

“We can help her, but...” I pause as I watch him. “The path that you choose for her may not be the path she wants to take.” I squeeze his hand. “You need to trust her choices. If she says she can’t go back there then you need to listen.”

He reaches for his coffee and takes a sip. “This Lola seems nice, though.”

I smile to myself. If only he knew how nice Will thinks she is.

Right on cue, Will walks into the kitchen, and Julian quickly drops my hand. Shit.

“Hey.” He smiles at his daughter. “You’re looking better.”

"Can Lola sleepover?"

“Sure.”

I frown. “Where will she sleep?”

“In my room, on my trundle bed.”

What?

“That’s fine, sweetheart.” Julian puts his arm around her. “Have fun, hey?”

What the fuck? She’s sixteen and vulnerable. She’s not in any state to be having her first sexual experience with an older woman right under her father’s nose.

Jesus Christ. Can this day get any harder?

Willow smiles. “Thanks.” She bounces back upstairs.

My pulse seems to blare in my ears. I need to tell him my suspicions. But they are just suspicions. Julian stands and puts his arms around me. “Let’s go to bed early and have makeup sex.”

“Uh, yeah,” I say, distracted.

Maybe they are just friends… I know they’re not. She’s only sixteen.

What if something happens and Willow goes completely off the rails. She’s too fragile to be doing this right now. I have to stop it, so I stand.

“I’m going to go and make sure they have enough blankets.”

“Okay, babe. I’ll lock up.”

I walk up to Willow’s room and stand outside the closed door. Sammy is already asleep after staying up so late last night looking for Maverick.

My heart is hammering in my chest. How the hell do I approach this?

I knock on the door as quietly as I can.

“Just a minute,” Willow calls, already sounding guilty.