Only One Night (Only One 3)

“You need to keep my number in case shit goes down.” His voice goes low. “My sister does not need this shit.”

“I’ll agree with you there,” I say and open the door, disconnecting. I walk into the school and hear Jaxon yelling my name. His backpack is on his back, and he’s carrying his lunch box in his hand.

“Daddy.” He runs to me. I grab him in my arms and kiss his neck. “I missed you,” he says to me, and I look over at the secretary, who smiles at us.

“I signed him out for you.” I nod at her and walk out of the school. My phone rings again, and this time, it’s Murielle. I send her straight to voice mail, and then a text comes in.

Murielle: Don’t make me fucking find you, Manning.

“What appointment do I have?” Jaxon asks when I buckle him in the car in record speed and kiss his cheek. I run around the SUV and get in, taking off before anyone can stop me.

“Actually, I’m taking you to visit Aunt Becca,” I say to him, and his eyes light up. “She wanted to spend some time with you.”

“Cool,” he says, looking out the window. “She always has the cool toys at her house.”

“Actually,” I tell him. “You guys are going to go to a hotel.” His eyes open wide, and so does his mouth. He loves going to hotels and ordering room service while he watches all the movies his heart can handle. “Yeah, knowing her, she probably has a whole suite ready for you.”

“Yes,” he says. “Is Mom going to come?”

“No,” I say, looking out and checking my rear-view mirror to make sure I’m not being followed. “Actually, she went away on vacation.”

He doesn’t ask me anymore questions once we pull up to Becca’s house. Becca is outside waiting for us. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite eight-year-old,” she says, opening the door and grabbing him out of my SUV. “Go get into my car. I have a whole night planned for us.” She closes the door and then looks at me.

“Everything is set up,” she tells me. “I just need you to call me, and I’ll send it out. Candace is also ready for whatever is going to come. I haven’t spoken to Nico.” I rub my hands over my face. “If you ask me, you should be the one to tell him.”

“I’ll call him after I see Evelyn,” I tell her, and she looks at me. “Did you call my mother?”

She nods her head. “She was ready when I called. Good thing you gave her warning.”

“I have to go,” I tell her.

“Manning.” She calls my name before I get into the car. “It’s not too late to turn back.”

“She went after Evelyn,” I tell her. “She went after her, and the only thing Evelyn is guilty of is letting me into her life.” I shake my head. “This ends, and it ends now.” She nods her head at me. I get back into my SUV and make my way over to her house in record time. I see her car in the driveway, and I get out, running over and ringing the doorbell.

I wait a couple of seconds, but it feels like hours. I ring it again and nothing, then I start knocking on the door. I hear the door being unlocked, and the sight that greets me cuts me off at the knees. If I wasn’t holding on to the door frame, I would fall.

Her face is streaked with tears, her eyes red, and she sobs out my name. “Manning.”

Chapter 28

Evelyn

I thought it would be Tim at the door or my mother. I thought it would be anyone but him. But seeing him in front of me looking like he had run seven marathons was just what I needed. “Manning.” The sob rips through me, and I can’t stop it.

“Baby,” he says, rushing in and putting his arms around me. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” He closes the door with his foot as he carries me through the house, only holding on to my waist with one hand. He places me down and moves the hair away from my face to see me. “Do you want water?” he asks, and I just shake my head, not sure I can say anything without making a fucking fool of myself.

My hands are on his chest, and I feel his heart beating under my hand. “Your heart,” I tell him. “It mimics mine right now.”

I don’t know what I’m expecting, but he takes one of his hands and brings it up to my chest, laying it flat over my heart. “I’m so sorry,” he says, and I look up from his hand to his eyes and see tears in them. “I never wanted you to be . . .”