Rock Hard Neighbor

I shook the anger from my body and tried to focus. I had bigger things to deal with than what some random college graduate was doing. I had to get my mind right for this meeting with my PI. I watched as Amanda went over to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup like she owned the place.

“What time is your meeting?” she asked.

She turned to look at me, and my eyes whipped up to hers. She’d perched her sunglasses on the top of her head and her eyes looked tired and there were bags underneath.

“Soon. I need to get ready and get out of here.”

“Then go get ready,” she said. “I’ve got this.”

I held her gaze one last time before I relented and started for my room.

I heard Lanie pad down the hallway past my room as I hopped into the shower. I could hear the two girls chattering away, with Lanie giggling and squealing with delight. That girl really did enjoy it when Amanda was here, and that fact both elated me and angered me. Did Amanda not understand what she was getting into with me? She couldn’t go off gallivanting around with whoever the fuck if she wanted to be with me.. She had a three-year-old that adored her What if something had happened to her last night? I didn’t have her number, and she didn’t have mine. She would’ve had no way to call me for help.

That was going to change today.

I finished with my shower and dressed. I had a few stops in town I wanted to make before my lunch meeting with the PI. I picked Lanie up and planted a kiss on her cheek, letting her know that Amanda would be taking care of her today. Lanie bounced up and down in my arms with happiness before she reached out for Amanda.

Then I wrote my number on a piece of paper and tacked it to the fridge.

“That’s my cell in case you need anything. Text me so I’ve got your number,” I said.

“Sounds good to me,” Amanda said casually.

“Amanda.”

She panned her head over to me as Lanie sat down to eat her breakfast.

“Call me if you need anything.”

Her head cocked slightly to the right as she studied me. Her eyes raked down my body, making no attempt to conceal what she was doing. I stood there and let her take in whatever it was she felt she needed to, then she nodded and gave me a slight grin.

“I will. Promise. We’ll be okay. You go on to your meeting,” she said.

“Thank you for watching her. I’ll let you know when I’m headed home.”

“I’ll text you soon,” she said.

I got into my truck and looked through the window one last time. Amanda was drinking her coffee at the table while Lanie ate her breakfast. The two were smiling and giggling, and I watched as Lanie moved her food so she could sit next to Amanda. The two snuggled up next to one another, and the scene unfolding before my eyes warmed the pit of my gut.

“Focus Brian,” I said, sighing. “Get it together.”

I rode on into town and stopped at a few places. I needed wipes and snacks from the grocery store, medicine from the pharmacy, and a few random things from the hardware store. Then, I rode into the middle of town to meet my PI for lunch. When I walked in, my lawyer, Luther, was there with him.

And the news was only slightly better than what I was dreading.

“Well, there’s good news and bad news,” my lawyer said.

“Give it to me straight. What can I expect?” I asked.

“If her father can prove he’s got a stable household, that he’s sober, and that he’s married, it’ll look better than you being single and attempting to raise her.”

“Wait. This bastard’s married?” I asked.

“In the official court documents, Lanie’s father’s states that he’s sober, married, and has a clean home for Lanie to come home to. There are drug tests proving he’s clean-—”

“That’s the biggest crock of bull I’ve ever heard. He appeared on my doorstep reeking of alcohol and high as a kite.”

“Just listen, okay?” Luther asked. “He has paperwork proving he’s clean. He has a marriage license proving he’s married. And he has pictures of his home that line up with the address he’s given on his official paperwork. Now, it’s possible most—if not, all—of this is forged. But it’s going to take some digging to figure it out. But even with your PI hot on his tail, we won’t be able to gather all that information before your paperwork is due in.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, trying not to swear.

“If you want custody of Lanie, you’ll have to counter-sue. Which means you have to have paperwork outlining why you’re the better guardian and caretaker for her. And, the burden of proof lies on your shoulders. You’ll also have to prove why Lanie’s father is unfit.”