mom. “Mommy told me last night that I have another nana and papa who love me a lot, too. She said that pretty soon I’d get to meet them.”
My gaze darts toward Selene. She’s still in line, though now, her gaze is glued to us. She’s fidgeting, her hands fiddling with the paperwork she’s holding as if she can’t help herself. She shoots me a shaky smile. It’s barely there and definitely unsure.
I don’t return it.
Instead, I look back at Luna. “Yeah, those are my parents, and they’re so excited to meet you.”
With everything going on, I still haven’t talked to my parents about everything, which I need to do as soon as possible. If they hear about this from anyone else but me, they’ll have a heart attack, and by they, I mean my mother. A part of me is actually surprised Selene talked about my parents to Luna. I don’t know why, but I thought she’d try to hold back, try to keep Luna from us, but obviously, that doesn’t seem to be the case. So far, she’s been fairly accommodating about everything.
Not that any of it makes up for the six years I’ve already lost.
Taking Luna’s hand in mine, I guide us toward the long line Selene’s waiting in. I notice her body begin to stiffen the closer we get. I can feel the curious gazes of everyone near us.
“Selene.” My voice is gruff and cold.
Hurt lances across her face, and her slender throat works a swallow. “Endymion.”
I raise a brow. My full name? Interesting.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you I was signing her up today. It just…it slipped my mind.”
I bite my tongue, not wanting to spew hurtful words. Especially not in front of Luna. As much as I’d like to lash out at Selene, I need to practice some self-restraint for my daughter’s sake.
“It’s fine. I’m here now.”
We stand in tense silence while Luna talks our ears off. The line goes by pretty quickly, and before long, we’re next. Selene hands over most of the stuff while she finishes filling out the remaining paperwork.
We go through the rest of the motions of getting Luna signed up for school. Most of the families and parents have disbursed, left to do other things, but Luna begs us to stay a little while longer so she can play on the playground.
Selene and I take a seat at one of the benches near the playground and watch her. She’s been quiet this whole time, her eyes glued to our daughter.
Our daughter.
That’s not something I thought I’d ever get to say. She fidgets again, just like she’s been since I showed up here unannounced. There is so much I want to say, so much I want to ask, but I find that I don’t know where to start. There is no telling where her head is, or what this means for the future. She uprooted her life to stay here to take care of her father. What happens when that’s done and over with? This is my home, where my company is. I can’t leave, and I refuse to let her take my daughter from me again.
“How long are you staying?”
She looks down at her hands. “As long as my dad needs me.”
A spark of anger ignites in my gut. “You’re insane if you think you’re going to take my daughter with you.”
Her gaze swings to mine, and for the first time since I learned the truth, there’s something other than sadness brimming there. Rage. It burns through those big, painfully beautiful hazel eyes in waves.
“Did I say that?” she snaps, anger burning the edges of her tone. Her eyes slam shut, and she rubs at her temple, heaving a tired sigh. “Obviously now, I’ll need to find a permanent place for us and figure out what to do from there. I have no intention of taking her from you, Endymion.”
Some of the tension I was feeling settles at her words. It’s better than I was hoping for. Nothing about our situation has been ideal.
I shift on the bench, watching Luna skid down the slide with a happy grin on her face. We sit for a long stretch of time, my next words like a bomb detonating between us. “I spoke to a lawyer yesterday.”
Her gaze swings to mine. Those doe eyes are wide and filled with fear. “What for?”
My lips thin into a grim line. “To get custody of my daughter.”
The color slowly drains from her face. “To get