custody of your—” She chokes. “Are you fucking kidding me? You’re being ridiculous.”
That simmering burn of anger in my gut suddenly roars to life, and I shoot to my feet before I say something I regret. This woman pushes all of my fucking buttons.
“Don’t you dare walk away, Endymion Black,” she barks out, trailing me. When I don’t slow my strides, she jumps in front of me, her hand clasping my forearm. I’m sure she thinks her grip is tight and unrelenting, but really, it feels like nothing at all. This woman couldn’t hurt a goddamn fly. “You can’t just drop a bomb like that and leave!”
I whirl on her. “Why not? It’s exactly what you did all those years ago.”
Her bottom lip trembles. “That was different, and you know it. Luna is my life, Endymion. I will not let you take her from me. I will agree to everything you say, but I will not give my baby girl up.” The pain, fear, and anger she’s been keeping locked away all explode at once. Tears soak her face as she lashes out, her finger colliding with my chest in a harsh jab. “I’ve made horrible mistakes, but I’m doing everything I can to right those.”
“Mommy! Daddy! Look at me!”
Luna’s excited voice pulls me out of the argument, and I watch closely as she struggles to make her way across the monkey bars. Plastering a grin on my face, I shoot her a thumbs-up. When I glance at Selene, she’s wiping the tears off her face and sniffing, trying to pull herself together before Luna sees.
Without a word, she turns on her heels, heading for our little girl. Heaving a deep, tired sigh, I give her a few minutes before I follow. Luna’s grin stretches across her face when she sees me.
“Want to go for some ice cream, Daddy?”
I shoot a glance at Selene, who is purposely avoiding my gaze. “I’d like that.”
The tension is thick at Sal’s ice cream shop. I remember coming in here as a teen after high school and getting the same thing every time—pistachio in a cone. Luna’s grip on my hand is tight as she peers into the glass windows, deciding what flavor she wants. Selene is hanging back, giving us space. I don’t tell her so, but I appreciate it. I appreciate that she isn’t hovering, that she’s letting me find my way with our daughter.
“What kind are you getting, Daddy?” As soon as she asks the question, Sal, the owner of the shop, rests his hands on the other side of the counter.
“Did I just hear this sweet little thing call you daddy? Lord, I’m getting old.”
“This is my daughter, Luna.”
She smiles up at Sal, a cheesy grin on her face. “And that right there is my mama,” Luna adds, pointing toward Selene. A blush stains her cheeks, and she waves shyly at Sal. His brows jump into his receding hairline.
“Well, I’ll be. Is that you, Selene? How long has it been since I saw you, child?”
Selene smiles. “It’s been a while, Sal.” She glances around. “I take it you still have the best ice cream in town?”
“In town? Girl, you know good and well Sal’s is the best in the county.”
“How could I forget.” Selene laughs. The sound wraps around me, causing my gut to clench for unknown reasons. It’s such a harmonic sound. I want to hate it, but I can’t.
“So, what are we getting for the beautiful family today? Let’s see if I remember this correctly. Rocky road for you,” he says, pointing at Selene. “Pistachio in a cone for you,” he says to me. “But you, I have no idea what you want, little miss.”
Luna smiles. “I’ll have strawberry. With a cone. And sprinkles, please.”
“Good choice.”
Much to Selene’s chagrin, I pay for our ice creams, and we find an open booth. Luna slides in next to me, eyeing my cone dubiously.
“Why is your ice cream green? All green stuff tastes gross.” Her little nose is turned up in disgust, prompting Selene and me to laugh.
“You’ve never tried pistachio? You haven’t lived.” I lift the cone toward her, and she jerks back as if its proximity is offending.
“No way!”
“All right, your loss.” I take a big chunk out of the ice cream, and she looks torn.
“Well, wait, don’t eat it all.”
My upper lip quirks. “Why ever not?”
“Because I want to try it now,” she admits begrudgingly.
With a laugh, I tilt the cone toward her, and she takes a tentative