answer, but Will does it for me.
“Because there are a lot of creeps in the world,” he says, insinuation in his tone. “And I’m gonna teach her how to defend herself against them.”
Placing down the wiper, Oliver says, “How nice of you,” his grin far from friendly as he walks away to assist the children with packing their bags.
“Master Will?”
We glance down at Dylan, whose tugging Will’s shorts, Evan standing beside him with hope in his pleading eyes.
“Can you teach Evan to box too? His mum’s new boyfriend is a creep.”
My hand shoots up to cover my mouth, eyes wide as I look from Will to Dylan, then to Evan, and back to Dylan again. “What do you mean by creep?” I ask the boys.
Evan doesn’t speak, so Dylan says, “He’s really mean. He yells a lot, doesn’t he, Evan?”
Evan curls into himself, looks at the ground, and shrugs.
“Right. I—”
“I’ll teach you how to box, mate.” Will lightly squeezes Evan’s shoulder.
His head springs up, and he smiles, hope returning to his eyes.
“How ‘bout you boys go pack your bags then line up at the door.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow at boxing class, Ms Hanson,” Dylan says and runs off with Evan.
“You can’t just offer to teach the kids how to box, Will,” I murmur behind my hand.
He ignores me. “You think there’s truth to what Dylan just said?”
I look at Will, his eyes fixed on Evan. “I’m…” I rub my forehead. “I’m not sure.”
“Because if there is, I’m gonna need to find out who this new boyfriend creep is.”
I turn to face him as the bell rings, and the kids filter out of the room. “You will do no such thing. There are proper avenues and channels to go through.”
“Shit like that takes time.” Will’s eyes follow Evan like a cat would a mouse. “Time a little kid like Evan might not have.”
I watch Evan too as he meets his mother, and she quickly ushers him toward the car park.
“Will, as noble as your concern might be, this has nothing to do with you.”
“As a human fucking being who doesn’t like to stand by while the strong hurt the weak, it has everything to do with me.”
I touch his arm, and his eyes meet mine, fury blazing within them. I can’t deny I feel the same wrath, because I do, fear and anger rolling through me like thunder. To think one of my kids is possibly being harmed makes me sick to my stomach. But something like this needs to be dealt with correctly, and I intend on doing that.
“Just let me do my job. I’m mandated to report any suspected abuse. I have no reason to suspect it right now based solely on what Dylan just said, but I’ll fill in a report and speak to Evan on Monday. I promise.”
He clicks his jaw from side to side but nods.
I relax. “Good. Now tell me about this boxing lesson. What time and where?”
The skin at the corners of his eyes crinkle. “I’ll pick you up at nine.”
Will’s truck engine cuts outside the front of my home, and I smile as I glance at my watch. One minute to nine. Impressive! He might not be Prince-Charming-perfect, but my God he’s punctual.
I quickly throw on a loose tank top over my sports bra, smooth down my Lorna Jane yoga tights, and pull my ponytail taut.
“Let’s get this over with,” I say to my reflection in the mirror before grabbing my water bottle and handbag.
Carly and Will’s voices travel along the hallway until I find them both in the lounge room, Sasha once again in Will’s arms.
I scruff her golden fur, smile, but shake my head. “Such a spoilt girl, aren’t you?”
Her jaw opens, and her tongue flops out of her mouth.
“Ready to be jabbed?” Will asks, his smile all teeth.
“Pardon?”
“Are. You. Ready. To. Be. Jabbed?”
My brows draw together. “That doesn’t sound pleasant.”
“Sweetheart, when I jab, it’s as fuckin’ pleasant as it gets.”
Carly laughs, shoves a mouthful of cereal into her gob, and mumbles, “’Ave a ‘ood ‘ime.” She waves her fingers and dribbles milk onto her chin.
“Charming.” I turn to Will and point at Sasha. “You need to put her down. We can’t take her with us.”
He pouts. “Goodbye, beautiful.”
Sasha’s wayward tongue smothers his face, and he lets it before placing her on the ground.
“After you,” he says, gesturing with his arm that I walk ahead of him.
“Thank you.”
Smiling, I take note of his chivalry, bookmarking it right next to his punctuality.
Will