The Dragon's Fate - Roxie Ray Page 0,60

me on the head with the paper towel roll. “What in the hell has gotten into you? Why do you suddenly think you need to keep secrets from people?”

Like she hadn’t kept a whopper from me all my life. “I was just trying to do the right thing and protect Bri.”

She put the paper towels down and nodded. “I get it. Well, if we’ve learned anything from all this, it’s that sometimes you protect people the best when you are honest with them. If Bri is as you described, then she’ll come around once she’s given herself time to be angry and process it all. I’m sure things will work out for you.” She put her hand on my head. “My boy. You need to prepare to prove yourself in a big way, a way that she’ll never question your love and loyalty to her or her daughter.”

I leaned over and gave her a big hug. She was right, and I was prepared to do anything for Bri.

21

Bri

The anger finally abated. And nothing was left behind but love… and guilt. I gave myself all week to stew on it, and that’s where I’d gotten. He’d told me he loved me and Hayden, and I’d ignored him. Guilt. He’d bared his soul to me, and all I could think about was how it might complicate my life. Guilt. Now that I’d had time to let it all sink in and think it over from all angles, I knew I loved him too. And goodness knew Hayden was crazy about him, even if she did just think he was mommy’s friend.

Damn, I was a terrible person. I grabbed my phone Friday during lunch and shot off a text. Can we meet for dinner?

We’d texted back and forth all week, but it had been strained. And I’d always initiated them. He’d done as I asked and not contacted me.

His response put a smile on my face. Nothing would make me happier. My place or yours? This isn’t the kind of conversation for a public restaurant. Maybe he’d forgive me after all. I messaged him back to come to my place. I’d take Hayden to her grandparents’. She loved spending weekends there and they loved it, too.

After work, I gathered Hayden and listened to her rattle on about the Mother’s Day present she made me today. She couldn’t wait to give it to me on Mother’s Day, and I couldn't wait to see it.

My phone rang as we walked out of her classroom. “Hold on, baby.” I didn’t recognize the number, and it wasn’t local. But with knowing Damon was about to bring a case against me, I figured I better answer. “Hello?” I prayed it wasn’t Damon.

“Briana? This is Porter, Jace’s brother.”

“Oh, hello, Porter.” I wondered why Jace wasn’t calling me if there was news. “What can I do for you?”

“Jace asked me to call and explain in person so he wouldn’t accidentally miss anything.”

I chuckled and took Hayden’s hand as we walked. “Okay, what’s going on?” My heart clenched with the hope that he had good news. “I just left a meeting with Damon’s lawyer here in town. Not to brag, but I shredded them to bits with their false claims. Damon was…” He stopped and sighed. “Irate doesn’t quite cover how angry he got when his lawyer told him to drop the charges. But he was right to advise him of that. If they were to go to court with their shitshow they could be fined for wasting the court’s time and Damon could get into even more trouble for violating the restraining order.”

“Oh, Porter, that’s wonderful news,” I said. My heart soared with happiness. “Except the part about him being furious, at least we know he won’t come after Ha—” I cut off and glanced at my daughter, who was listening intently. Little smarty pants. “Her in court.” Knowing Damon was furious made me nervous. After what I’d endured at his hand, how could it not have? But at least I still had the law on my side.

“Well, be careful, because when Damon stormed out of the office, he was not in a good mindset at all.”

“Okay, thank you, Porter. I’ll keep my eyes peeled. And thank you so much for handling this. Please send me your bill, which I will pay happily and gratefully.”

He chuckled. “We’ll see.”

I had a feeling that meant he wouldn’t be sending a bill. If he didn’t, I’d just find his address from Jace and