a year and told her not to go back to the club and she went anyway?”
I roll my lips in contempt. “Yep.”
He frowns. “What was her reasoning?”
“I swear, she just wants to piss me off.” I shake my head. “I don’t know. She probably worked in the Escape Lounge that night and fucked someone. How would I fucking know?”
He narrows his eyes. “She’s a hooker?”
I shake my head. “No.” I hate the thought of her being with anyone else and I blow out a deep breath. “But I don’t want her there. Simple as that.”
“But you told me you were in love with her only two weeks ago?” He frowns. “You said she was the one.”
“I thought she was, but then she springs this on me and she lied about it. How am I supposed to feel?”
He blows out a deep breath as he watches the fire. “Fuck, man.”
Mom walks out onto the back patio and calls the children and our eyes flick up to her. “What’s Mom said about it?” Joshua asks.
I shake my head. “She’s hating Ashley’s guts.”
Joshua smirks. “She hated her before she knew any of this.”
I smile as I sip my drink. “Mom would hate anyone I dated, true, but...” I hesitate and smirk. “Well, she has a good reason with Ash now.”
We sit for a moment as the fire dances in front of us.
“And get this, yesterday she forgot to pick Owen up from preschool. I got an emergency call saying she hadn’t shown up and her phone was off.”
Joshua screws up his face. “What the hell?”
“I know, right? She was shattered from the night before and forgot she was picking him up.”
Joshua glares at the fire as it crackles in front of us.
“I need to pull her in line,” I murmur as I feel the fury I felt bubble under the surface.
“Yeah, you do. I wouldn’t be taking that shit with my kids,” he replies.
The children all come running over with marshmallows that Mom has just given them to toast on the fire. Blake picks up a drink can and throws it into the flame.
We all jump back from the fire in fear it may explode.
“What the hell are you doing? Blake, what the frigging hell are you doing that for?” Joshua growls as he stands abruptly.
“You do not throw things in the fire. Do you hear me?” he yells at the top of his voice.
The kids all stop for a moment and Blake nods “Sorry,” he murmurs.
They then carry on as if this is a normal occurrence, and when we know it’s safe, they carry on toasting marshmallows. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Owen standing back. His eyes are filled with tears and his little hands are clenched tightly up in front of his chest. I stand and scoop him up into my arms.
“Hey, what’s wrong, Owen?”
His tears fall free and roll down his face as he clings to me, terrified.
“Did Joshua scare you?” I ask softly as I pick him up.
He nods through his tears, and I pull him close to kiss the top of his head. “Oh, baby. It’s okay. Don’t cry.”
He puts his head down on my chest and I can feel him shaking with fear.
“Stan, stop being a big gorilla, scaring my kid,” I snap with a shake of my head.
Joshua comes over and rubs Owen’s hair. “Sorry, mate, but sometimes I just lose it at Blake. Pay me no attention. He’s naughty and drives me mad.”
I sit back down in my position by the fire with my son on my lap, clinging to me for dear life, and for the first time in my life, I feel my protective instincts kick in.
Owen comes first. I need to protect him at all costs.
I stare into the dancing flames…
Whatever it takes.
23
Ashley
I sit at the table and laugh for the first time in two weeks. I’m out with the girls from Club Exotic, and to be honest, this is exactly what I needed. We’ve been out to dinner, and while some of the girls headed home early, a few of us are now drinking cocktails in a bar. I need to head off soon, though. I’m working tomorrow.
A group of guys have been lingering around us all night and we even just had a dance with some of them. They seem harmless enough.
“I need to get going, guys.” I smile. “I have to work tomorrow.”
“Stay for another round.” The tall guy says as the girls all shake