a three-year-old child,” I said, beside myself that Avery was handling this situation in this way. It was as though the beach incident had never fucking happened. “You have to make this decision for her,” I pleaded. “Avery?”
“I know how to deal with my daughter and Derek, goddammit. Please don’t do this again. Addy will tell me if she doesn’t want to go.”
“Okay,” I said, my jaw so tight I felt a spasm in both cheeks. “You have Jake and Ash’s numbers, right? I’ll even have Collin text his number to you.”
“Slow down,” she said. “I don’t need you trying to protect me from London. I’m sorry you’ve seen this dick bring me to my limits, and I’m sorry you’ve even had to meet him, but this isn’t new for me. I’ll be fine.”
“You’ll be fine, and so will Addison when he’s out of your life. He’s a loose cannon. How can you trust her around that asshole?”
“Because I’ve dealt with this for three fucking years, Jim,” she said. “And, yes, I have Jake and Ash’s numbers. Ash invited me over this weekend.”
“That’ll be fun for you two,” I said, completely at a loss for words.
Did I need to shut up and find my place? Should I keep pressuring Avery, expecting a different result when she had so obviously made up her mind and didn’t want to hear my point of view? What the fuck was I supposed to do? I was trying to give her my best advice from the eyes of someone who wasn’t twisted up in this toxic situation, but she didn’t want to hear it.
“Hey, I’ve got to go. The plane is on the runway. I’ll try to call when we land.”
“Okay. Be safe. We both love you.”
Jesus, stab me in my fucking tortured heart.
“And you,” I managed, and after ending the call, I threw my cell against the leather sofa across from me like a pissed-off teenager.
“My God,” Alex said. “You’ve been in dick-mode all week, and now the cell phone is on the receiving end of your bullshit? What the hell is going on with you?”
“That piece of shit is out of jail, and Avery’s still going to take Addison to his parents’ place tonight.” I leaned back, the G-forces of the plane pinning me into my seat.
“Are you joking?” Alex said. “She needs to bury that little bastard with your lawyers. Do you think she might be bothered by you hiring the lawyers, not her?”
“No,” I shook my head and stared at him with an expression that probably looked as pathetic as I felt. “She’s fucking scared of him. That fucker has her right where he wants her, and she doesn’t see it.”
“Damn,” Alex said. “How is it that the addicts manage to take down everyone with them?”
“A question for the interventionist that I’m confident the family will never ask for. How can no one see that this fuck up is either going to end up dead or taking them all down with him?” I ticked each of my fingers against my thumb one-by-one, staring out the window at the clouds we were climbing into. “I don’t fucking know where my place is in all of this.”
“All you can do is support her. Hang in there, no matter how shitty it gets. She’ll eventually see it, but you have to let it play out. I know it’s hard, standing by while a child is involved, but you know how messy families can be. It’s never black and white.”
“I worry for that little girl more than I have a right to, I guess.”
“Avery’s a mom. They have better intuitions than guys.” He smiled. “She’s also tough as fucking nails. I fear for that dickhead if he fucks with that little girl and scares her again.”
“She is leaving it up to the three-year-old to decide whether or not she wants to be around her dad.”
“Avery isn’t stupid. I know you’re frustrated by her decision making, but it is indeed her decision to make. Children’s instincts are good too, you know? If Addy doesn’t want to see that fuck-head, then you have nothing to worry about.” He smiled and reclined in his chair, “Speaking of children’s instincts, my God, you’d think she was your and Avery’s daughter, not the other dude’s.”
I stood while the plane started to level out. “I’m getting a bourbon before we open these computers. What are you having?”
“I’m determined to drink all of the special scotch Jakey-boy had stocked on the plane