at the two quietly.
“Next weekend, we can go to the beach, remember?” I said to Addison, hoping to cheer her up some.
I watched the man walk to a lifted—too fucking high—truck and light a cigarette. He eyed my car as I pulled past him and parked in front of the driveway. I couldn’t park anywhere else because the truck was taking up the entire curb in front of the house, and all I had was the driveway entrance.
“That’s my daddy,” Addy said, and this was the first time I noticed the spirited young girl subdued. It concerned me.
“I should like to meet him,” was the only answer that rolled off my tongue in response.
Avery was pulling Addy out as soon as I put the car in park. I left it running and stepped out myself after I popped the trunk so I could clear out the car seat. I pulled off my sunglasses. There was no way in hell I was hiding behind sunglasses as this guy looked like he wanted to kick my ass just for being here.
“Nice car,” he said. “What the hell, man? That’s a 77, isn’t it? Shit. Only seventy-seven sold.”
“Yes. I’m James,” I said, extending my hand out to his.
He shook it but was more concerned with the car.
“Addy, go with Daddy and Papa into the house,” Avery ordered after giving her kisses and hugs. “See you in forty-eight hours.”
I waved at the older man who exited the house, acknowledging me, yet eying his son. I sighed in relief when Addy forgot about the rest of the world and ran into her papa’s arms while screaming with excitement to see him. Then they disappeared into the house, and we were faced with Avery’s ex.
“So, are you the one who’s been fucking my girl?” Derek asked, walking the length of my car and then leaning against the grill of his truck.
“I’m not sure I follow you,” I said, feeling more confrontational. This was the shit bag drug addict Avery had to put up with? The guy did look like death. He acted like he was some kind of badass, and I wasn’t going to waste a conversation on him.
“Let’s go, Jim,” Avery said, getting in the car.
She went to close her door as I walked to mine, then I saw where Derek caught hers.
“Get your hands off her door,” I said protectively of Avery. There was no way in hell that he was going to intimidate her in front of me. He could confront me all night long and get away with it, but watching an asshole go after a woman? Unacceptable.
“Fuck you,” he said to me, then he looked in the car. “Or is that your job tonight, Avery?”
“Your daughter is here to see you. Shouldn’t you care more about that?” I said, working to get his stupid ass to direct himself toward me and not Avery.
“So, you get to fuck my girl, pick up my daughter in your fancy car, and now you think you can talk to me however you want? You’re a fucking pussy,” he slurred.
I glanced into the car and saw Avery’s face was in her hands. This loser was high, and Avery wasn’t fighting back. This must’ve been the icing on the cake for her fucked-up day.
“If you don’t back the fuck away from my car, I’ll drag you away from it myself.” Fuck, I had to be cautious. He was high, and I was sober. I couldn’t do anything to make this worse on Avery, and reacting to a drug addict that I really wanted to beat down would solve nothing.
“Avery, get out of the goddamn car,” Derek said, reaching in for her.
I came around the car and walked over to where Derek was. My sudden move prompted him to step back after he saw me pursuing him. I stood there and towered over this miserable punk while Avery ordered him to get into his house as she dialed out on her phone.
“I said get out of that fucking car, Avery.”
“She’s not yours to order around,” I said sternly.
“Gonna fucking kick my ass?”
That’s when the dumbass swung up at me, and I blocked his arm. God, what I wouldn’t give to step behind his leg, and send his ass to the ground.
“Fuck, Derek! Leave him alone and get in the goddamn house,” she growled, trying not to alert the entire neighborhood. “He’s high,” Avery said into her phone. “Get him out of here and call the cops. I don’t