itself to confidences. Sure, there had been some thawing in the ice Kyle had erected between us, but still ...
None of that was the point. This had nothing to do with me and my relationship with Kyle. But if he wanted my support, he’d get it. End of story.
“You said she got a job and a new place?” I confirmed. He nodded. “Sounds like maybe she’s finally wanting to be a mom.” Playing devil’s advocate didn’t sit well with me, but I had to try and see things rationally for his sake.
“Well, she can’t just have her! She can’t think I’m going to roll over and take this! I won’t sit back and let her take my baby all the way to Florida!” His hands turned into fists. Then he took a long, deliberate breath as if trying to calm himself down. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, he looked contrite. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be unloading on you like this. This isn’t your problem.”
This time I didn’t stop myself. I reached across the table and took his hand. He let me. It wasn’t the most intimate touch in the world, but I hoped it communicated everything I couldn’t otherwise say. “I care about you and Katie, Kyle. Unload away. And if there’s anything I can do to help, you know I'm there.”
Kyle’s phone buzzed, and he pulled his hand away, looking down at the screen. “Shit, the gazebo just showed up. I have to get back to the square.” He paused. “Thanks, Whit. I know this is weird. Us talking like this.”
“But it doesn’t have to be, Kyle. It really doesn't,” I said earnestly.
“Yeah, maybe it doesn’t,” he agreed, looking tired and miserable. He got to his feet, and I followed suit. We walked to the door, and he held it open for me. Always the gentleman. One of the few men I had encountered in my life that acted that way out of bone-deep decency.
We walked back to the square together in silence. He, lost in dark thoughts. Me, in how I could help him—whether he wanted me to help him—should I help him?
The thought of him losing his baby girl was more than I could bear. I was willing to do just about anything to prevent that. But I wasn’t sure there was anything I could do. What could a messed-up former makeup artist do to prevent Kyle from losing his kid?
When it was time to part ways, Kyle looked down at me. He took my hand, only for a moment. It was the first time in years he had initiated physical contact with me. I hated that it was due to such awful circumstances.
“Thanks for giving me your ear. I think I needed someone outside of it all, you know. Someone not close to the situation. Not close to me, who could see things a little clearer.”
He didn’t mean for the words to hurt, but damn if they didn’t.
“No problem,” I replied feebly, sounding like I was being strangled.
Kyle didn’t notice. He had already turned away from me.
I watched him leave, feeling heavy and inconsequential.
Chapter 7
Kyle
I was in absolute recoil. My entire world seemed to collapse in on itself.
I left Whitney and walked straight to my truck.
“Hey, Boss, where’re you going?” Jeff called out as I passed.
“I have to go—” I couldn’t even finish what I was going to say. My words choked me. I felt sick to my stomach. I waved a hand, hoping he’d get the point. “I’ll be back in a little while,” was all I could manage. I climbed into my truck and peeled off down the street.
Josie was filing for full physical custody of Katie. And the worst part was that she had a damn good chance of getting it.
“Courts tend to side with the mother in these situations,” Adam told me, trying to soften the blow as much as possible. How do you even soften that? It was like a sledgehammer to my heart.
“But she abandoned her, Adam!” I had tried not to shout. “I’ve been raising Katie by myself for almost two fucking years!”
Adam looked at me with all the sympathy I didn’t want. “She was suffering from postpartum depression. Received treatment for it too. That will play strongly in her favor. You said she called you, says she got her own place and is looking for jobs?”
I had nodded, bile rising in my throat.
Adam’s expression turned even more serious if that