Scoring Off The Ice (Ice Kings #2) - Stacey Lynn Page 0,77

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“Anything you have to say to me can be said to Luke.” I throw open my back door and toss my bag in. It bounces off the car seat and for some reason, seeing that seat—Angelo’s seat—rattles me more than her presence.

This is his mom. Someday he might ask questions about her.

I do not want to be the guy who treats her like shit and have to deal with the fallout of that.

Plus, as I’ve often reminded myself, I haven’t exactly done things with Angelo in the most legal manner. Which means if she wants, Angela has ammunition to take him from me.

Like hell it will happen. I’ll fight to the death for him.

I close the door, quieter and more calmly than I feel and turn, facing Angela. Arms crossed over my chest, I grip my keys in my hand so tightly I feel the sting of the jagged edges cut into my palm.

“What do you want?” I might not be a dick to her, but I will not be nice, either.

“Well, how is he?” Her hands are at her hips. Then her sides. She clasps them together in front of her and then she twists them repeatedly.

She is young, only a year or so older than me. Her breasts are large, too big for her frame, and I know from experience not real. She’s wearing pointed black heels and a black skirt that clings to her skin like it’s painted on. And short. Purple rims the bottom of her eyes and it’s the only thing out of place on her, and yet still… I can’t figure out how I spent a weekend with her.

I see nothing attractive about her as I take her in and try to figure out what Angelo has from her. Perhaps her chin that is rounder than mine.

“You care how he is?”

Her round chin trembles and she presses her lips together. “This wasn’t easy for me. It really wasn’t. I’ve meant to call. I should have, but well, I can’t stop thinking about him.”

“You’re not getting him back.” I spit it out so angrily she flinches.

“I’m his mom.”

“You left him. Did you give any thought to what would happen if I was not home? If I did not want him? Did you think of anyone but yourself?”

“I was tired. I don’t have family. Or help. And he sleeps so little and cries so much and I had no help. I thought… I thought when I found out that I was pregnant that maybe, just maybe I’d finally have someone in my life who loves me. And then, it was so hard, and I kept thinking why anyone can’t love me.”

For a brief second, my heart hurts for her. I get her. I get where she’s coming from. But she’s made becoming a mom about her. I’ve been a parent for less time than her, much less considering her pregnancy she had to get used to it, but I know that when it comes to babies, it’s never about you. Everything revolves around them.

“That is the most selfish thing I have ever heard.”

If she thinks I’m going to have compassion for her, she’s dead wrong. She could have made a hundred different decisions if that’s what she wants from me.

“Please,” she says and takes a step toward me, reaching. I toss my hands up, pulling away from her to avoid her touch. “How is he?”

“Healthy and happy. And that’s all you’re getting. You want more, talk to my lawyer.”

“I want to see him.”

“Never.”

She grins then, and I hate everything about the way it twists her face. “I still have my rights, Mikah. I want to see him.”

My hand curls into a fist and my blood races. I have never felt so much rage. She must be kidding.

“Call Luke then.”

She taps her chin with one blood-red painted fingernail. “Or maybe I’ll call your new girlfriend. Or wait… maybe you’re banging the nanny?”

Ew. I at first imagine Viola but then I realize she probably has them confused. Or hasn’t seen Viola. It doesn’t matter. Angela will stay away from both.

I pull in a breath and step toward her. I will defend what’s mine. She’s a fool to think otherwise.

“Leave my girlfriend out of this.”

“Or what?” She laughs and rakes over my skin like a chill. How could none of us on the team have noticed how evil she is? “What will you do to me?”

It’s like she wants to be the first woman I ever hit. “What do