the one who’s been here, day in and day out, for the past four years?”
“I’m not saying you’re the bad guy. It’s just—”
“He’s blood.” His nostrils flare as he glares down at me. “And no matter how hard I fucking try, that will always mean more, won’t it? He will always win.”
“This isn’t a game to be won or lost.”
He locks his hands behind his head, his chest rising and falling with every heavy breath he takes. “Why do you always defend him? Seriously, Hayden, he does the bare minimum and you act like he’s father of the fucking year. Was the dick really that good?”
Oh, hell no. I throw back the blankets and fly from the bed. “You did not just say that.”
He quirks an eyebrow. “What is it then? What’s so fucking special about a guy who does exactly what his court order tells him to do?”
“Don’t you dare.” I stab a shaking finger his way as tears gather hot and fast in my eyes. “Don’t you dare make this about that.”
His jaw pulses as we stare off from opposite sides of the bed. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re wrong.” So freaking wrong. “And I will not be made to feel bad for respecting and maintaining a good relationship with Jesse for our son’s benefit.”
He opens his mouth, but I hold up a hand.
“I am sorry if that makes you feel threatened or if raising this little boy with me makes you feel held back in some way, but, as his mother, I will always do what’s right for Jett. Always.”
“Hayden…”
I shake my head as tears slip down my cheeks. “What hurts more is that you could insinuate my reasoning is anything other than that. That you could make it sound like I did something wrong when we both know that isn’t true.
“You cheated on me, Lane. And, despite everything we went through that summer, I still came back to you. I gave you another chance. Not because I was pregnant and had nowhere else to go, but because I loved you and because you were the one I saw my future with.”
“Baby, come on.” He tips his head to the side, dark eyes pleading. But it’s too late.
I grab my pillow and head for the door. “Don’t make me regret that decision.”
Chapter 4
JESSE
Sometimes it’s hard to believe there’s more than a two-decade age difference between my younger brother and my son, as demonstrated by the literal, dicks out of their pants pissing match they’re currently having on the side of the road.
“I’m winning!” Jett screeches, his lily white ass and hips thrust forward, giving it all he can while Jinx laughs so hard next to him it’s a wonder his boots aren’t soaked.
“Jesus Christ, you two.” I roll my eyes and grab our fishing gear from the back of the UTV. “Wrap it up, so we can go and catch these fish already.”
Jinx snorts, shakes, and zips before helping Jett do the same. “Your dad is crabby today, huh? Probably jealous that our fire hoses are bigger than—”
“Don’t you fucking dare,” I snap, and then realize my language is no better. “Let’s just go already.”
Jinx shoots me a cocky smirk as he collects his pole and creel, and we head down the grassy path to the creek that gave our small town its name. “Jettster, you probably don’t want to tell your mom about our contest, but Grammy will definitely want to hear. She’ll be super proud of you.”
Jett’s grin is pure pride, and I can already hear him telling Ma all about it in church tomorrow morning, loud enough for the entire congregation to hear.
“Speaking of little hoses, have you heard from Aiden lately?” Jinx asks.
“Just texted with him yesterday. Why?”
“Amelia said he went out of town for work. Sounds like he’ll be gone for a couple of weeks.”
“Damn, he didn’t say anything about that.” Then again, we don’t usually hear about Aiden’s undercover work until after the fact.
“I think I’ll use the opportunity to break into his house and take my shit back.”
I snort. “You lost that TV and Xbox fair and square.”
“Poker is technically illegal in Wisconsin, so not really. Aiden, of all people, should know that.”
“Do it then.” I laugh. “I dare you. I’ll enjoy watching him kick your ass when he gets back.”
He tosses a grin over his shoulder and splits off to the left, where the trail leads to a part of the creek that has more tree cover and is trickier