Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Mom,” Wyatt begins. “Why didn’t you tell me Dad was going to be here tonight? You know I wanted to show him the rash on my arm.”
Oh shit. The kid is method acting, caught up in the little drama she’s spun out of her ass.
The woman looks understandably confused, but before she can say another word, my date cuts in.
“Jesus. Is this your ex-wife?”
Wyatt nods. “One of them.”
Her mother looks back and forth from me to Madisson, to me to Madisson, to—
“Wrapping children up in your web of lies, I see?” She clicks her tongue.
I barely notice my date sitting at the table, puzzlement marring her pretty face.
“I’m sorry—do I know you?” I already know the answer but stall for time, no idea what to say that will make any of this better.
It’s a fucking mess.
“We have not met in person.” Wyatt’s mother looks down at her daughter. “Wyatt, sweetie, you know better than to talk to strangers.”
Ah. There it is.
“I wasn’t talking to a stranger. I bumped into Dad.” Wyatt pauses. “Don’t you recognize him? Where are your glasses?”
Her mother rolls her eyes, taking her by the hand. “Enough out of you, young lady.”
Feisty firecrackers, both of them.
Damn, I like this kid.
She reminds me of me.
“You know what?” Madisson announces, pushing back her chair and standing, tossing her napkin to the tabletop. “This is way too much drama, even for me.” She snatches up her purse. “I can see now that this wasn’t worth the trouble I’m going to be in with my parole officer.”
And with that, she storms off toward the exit, the three of us staring after her.
Chapter 6
Margot
What.
The.
Actual. Hell.
Is going on.
Am I losing my hearing or did his date just say, I can see now that this wasn’t worth the trouble I’m going to be in with my parole officer.
Parole officer?
“What the hell is going on here?” I glare at the idiot from the dating app. He is a man I literally just deleted. “What the hell are you, some kind of creep?”
Dex from the dating app holds his hands up as if in surrender, and I can’t help but stare at them. They’re big hands.
Huge.
“This isn’t what it looks like.”
I snort. “Oh really? What do I think this looks like? Please, be my guest and tell me.”
Because what it looks like is he has my daughter in some sort of situation I can’t wrap my brain around. Whatever this is isn’t just a friendly conversation—they’re up to something. It’s confusing, and I know for a fact she referred to him as Dad when I walked up.
My ears were not playing tricks on me.
This is sus.
Not only that, I know my daughter well enough to know she’s prone to mischief—this has Wyatt shenanigans written all over it.
“It’s fine, Mom—he paid me,” my angel-baby child informs me proudly, pulling a wad of cash from her pocket and thrusting it in my direction like a prize trophy. “It’s LEGO cash.”
LEGO cash?
“What? Where did you get that?” I feel my eyes bugging. “I left Grandma and Grandpa sitting at the table because you’ve been gone so long—and I find you here, taking money from perfect strangers? Wyatt Hazel!”
“I just told you—he gave it to me. I was playing a role.”
Dex stands from the table, straightening to his full height, and his napkin falls to the floor from his lap. Somewhat impressed, I watch as he bends to retrieve it.
At least he knows table etiquette.
“You know, it truly is a crime that her middle name is Hazel. The two names don’t go together.” He winks stupidly down at my daughter as if they are in on some inside joke.
She rolls her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
“Excuse me!” I stammer. “Do I need to call the police? Someone better explain what’s going on!”
“I needed her help for five minutes.” His hands go up in mock surrender, finally appearing chagrined. “That’s all. It worked out fine.” He pauses, grinning. “Ma’am.”
I ignore his jab.
He’s being a dick.
“Do you think I’m going to fall for your stupid smile, asshole? Think again.” My chin notches up. “And do a better job explaining—this whole thing is weird.”
I still have my hand on Wyatt’s and give her a nudge with my hip. “Wyatt, give the man back his money.”
“I’d rather not.” Wyatt shakes her head back and forth slowly. “I held up my end of the bargain. We had a deal.”
If looks could kill, my child would be on the ground withering, but she doesn’t budge, grinning up at her new buddy, and I still have no clue what they’re talking about.
I recognize the look in my daughter’s eyes. It says, “You are not going to win this battle.”
“Wyatt, sweetie, can you go back by Grandma and Grandpa?”
My darling child has the audacity to disagree. “Nah. I’d rather stay here and listen to you argue—Grandma and Grandpa are boring.”