Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Do me a favor and breathe,” Octavia went on. “Take a few deep breaths and focus on Aleesa. Focus on her future and what you want for her. Everything you do is for her, right?”
I exhaled. “Yes.”
“So keep your attention on that. Forget Rafael. Forget Bobble. Focus on what’s right in front of you.”
I loosened my grip on the steering wheel, shaking my head. “I swear you are like a therapist.”
She giggled. “Davina says the same thing.”
“Well, she is right.” I dragged in a few deep breaths and exhaled again through parted lips. “I am coming home, amor.”
“Great. I’ll see you soon.”
When the call ended, I clenched my jaw. I knew exactly where Rafael worked. I could have easily turned this car around, sped my way to his building, stormed inside, and punched him square in his face.
But Octavia was right.
I needed to focus on what was in front of me. And what lay ahead and waited for me was my daughter and a woman who I was becoming fonder of by the day. There was my home, which I had made comfortable for Aleesa, and the unconditional love that she had for me and that I had for her.
Rafael did not have any of that.
With that in mind, I calmed my nerves, settled my rage, and continued forward, ready to go home and be with my girls.
Forty
Octavia
As soon as Javier arrived, I gave him a hug, then served him a big bowl of chicken stew. We ate together at the dining table while Aleesa napped upstairs.
I’d had lo-fi music playing earlier, and normally I turned it off when he arrived, but I figured he could use the noise to tune out some of his darker thoughts.
“This is very good,” he said before shoveling another scoop of stew into his mouth.
I grinned. “Thank you.”
A stretch of silence passed between us. Moments later, Javier’s spoon clinked against the edge of his bowl, and our eyes connected again.
“I am sorry that you have to go through this too.” His lips pressed. “You do not deserve to deal with my issues.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
“I do worry about you, though. You did not sign up for any of this.”
“I signed up to take care of Aleesa. And if that means pushing through a stupid custody battle that is a complete waste of all our time, then I’ll be here.”
He went quiet again. “I will understand if you want to leave.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
The skin between his eyebrows wrinkled. “Of course not.”
“Then stop saying that. I’m staying, and we’re seeing this through.”
“Why would you want to do that with me? Why bother dealing with my stress?”
“Because you’re a good person, Javier. And I really, really like you. Plus, I love Aleesa, and I’m not letting her deal with this alone either. She understands something is going on, you know?”
His eyes stretched with surprise. “Does she?”
“Yes. She asks questions.”
“What kinds of questions?”
“She asks if you are mad. If you are sad. She doesn’t understand the full scope of what’s going on, but she knows something is troubling you. And that little girl is the biggest empath I have ever been around. She absorbs emotion and feels it all.”
“Oh.” His chin dropped. “I did not realize. I will talk to her later. Let her know everything is okay.”
“That would probably help. I’ve been telling her the same too. She’s still happy.” I smiled as he raised his chin again. “And she still loves her daddy.”
That brought forth one of his smiles. “I am glad that I can trust you.”
“Always.”
“That will never change, will it?”
“What? You trusting me?”
He nodded.
“Never.”
He sat up higher in his chair, then flicked his fingers, gesturing for me to come to him. I walked around the table edge to reach him, and as soon as I did, he placed his large hands on my waist, guiding me down to his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and settled in, breathing in his scent. He’d been sweating, that much was clear, but there was still that hint of deodorant, that warmth of masculinity.
“If my questions bother you, I am sorry,” he murmured in my ear. “I have to remember that not everyone in my life is out to hurt me.”
I rubbed the heart of his chest. “Eloise really broke your heart, didn’t she?”
He lowered his head, but I didn’t miss the small nod. “I really did try with her. I tried to make her happy and to give her the best life. Basketball was what I was good at, and it gave us the life we had always dreamed of. But it does not matter how much money you make, or how big your house is, or how shiny your cars are. If someone does not want to be happy, they will not be. Apparently, Eloise felt something with Rafael that she did not feel with me. I guess that is what hurts me the most. Knowing that she had to look outside of the home and life we built to find whatever it was she was seeking.”