Chapter 10

chapter

ten

Lizzie

I’ve just finished putting Bennett down for the night when there’s a knock on the front door. I cross over to it and take a step back.

“Billy! What are you doing here?”

He’s got both hands braced on either side of the door. “Hey baby,” he says. And I’d swear his words sound a little slurred. “I’ve been missing you.”

Yeah, I’m pretty sure he’s drunk. Awesome. I step outside and close the door behind me. “What are you doing here?” I hiss.

“Told you. I miss you.” He tries to wrap his arms around me, but I shove at his chest.

“You and are done. So done. I won’t say we were ever a mistake because you gave me those two beautiful kids,” I say, pointing over my shoulder at the door. “And it’s because of them that I need you to leave. Right now.”

“Baby, don’t be like that,” Billy says. “You and me, we belong together. I love you.”

I can’t help it. That makes me laugh. “We do not belong together.”

“Remember how it feels when we’re together? We’re so hot. We’re fire, Lizzie.”

That nearly makes me vomit in my mouth. “You know I’ve actually had good sex now. Before, I had nothing to compare you to.” I shake my head. “Now, I know you’re a lousy lover. You’re a selfish lover.”

He looks taken aback, like I’ve slapped him. “Fuck you,” he says, this time his voice is louder. “Let me see my fucking kids.”

I cross my arms over my chest and shake my head. “No. It’s past their bedtime anyway and they’re both asleep. We can talk about you seeing them when it’s daytime and you’re not drunk.”

“Bitch.” He closes in on me, anger distorting his features.

Billy is selfish and childish and a liar, but he’s never been violent towards me. But I can see his rage in his eyes flaring like blue flames.

Just when I’m starting to realize I need a plan to get Billy out of here that involves more than me asking him to leave, I see Graham crossing the yard between his house and my little rental. His steps don’t slow as he walks around Billy to my side.

“Hey sugar, did you get them to bed?” Graham says, sidling up to me without missing a beat. He wraps his arm around my waist and leans down to kiss my head. Then he turns to face Billy. “I believe the lady told you to leave.”

“Who are you? Her dad?” He gives an ugly snort. “Her sugar daddy? You whoring yourself out now, Lizzie?”

Graham is on him in a fraction of a second. He’s got Billy practically dancing on his tiptoes while he holds him up by his shirt. “If you ever insinuate as much again about the mother of your children, I will put you in the ground. Do you understand me?”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Graham shoves my ex away. “Get the fuck out of here and do not come here again. Lizzie will contact you when she wants to schedule a visitation with the kids.”

“You’re going to regret this,” Billy says. “My parents are going to sue you for full custody. Just you wait. Bitch.”

“Lizzie, go inside. I’m going to show our friend out and then I’ll be right back.”

“Graham?” I ask.

“It’s alright, sugar. I’ll be back in a minute.” He wraps his arm around Billy like they’re old buddies, squeezing the back of his neck. Then he leads them down the driveway.

I stay right where I am. Lydia appears at my side, slipping her hands into mine.

“Was that daddy?” she asks.

“Yeah, baby. I don’t think he was feeling much like himself.”

“He was mean,” she says frankly. “What’s Doc going to do?”

“He’s just giving him directions on how to get back to the hotel in town,” I lie. Because I don’t actually know what Graham is doing.

That’s not entirely true. I know him enough to know he’s not going to put his hands on him. Graham is too classy for that. Too smart. No, he’ll use his words and his brain to deal with Billy. My ex might have been drunk, but he’s never been dumb. He’ll understand what the kindly pediatrician is putting down.

Sure enough, Graham appears around the house and walks over to us. I scan his body and his clothes aren’t askew. His knuckles aren’t bloody.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Yes. But you know what? I forgot that the there are people coming here bright and early in the morning to do some work on the pool house. I need y’all to come up to my house for a while.” He squats down to Lydia’s level. “Can you go pack up some stuff for you and mommy? We’re going to get Bennett, then walk over together.”

At first she just looks at him, then she throws her arms around his neck and holds on. “I’ve got you, baby girl. Everything is okay.”

She sniffles, then runs into the house.

“Guess we’re having a sleepover, huh?” I ask.

“I need to know you’re safe and while this house has security, I will be able to actually sleep if you’re inside my house.”

“I’m sorry if he disturbed you. I guess it’s a good thing you don’t have neighbors super close by.”

He pulls me into his chest. “Has he ever?—”

“Hit me? No, he’s never been violent. He’s a cheater and a liar, but he’s never been mean. But he was drunk tonight.”

“Drunk and high, I’d bet.”

“Shit. Thanks for coming to our rescue.”

“Sugar, I came down here for my own sense of peace. You’re a strong woman, probably the strongest I’ve ever known. You could have kicked his ass if you needed to.”

I give him a watery laugh. “I don’t know about all that.” But I stay tucked into his arms.