Chapter 40

Cock block. Her father was always finding a way to get in my way. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Isadora had asked me to leave, and I had no choice but to respect her wishes, no matter how much I wanted to stay.

I knew she was right—her father's arrival was a major complication we didn't need, especially considering the way he felt about me. He would do whatever it took to drive a wedge between us. It wouldn't be the first time.

But when push came to shove, I was going to fight for her this time. He wasn't going to get me to walk away. Never again.

When we went public with our relationship, he was going to have to do a lot more than threaten me to make me leave Isadora. And there was nothing he could do to make me leave my daughter.

Nothing.

Clive Haskins wasn't a big guy, but he always had a way of making me feel small. He had been born into wealth and was convinced he was better than everyone else in the world. Even with my wealth, the man would try and throw his weight around. When it came time to confront him, I had to remember I wasn't that same na?ve college kid he chased away fifteen years ago.

I had become everything he said I could never be.

With my afternoon free, I needed something to do. I pulled out my phone and called Spencer.

"Hey, Graham, what's up?" Spencer's voice came through the line. "Are you back in town?"

"Yes, I came back yesterday."

"Is the honeymoon over already?" he joked.

"I need to blow off some steam," I replied, my voice tinged with frustration. "Where you at? Let's get a drink."

"I'm at the gym with Seb and Jax."

"Mind if I join you guys?"

"Of course not," Spencer replied without hesitation. "We're playing tennis. Come on over. Whack some balls."

I went home to change and then headed to the gym we all hung out at. When I arrived, the familiar sight of Spencer, Jax, Max, Derrick, and Sebastian greeted me. Jax and Max were on the court playing each other.

"You ready to play?" Spencer asked. "Me and you are doubles against Derrick and Seb."

"Absolutely." I nodded. "I haven't gotten to kick their asses in a long time."

"You wish." Derrick scoffed.

"How did you all get off your leashes?" I joked.

"From what I heard, you've got yourself a new leash of your own," Seb retorted.

I smiled in response. "Something like that."

"You're up," Max said, flopping on the bench and reaching for a water.

For the next hour, we played with fierce intensity, our competitive spirits driving us to push ourselves to the limit. I swung my racket, slamming the ball over the net, sending Seb scrambling backward until he landed on his ass.

"Getting old," I teased.

"Be careful talking too much shit," he warned. "Anger makes me play better."

The game continued at a frenetic pace, each of us putting our all into the competition. We were all breathing hard as we walked off the court. I was sweating like a pig. We walked to the juice bar and got some refreshing smoothies, taking seats outside to cool down.

"So, Graham, did you officially catch the one that got away?" Sebastian asked.

I grinned. "I think I have."

"What's your daughter like?" Jax asked. "That is still really weird. I can't believe you have a teenage kid."

"Sloane." I smiled. "She's a smart kid. And a lot like me. She's funny and kind. And independent, just like her mother."

"How is her ankle?" Derrick asked.

I nodded. "Good. It's not going to slow her down. Guess where she is right now?"

They all shrugged.

"With her new boyfriend," I said with a sigh.

"You let her have a boyfriend?" Max asked with surprise.

"I don't think I really get a choice," I sighed. "She's fourteen. Don't you remember being fourteen?"

"Hello?" Spencer said. "Yeah, we remember, which is why we're all wondering why you're not freaking out."

I laughed. "His parents are around and Isadora trusts Sloane. She's done an amazing job raising her so far, so I defer to her judgement."

"And how are things with Isadora?" Spencer asked.

"Good." I smiled. "Very good."

"Heard you took the company jet to Boston," Jax said.

"I did. We did. Having a teenager in the house makes it a little difficult to have alone time and we really, really needed some alone time. Plus, we technically handled some business."

"Then you guys are back on," Spencer said.

"The happiness on my face must be obvious," I said.

"You do have the look of a man in love." Sebastian chuckled.

"And he seems pretty happy." Jax nodded.

"Yeah, I am," I admitted with a smile. "It's been a great change of pace for me, and I couldn't be happier."

"He's always wanted kids." Spencer shrugged. "Are you and Isadora going to have any more?"

"Woah." I laughed. "We've barely gotten back together."

"It only takes one time to make a baby," Max teased. "Haven't you figured that out by now?"

"We're a little smarter this time around."

In the back of my mind, I tried to remember if we had used condoms every time. I assumed she was on birth control. She wouldn't want another unexpected pregnancy.

"How does Sloane feel about her mom and dad getting back together?" Derrick asked.

"She doesn't know," I answered. "Not yet. Isadora thinks it's best if we hold off on telling her until we know for sure it's going to work out. We don't want Sloane getting her hopes up and then we break up."

"You think you're going to break up?" Spencer asked.

"I don't, but I don't have a crystal ball. I think we're both a little gun shy. She thinks I walked away and I'm still trying to get my head around the idea she had my baby and never told me."

"Trust issues will tank a relationship." Jax nodded.

"Which is why we're taking some time to get on solid ground," I explained.

"But you already love her," Sebastian said. "No point in denying it. You've never stopped loving her."

"I know," I sighed. "But we both made mistakes, and we both have to learn how to forgive and move forward. It's not going to be easy, but we're both trying, which is a step in the right direction."

Sebastian nodded thoughtfully. "You know, as much as I've teased you about being a hopeless romantic, I think you've finally found someone who understands you. And there's nothing wrong with that."

The rest of the guys left to go see their ladies, leaving Spencer and me alone. We were the last two standing, but I knew that wasn't really the case anymore. I had fallen.

"What are you doing tonight?" Spencer asked.

"Going home and getting some sleep," I said, laughing.

While we were changing in the locker room, my phone vibrated on the bench. I hoped it was Sloane or Isadora. But it wasn't them. It was a number I didn't recognize.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr. Russell," the voice sneered, dripping with contempt. "I thought I'd taken care of you years ago. Imagine my disgust when I find out you're sniffing around my daughter yet again."

Clive Haskins.

Fury surged within me at the sound of his voice. All the old rage came back. How dare he intrude upon my life once again?

"What do you want?" I asked him, keeping my cool.

I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of arguing back and forth. He wanted a chance to tear into me and insult me. I refused to entertain his bullshit.

"Just because you've made a little money doesn't mean you are worthy of my daughter," he hissed. "You're nothing but an upstart that doesn't know his place in the world."

"You took everything from me," I spat, my words laced with bitterness. "And you knew it all along. Do you really think you have any right to speak to me like that? After what you did?"

"You were never worthy of my daughter or my granddaughter," he sneered. "And you never will be. You need to let Isadora go and send her back to me, where she belongs. I don't want her anywhere near you. She's too good for you. My granddaughter has lived her whole life without you. She's who she is in spite of who her father is."

His words were like a dagger to the heart, each syllable piercing me with the force of a thousand knives.

"Go to hell," I spat, my voice filled with venom. "You don't know what Sloane needs or wants. And you sure as hell don't know anything about what Isadora wants. She walked away from you because you treated her like shit."

"I'll never forget the damage you did to my daughter. And you have no idea what I'll go through to take her away from you. Mark my words, Russell, she won't be yours for long."

"You keep saying that, but you seem to forget she walked away from you and directly to me," I replied, my voice cool. "She's happy. You're a father. Aren't you supposed to want your daughter to be happy? I'm new to this daddy thing, thanks to you, but I know I would move mountains to make sure my daughter was happy."

"You've been a father for five minutes." He scoffed. "And she doesn't need anything from you. My daughter has taken care of that child on her own. She gets all the credit for who that kid is."

"Yeah, you're right, and I wonder why she had to take care of my daughter on her own," I said. "Don't call me again. I'm not playing this game with you."

I ended the call with an angry click, my heart pounding in my chest. The man had a way of getting under my skin.

"I guess I don't have to guess who that was," Spencer said.

I shook my head, trying to release the tension from the conversation. "You know what, Spencer? I don't even know why I bother. That man is a festering sore that I can't seem to shake."

"It's not your fault," Spencer said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You're trying to do the right thing, and that's all anyone can ask for."

"Yeah, I just can't let it get to me." I sighed. "How in the hell am I supposed to have a relationship with Isadora with him constantly attacking me?"

"You have to stay strong for Isadora, no matter what Clive says or does. She's the only one who matters in this situation. Her and Sloane."

I nodded, trying to push the anger aside. "You're right. I love them both and that's all that matters."

"Does Isadora know about what happened back then?"

"No. She doesn't need that stress. Other people have managed to get around asshole in-laws. I'll just have to do the same."

"What about holidays?" he asked. "Isadora is an only child. Isn't she going to want to spend time with her father?"

"Probably."

"And where do you fit into that equation?"

"Are you trying to make me worried? Stress me out?"

"No, just being realistic," Spencer said. "I want you to be prepared for anything."

I sighed, letting go of the frustration for now. "I understand. We'll figure out some way to handle it. And if it ever becomes too much, we'll find a solution."

"I have faith in you. You're going to be a good dad. I mean, you are a good dad, and you'll find a way to make this work. But you are going to have to have a conversation with Isadora. She needs to know where you stand."

"I'm pretty sure she does." I smirked. "If he would have been at the door, I think she would have forced me out a window or shoved me in a closet. She knows there is no love lost between me and her dad."

"Then tell her. Preferably away from Sloane. She doesn't need to know about all that crap."

"What if he tries to poison Sloane against me?" I asked.

"Talk to Isadora," he said again. "She needs to lay down some ground rules for her father."

"Fuck, I need a drink," I said. "This in-law bullshit is going to give me an ulcer."