Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“Custody papers. I have to pay you child support and take parenting classes before I can see my children? And you think I abandoned them? They came from my fucking body.”
Dev’s gaze landed on Cash, searching for answers. After a few seconds of a blank stare, Dev moved the phone from his mouth and whispered, “Did you send custody papers to Tena?”
Cash shook his head.
“It must be my mom.” Dev brought the phone back to his mouth, instantly shifting into bitch mode. “You fuckin’ took off. It’s the least I could serve you with. Good luck fightin’ it.”
“Fuck you, Dev. I’m not doing either one of these things. And I’m gonna see my girls whenever the fuck I want to,” she shot back. “They’re my kids too. I hate you.”
For no other reason than to piss her off further, he said, “Then I’ll see you in fuckin’ court.”
The screech he got in return had a smile forming. At least Tena was something consistent in his life. He dropped his chin to his chest and listened as she called him every name in the book. When her breath ran out, and she was forced to suck in air, he quickly began the negotiations. “Parentin’ classes are a hard yes for me. You can mark out the child support if you agree to the classes.”
“You’re a goddamn piece of shit…” Dev put the tip of his thumb and index finger into his mouth and gave an earsplitting whistle to shut her up.
He waited about five seconds to let her eardrums function properly again before he spoke. “If you agree, then send the papers back to me and I’ll cover all the cost to make them fuckin’ official. It’s a fair deal. They deserve better than they got. I’m gonna take the classes too. We do whatever online shit together, if that’s a thing.”
He could hear her heavy breathing, but the silence remained.
“Then I’m gonna write in here that you’re taking the classes too.”
“Got it,” he said and nodded as if in conspiracy with Cash.
Cash lifted a hand in confusion and mouthed, “What?”
For several long seconds, Tena remained silent.
“And you’re paying for my classes.”
His jaw clenched. Money was tight due to this fucking government operation, but the Sunnyvale home was set to hit the market soon.
He’d been assured the house wouldn’t last for more than a day or two.
Who the fuck knew when he’d be able to ink properly again.
He had a cabinet full of illegal shit that would make some quick cash, but he wasn’t feeling that life anymore.
“Okay. Deal,” he bit out, swallowing the foul-tasting lump in his throat. He’d figure it out.
She cackled a loud laugh. “I can pay for mine. I was just fucking with you. It’s weird when you’re agreeable. Let me talk to the girls.”
“They’ve gone with Shanna to get donuts. They’re pissed at you. You need to call more and be available to them. They need their fuckin’ mom. Even if it is by phone or video or whatever,” Dev said.
“I know. I don’t know if you’ll believe me or not but I miss them. Outside of not having them in my life every day, I’m far happier here. But I think about them all the time,” Tena said.
As much as she made his life a living hell and shouted the roof down whenever they were together, she reminded him of easier times.
“Good,” he said. “They need love. I gotta split. Call back tonight, I’ll talk to you with them so maybe Abi won’t be so hard on you.”
“Thanks, Dev,” she said, sounding truly appreciative.
“Yup. Back at you.” He reached down, mashing his fingertip on the screen to end the call.
“That was real balanced of you,” Cash encouraged as Dev extended the cell phone. His sweet agent took it, not even questioning how it wasn’t his phone in the first place.
Dev pivoted around to head back to his apartment. Besides needing one hell of a vacation, he was weirdly in a decent mood. Shocking considering everything that went down yesterday. It felt right to be on good terms with Tena. And he lived to tease Cash, so bonus there. “I gotta get dressed and go to the clubhouse. I can’t stand around visitin’. I got shit to do today.”
He started across the landing when he heard Cash say, “This isn’t my phone.”
Mae met him at the door, Shanna and Abi were already headed down the staircase, keys in hand.
“We’ll get you donuts,” she said, pushing her hair off her face.
“Dev, I think I want that Freewheeler in Dad’s shop if I can have it,” Shanna said, turning to look up at him from the bottom step. They stared at one another. She looked like he felt: lighter. He didn’t allow his mind to wonder why. There was no good answer to that question. Instead, he smiled and nodded.