A Redo (The Sterling Shore Series #6)

by C. M. Owens

  “Well, Angel, my princess, I need to go home and shower and change. Then I’ll come back and pick you and your mom up for some extreme bike shopping. Sound like a deal?”

  She nods rapidly, and rushes to start tugging on my hand.

  “Let’s get ready in a hurry.”

  I’m not sure when Wren Prize shed his skin, but I wish I had met this man instead of the snake that bit me all those years ago. Life would have been so much better for Angel and me.

  Chapter 10

  WREN

  “You look happy,” Kade Colton says while taking the seat across from me.

  My smile won’t disappear. Allie is finally in a place where she doesn’t hate me, and Angel is slowly warming up to me. I’ve picked her up twice this week, and it’s been great. Today is the first Friday I get to pick her up, and I’m eager to take her out wherever she wants to go, since she doesn’t have a strict curfew on Friday nights.

  Quickly, I check my phone to make sure of the time, sighing in relief to see it’s only one. I’m bad about losing track of time when I’m working. Until Angel, I never really had to keep track of time.

  I always try to get to the school early to pick Angel up, because I refuse to be late. I’ll leave around two—get there forty minutes early.

  “Angel is pretty awesome. She was at Aunt Melanie’s house with Allie yesterday. They were having dinner.”

  My stomach tightens. I wanted to go, but Allie didn’t invite me.

  “Mom is determined to spend as much time with Angel as possible. She’s working hard to gain Allie’s trust.”

  “So are you. Seems like Allie holds all the cards.”

  It feels like he’s casting judgment, but it’s easy to do when you know the real me. It’s harder if you know the me that fucked a girl, threw out a condom, and left her alone in a hotel room with a fake name tossed out along the way.

  “She’s raised Angel without much help because I did something incredibly stupid a long time ago. She deserves to hold the cards. What’s up? I know you didn’t come here to talk about Allie and Angel.”

  “True,” Kade says, leaning back. “I actually came to talk about my wedding. Raya has set a new date, one that she refuses to ever change again. It’ll be a little longer than I want, but she wants to make sure everyone can be there. And she’s hoping my mother will grow bored during that time and stop planning a thousand things to make our big day look like Cirque de Solei. And I came to ask you to be my best man.”

  I drop the pen I’m holding so that I can look up at him.

  “Seriously?” I ask with a slow smile spreading.

  “Seriously. I love Tag, but you’re the man that will get me through this. So, say yes. I need to get Raya the details as soon as possible.”

  I nod and stand to hug him, keeping it as masculine of an embrace as possible.

  “Good,” Kade says while stepping out, still smiling. “I’ll talk to you later. Mom is planning some massive and elaborate engagement party for us, so be prepared.”

  I laugh while nodding again, still shocked that he picked me. It feels good.

  My eyes move to my phone once more, but it still says one. My smile falls as I think back to the last couple of times I checked it. They were at a glance, and I was distracted… but… Oh shit!

  I dash through the house, finding the first clock I can, and I pale as horror washes over me.

  It’s after three. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

  Grabbing my keys, I dive into the garage and pick the first car I stumble into. It seems to take forever for the garage door to open, but I’m barreling out the second I can clear it. The drive to their new house is much shorter, and I cut the corners without regards for my safety. Allie would have already picked her up since I screwed up.

  I’m such a fucking idiot. All I had to do was replace the damn phone. I knew it was bad to freeze up. Why did I trust it?

  After skidding to a halt, I leap out of the car and race toward the door. To my surprise, Allie steps out before I can even knock, and she looks like she could kill me. I can’t blame her.

  “Do you know how it feels to get a call about your child being forgotten at school?” she asks in a deceptively calm tone. “No,” she continues, not giving me time to speak, “you don’t, because you didn’t answer your phone when Angel told them you were supposed to be picking her up. But I know how it feels, because that’s the call I got today. Fortunately, I was near my phone at the time.”

  My stomach sinks to my toes, and I try to spit out an apology, but she walks in and slams the door in my face, making it clear she’s done.

  No. Not like this. I fucked up, obviously, but I can fix this. I know I can. Starting with replacing my motherfucking phone.

  ***

  ALLIE

  “Allie!” Bella hisses.

  I jar awake, feeling for Angel beside me, but she’s not there. Oh, that’s right. She went to her bed, mad at me for being so hard on Wren. Figures she was eavesdropping. But I don’t understand why she’s mad at me.

  “What?” I ask in a rasp tone, proving I’ve just been startled awake.

  “Wren’s outside and he’s building something. Very loudly.”

  What?

  Confused, I stumble out of bed like I’m drunk instead of disoriented. I follow her to the patio doors where Wren Prize is definitely outside and building something, cursing when whatever it is kicks his ass.

  “Is that a basketball goal?” Bella muses.

  Glancing at the clock, I see it’s two in the morning. How long has he been out there?

  The goal is laying in disassembled pieces on the ground, and Wren is sitting cross-legged in the middle, staring at the instructions under the faint glow of the streetlight. He has to squint and angle the paper to read the words, and I sigh.

  “What’s he doing?” I groan.

  “He’s trying to apologize,” Bella says with a grin and a shrug.

  “By buying his way out of the guilt?”

  “By doing something for his daughter that he knows she loves,” she corrects. “If he wanted to buy his way out of it, he would have paid someone to come do this for him. Instead, he’s doing it on his own—this late at night. Go put the guy out of his misery.”

  I scowl at her when I feel her loyalty shift.

  “He really fucked up, Bella. This wasn’t some little slip.”

  Why does she look so disappointed in me? Why am I always the bad guy?

  “Allie, he’s still new to this, and he’s going to make a lot of mistakes. Just like any other person on the planet. Perfection doesn’t make someone a good person. Someone who owns their mistakes and does all they can to make it right… well, that’s a good person. Whether you like it or not, Wren Prize is in your life like a permanent fixture now. You’re going to have to learn to forgive.”

  Forgiveness has never been a strength of mine. In fact, I feel weak when I forgive someone and absolve them of their sins. It feels like I’m telling them it’s okay to screw me over.

  She pats my shoulder before walking back toward her room, leaving the decision about what to do in my hands. She’s right about Wren being a permanent fixture. I don’t see him ever going anywhere, and this isn’t just about me forgiving someone; Angel is involved.

  Uncharted territory.

  I contemplate leaving him out there for a while, let him stew in his guilt. But I cave and move outside with a begrudged motion. Stupid forgiveness bullshit. He’s barely even groveled, damn it.

  Wren looks up immediately, dropping some tool that smacks his knee and earns a wince from him. I try to keep my face impassive, but he looks so pitiful right now.

  “Sorry if I woke you up,” he says softly, returning his gaze to the task at hand. Ah, hell. Now I actually feel like the bad guy.

  ***

  WREN

  This fucking goal is the biggest pain in the ass, but Angel loves basketball. She’s too small and not strong enough to hit the normal goals at the park, but this
one is adjustable and can be lowered.

  I should have already done this, but I’m constantly worried about crossing a line with Allie. Fuck the lines. I’m going to mess up no matter what I do, so I might as well mess up doing something that Angel will enjoy.

  Allie might think she has some divine right to keep our child away from me, but she doesn’t. I’ve done everything her way without any slack for over three months, and only one of those months has involved me actually seeing my child.

  “Wren, it’s late and—”

  I cut her off before she says anything else. “Yeah. It is. Unless I’m disturbing Angel, I suggest you let me finish so I can get out of your hair.”

  She gasps as though she’s shocked, and I shake my head while pushing to my feet quickly. I never get pissed. Ever. But I’m pissed right now.

  I stalk over to her until she has no room and no choice but to look up into my eyes with her sleepy gaze when her back hits the glass door.

  “You don’t get to shut me out, Allie. Not ever. We have a daughter together, and yes, I fucked up, but I deserve the right to apologize and try to fix a mistake.”

  She starts to speak, but I cut her off again. “You slammed the door in my face. I realize I can’t make up for six years of missing her life. I can’t apologize enough for what I did to you seven years ago, but that doesn’t get to affect Angel’s future. Tonight my daughter went to bed without hearing the apology I came to give her. Not just you. She went to bed without hearing me tell her I’d make it up to her. You didn’t just slam the door on my face, you slammed it in hers. At least I can own my fucking mistakes. You’re too busy staying bitter and holding your nose at such a high angle that you can’t even see that you’re just as human as me.”

  Her eyes water, but I turn away, refusing to let them affect me. Erica always made me feel bad for defending myself by spewing tears. I was never allowed to be mad because she was madder. But this is not a relationship like that. And this time I have a daughter who deserves more than for me to just take it.

  “You’re right,” she says as I sit back down. That definitely grabs my attention, forcing me to look up at her as she wipes away a tear.

  She stands taller, clearing her throat of any emotion, before continuing. “I’m sorry for losing my temper. I’m used to isolating Angel from the rest of my life to keep anyone from hurting her. So I acted rash, and I did like I usually do. Good night. Don’t forget you’re picking her up Sunday for your time with her. Have her home by eight.”

  Breathing out heavily, I watch her walk back inside. My life is a ball of chaos these days, and I’m used to more control. With Allie, I lose that control more every damn day.

  Chapter 11

  WREN

  “So everything is better?” Tag asks while lowering down to the chair next to me, watching the waves roll over the beach.

  “It’s not better,” I grumble. “But my relationship with Angel is good. I bought her a cell phone after the whole fiasco so that I can at least call her if Allie cuts me off like she did the other day. And I bought myself a new one, too—finally. Should have done that the first day it messed up. I haven’t seen Allie for more than a few minutes since the big blow up five days ago. She’s cordial and smiles, but brisk in her interactions with me.”

  “Probably for the best,” Tag says, not sounding entirely convinced.

  “Why don’t I believe you?”

  He laughs lightly while running a hand through his hair.

  “Because you know me as well as I know you. Everyone said you couldn’t seem to keep your eyes off her any time you were in a room together, and that you did all you could to stay out of the room with her.”

  Damn nosy bastards.

  I start to speak, but then decide to let it pass. Tag knows me well enough to know when I’m lying.

  My phone rings, and I juggle it free, swiping the screen and answering a little panicked when I see it’s Angel’s new number.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, my breaths already labored.

  Christ. Why am I panicking?

  “Mommy was supposed to be here at one to check in for career day, but she’s late, and she’s not answering her phone. I’ll look bad if no one shows up for career day. Can you come?”

  Grabbing Tag’s wrist, I glance at his watch to see it’s ten after one, and I rush inside his house, ignoring his panicked expression as he follows me. Everyone’s panicking over a phone call.

  I really need to get the hang of this fatherhood stuff.

  I grab the first dark blazer out of his closet that matches my jeans and pale blue T-shirt, and I pull it on while walking out the door.

  “Yeah, Angel. I’m five minutes away. I’ll be right there.”

  “You go on at two. You only have to talk for twenty minutes. Please hurry.”

  I smile while promising her I’m on my way, and I hang up while looking back at Tag and Ash who have followed me outside.

  “What’s going on?” Ash asks.

  “Career day at school. Allie must have gotten held up at work, so I’m going in her place. Angel called.”

  Ash’s smile breaks across her face. “She called you.”

  My chest swells with a little pride. When she needed someone, she called me. “Yeah. She did.”

  “When do you go on?” she asks as I get in my car.

  “Two,” I call out before shutting the door and rolling down my window. “Why?”

  “I’ll be there with something before then.”

  She rushes back in, and Tag shrugs while grinning and following behind her.

  Angel called me when she needed someone. That thought stays with me the short drive to the school. I practically sprint to the office to check in. The secretary blushes when I introduce myself, and I make sure to charm her with my smile, just in case being late is a big deal.

  After getting my pass and information packet, I realize I’m not exactly prepared to explain to a bunch of kids what I do. Especially not in twenty minutes. Shit.

  I own several businesses, but I don’t actually manage any of them. I invest in companies, but I work from home, only tending to the bigger issues.

  No. No. No. I didn’t think this through.

  “Wren!” Angel squeals from the doorway, interrupting my reverie.

  Her teacher holds her hand, releasing it once she sees my visitor’s badge. Angel throws herself into my arms when I kneel, and I pick her up, surprised by the unusual show of affection.

  “Told you I’d be here.”

  “Mommy’s never late. It must have been an emergency,” she says defensively.

  “I know. I’m sure it was.”

  Her whole body relaxes in my arms, as though she was prepared for a fight.

  “Mr. Prize?” the teacher asks, clearly a little confused. “Wren Prize? You’re here for Angel Thrash?”

  Damn last name. That’s another fight for another day.

  “Yes,” Angel says before I can respond. “He’s my dad.”

  I’m pretty sure it’d be pathetic to cry right now, so I work hard, real damn hard, not to do that. After clearing my throat, I manage to form an explanation.

  “Sorry I’m late. Allie works at the hospital, so something big must have happened to keep her away. I’m the fill-in.”

  There are a few other parents here in the hallway, a mixture of men and women in nice suits and dresses. Here I am in a blazer, T-shirt and jeans, but most people know the Prize name.

  A man stands quickly, jutting out his hand before introducing himself. “Mr. Prize. Honored to meet you. Hershel Marks. I work in management at the Prize Foundation.”

  I shake his hand, smiling. I wish I knew everyone that works for me, but I don’t.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  From there, several other parents introduce themselves. Numerous ones work for me, my mother, my brother, or Tag. Angel smiles proudly the whole time she’s on my hip, and the teacher readjusts her dress and hair while fanning herself.
>
  “If you’re all ready, we’ll get started again.”

  “You already started?” I whisper to Angel.

  “Some of the parents went early this morning, the rest have been going on at different points of the day. This was the last break. It’s almost our turn. We’re on last.”

  I grin while kissing her head, but suddenly I hear my name, prompting me to turn around as Ash and Tag make their way toward me with Trip cradled against Tag’s side. Trip coos at the world, not bothering to use his limited vocabulary, while Tag gives him a kiss on the cheek.

  He looks sharp in his little suit.

  Great. Even the baby is dressed better than I am today.

  “Surely you didn’t come to hear my impromptu speech,” I say, grinning.

  Tag snorts and rolls his eyes, but Ash laughs. “We did, but we also came to bring you this.” She thrusts two canvas totes that are full of candy assortments wrapped in decorative bags toward me.

  “What’s this?” I muse.

  “Something I had on hand for a party. It’ll make Angel the class favorite,” she whispers, winking at Angel who beams proudly from my hip.

  It’s hard not to keep smiling, so I quit trying. Tag gets swarmed by numerous people who are just as eager to talk to him as they were to talk to me.

  Angel and I sneak in just as one of the moms starts speaking about her work in the post office. We move to the back, and I take a seat in one of the designated chairs. Angel curls up on my lap, reminding me just how much my life has changed in the past three months.

  ***

  ALLIE

  “If I ever complain about being bored at work again, slap me,” I groan to Tracy, one of the nurses who just endured hell with me over the past few hours.

  I never work the ER—that’s not my job—but today it was like they had to call in the troops when two tour busses collided and caused a pileup in town. Everyone injured was shipped here, and we’ve been running around, trying to aid each and every person we could.