Stolen Tyme

by S. L. Ziegler

  The truth is out, and the silence lingers between us. Offering a nod, I turn on my heel.

  “You trying to get her back?”

  Spinning around, I answer honestly, “If she’d let me.”

  Truth.

  His shoulders drop, and the frown etched into his brow calms down. “Don’t push her; she hasn’t been herself in a while. Too long. And the shit splashed all over the internet won’t let her forget stuff, either. Take it slow. Talking fucking turtle pace.”

  “I got it. I see it each time I’m near her—she’s guarded.”

  “You ain’t getting my blessing, but if she wants you now, now that she’s actually a grown-ass woman, I won’t kill you. Yet. But know, I’m murdering you in my head every day, so I wouldn’t hurt her again if I were you.”

  “I wasn’t asking for your blessing.” I wasn’t—I’m not. If Lock doesn’t like me, I could give two shits about that. But what I do care about, what I came here for, was not to have anything hidden between us. One go around is usually the only chance you get, and if Naomi gives me a second one, I’ll do it the right way.

  “You grew balls from the beginning of this conversation…think maybe they took over the brain you did have, because one punch from me, I’ll have you on your knees.”

  “Something like that.”

  “I have to get back to work, those bikes aren’t going to fix themselves and those shitheads ain’t going to get any work done without me holding their greasy-ass hands. But be safe out there. Would hate to see you get killed by some random car or something.”

  “Got it, man.” No doubt that was one of the many ways he’s envisioned my death.

  I slide into my truck. My list of things to do now shorter. Lock and I may not be where we were seven years ago. I don’t think we’ll ever get back to that place. Too much baggage to try to unpack, and the unthinkable line I crossed will always be in the forefront of his mind. I respect it. But something happened, something I won’t deny. I took a step in the right direction.

  A massive one. Now, if I can just have that step going straight into Naomi’s arms.

  My little girl’s eyes shine so brightly, her smile enormous, dancing around in circles while the music rings out through the room. With Naomi.

  Just her and my girl. Not one care in the world. The two people that are the center of my universe.

  Charlie lives for dancing, she always has. But with Naomi, on this floor helping her succeed in something she loves, is fucking thrilling. They were born for it.

  Naomi has every right in the world to hate me, and most people would take it out on the family. Even turning her back on Charlie when she found out who she really was I would have understood—not liked it, but understood and accepted it. But Naomi didn’t push her away. From what Charlie tells me, she never hesitated taking her under her wing and teaching her everything she has to offer. Naomi opened her arms and welcomed my flesh and blood like she couldn’t care less what DNA runs through her veins. It’s in these times with my daughter that shows—proves—what kind of woman Naomi has blossomed into.

  Kind.

  Loyal.

  Strong.

  Hands down, Naomi is one of a fucking kind.

  Charlie peeks over her shoulder and giggles without a care in the world during her time here. “Sorry, Pops, didn’t see you there. Usually Mom’s always so late picking me up.”

  “It’s okay. You looked like you were having fun. Didn’t want to intrude on the girl time.” Or stop myself from envisioning a future like the one that played out. A guy can dream.

  “I’ll go get my stuff—just be a few seconds. Can we go get something to eat? I’m starving.”

  “You’re always hungry, but yes. Don’t rush.”

  Charlie bounces out of the room, and I turn to the only other person my heart could beat for. “Hey, Naomi.”

  “Hey, Xavier.” My name passes her lips meekly. I hate it. I want her to be happy to say it, to feel something for me when we share the same space. I have to remind myself this isn’t a race to win her heart, no matter how fast I want this shit.

  Clearing my throat, I stammer, “I wanted to…um…” I don’t know why my heart feels lit up being this close to her. “What I’m trying to say is thank you. Thanks for telling me about that mess Zoey’s trying to pull. I don’t think I ever said that, but I knew you didn’t have to. So…yeah. Thank you.”

  Pitiful. I’m pitiful.

  “You’re welcome.” It’s barely a whisper.

  “With our history together, you didn’t have to.”

  She straightens her body, sighing loudly. “Xavier, what Zoey’s doing isn’t right. It’s not about me—or you—or us together. Things are bigger than that. It’s about Charlie, and that girl deserves to be with the parent who has her best interests at heart. She shouldn’t be seen as the last piece of the puzzle to securing more money. And you’re that parent to Charlie, not Zoey.”

  “Means a lot to me.”

  Not many girls would do what Naomi’s done—throw the other shit aside and focus on the bigger picture. I owe her more than she will ever understand. One day, I will repay her when the time is right.

  “I know.” She stares off into the distance, lost in her mysterious thoughts before bringing her attention back to me. “Did you call your lawyer and tell them?”

  I nod. “We’re going for the pre-attack now, getting stuff in line, then he’s going to file the paperwork. I’ve decided to go for full custody this time around. Unfortunately, that means digging for more shit and proving I’m capable of providing for Charlie full time. He did say, based on Charlie’s age, most judges will take into account the child’s desire about where to live, but with my past, we can’t count on that. Zoey will have tricks up her sleeve, and it’s going to be a real fight this time. But I’m hoping it works out for the best. For Charlie’s sake.”

  Naomi simply nods. “Good, if you need anything from me, and I’m in town, let me know. Or I could always write a letter to the court. People do that, right? It’s all new to me. I wasn’t around last time.”

  Red clouds my vision. She wasn’t around; Naomi was off making a name for herself.

  “Not sure, but if you’re here, I think I may take you up on that offer. Need as many character witnesses as we can get to build the case, and since you work with Charlie, that could come into play. I already talked to her teachers yesterday. Can’t hurt to have more.”

  “Keep me up to date. I had a sudden clearing in my schedule; therefore, I’ve decided to stay here at least for a few more months, so it should be fine. If not, I could come back for you…I mean for Charlie. I will.” The ache in her voice is evident.

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing, just wanted to pull back and not dig myself another hole I can’t get out of. After the Grammys, I can’t afford any more bad publicity. Everyone thinks it’s for the best for me to take a breather. But you know all about that stuff.”

  I do. Naomi’s being smart about her future. I wasn’t. I pushed, they pulled. And I ended up crashing more than once. She’s refusing to let that happen again. Learning from her mistakes the first time.

  “Yep.”

  A loud crash from the back room halts our conversation.

  “Daddy!”

  “Was…”

  “What…”

  We both run to the changing room, the dip in my stomach hits my toes. All I see is a broken shelf on top of my daughter, and her head peeking out with blood trickling to the ground. My heart races, and everything—vein, muscle, bone—in my body screams at me to do something, but I’m stuck staring. Staring at my baby girl. Charlie’s motionless on the floor except for the sobs shaking her body.

  Naomi rushes past me, kneeling down next to my daughter. “Charlie, I want you to stay as still as you can. Okay?”

  “Ms. Naomi. My head really hurts.” Her eyes are filled with such pain it tears my heart up even more.

  “I know, sweetie, but you’r
e going to be okay. I promise. But right now, I need you to stay still. Just like you do right before the song starts for your solo. Do you understand? Remember…still as a board?”

  “Yes.”

  Naomi turns my way, her eyes focused directly on mine. “X, will you call 9-1-1 please?” Her voice is calm and cool, detached.

  I pull out my phone from my pocket, my fingers shaking with each button I press until the operator comes through the other end.

  I can finally breathe.

  I run my fingers through my hair. Every minute that passes feels like another day off my life.

  “What the hell is taking so long?” My emotions seep through my voice. I want to be with my daughter; I should be near her. Not in this damn room. She’s somewhere I can’t find her—I can’t keep my eyes on her to know she’s safe.

  It’s bullshit. Utter bullshit.

  Naomi lays her hand on my shoulder—just her gentle touch makes the mess inside me level out. “X, you have got to calm down. You keep getting pissed, and they’ll kick you out, and that won’t help anyone. All they’re doing is giving her a CT scan to make sure she doesn’t have a concussion, then they’re going to stitch her up. But the more you flip out, the longer it will take. Deep breaths. I’ll be right here with you, but for Charlie’s sake, you have to calm down.”

  “I fucking choked. God, if you weren’t there…” Or if I wasn’t talking to you. Or if Zoey picked her up. If I paid more attention to her.

  Naomi ignores my protests. “But I was. If you beat yourself up every time she gets hurt, you’ll be done. You didn’t do anything wrong. You can’t follow her around with a bubble. It’s not realistic.”

  “Did you see me? I just stalled. How the hell am I going to have her full time if that happened?”

  Naomi rubs my neck, but this time her touch does nothing to soothe me. I feel like a failure to the one person who relies on me. She depends on me to keep her safe, and I failed. Failed fucking big.

  “Don’t beat yourself up, X…it’s not going to help anything. Kids get hurt all the time, and you can’t lock her away or wrap her up in bubble wrap. It doesn’t work that way, either. Unfortunately, it’s life.”

  “I want it to work that way.”

  “I’m sure you do. I’m not a parent, and I’m sure it’s a very irrational rational way of thinking, though.”

  “How did you stay so calm?” I glance over—her face lacks the confidence that was there when she was in nurse mode and is now pale.

  “Honestly, your guess is as good as mine.”

  The fluorescent light flickers above us, and the sound of a baby crying in the distance breaks the tension.

  Laying my hand on her thigh, I give it a squeeze. “Thank you, again. I still see her as this tiny girl, but she’s almost twelve. When something like this happens, I want her with me all the time.”

  “Did you get in touch with Zoey?”

  “No, she didn’t answer, but I left her a message. We shall see.”

  Commotion and yelling bring my focus over to the nurses’ station. “Which one of you imbeciles can tell me where my daughter is?” The shrill voice leaves no doubt to anyone around about her anger.

  Anger not at them.

  Or herself.

  Probably not me, either.

  But toward her daughter for ruining her time away. The faster I get Charlie out of that place, the better.

  “Ma’am. If you let me have her name, I’ll be happy to help direct you where to go.”

  She rolls her eyes, scoffing. “Never mind, I see her father. I’ll ask him. He should know something.”

  Zoey marches over, her stare turning directly to me. “What happened? I swear I’m going to bring my wrath down on that hole-in-the-wall studio. I’ll take every penny they have leaving them with no other option than to close.”

  “We…” I start talking, but Zoey’s face morphs from annoyance to glacial when her gaze lands to the person at my side.

  “Oh, you. Naomi Minter. You’re back.” Her voice is clipped and terse.

  From the moment I started fighting for Charlie years ago, Zoey knew Naomi had a hand in helping gather my confidence to fight. For a year after Naomi left, at every drop off and pick up, Zoey had another bad thing to say about Naomi. Even after that, anytime an article came out about Naomi, the magazine would mysteriously land on my front door step.

  “I am.” Naomi lowers herself closer to me, the anxiety in her pouring out.

  “Charlotte was telling me about her new teacher. Don’t know why I didn’t know it was you. Wonder what the other parents would think if they knew their children’s teacher was a stripper.”

  I glance at Naomi as her face drops, and deep lines of worry fall over her.

  Something in me snaps—breaks—seeing how easy it is for Zoey to treat Naomi like a pile of shit she stepped in. Naomi is the one person, other than myself, who seems to have Charlie’s best interest at heart. All the time. Without wanting anything in return—not asking for a single thing. Not even her own mother does that.

  With my fists clenched at my side, resisting the urge to grab her shoulders and shake sense into her, I know I have to speak, take a stand. “Stop it right now, Zoey. She didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, she fucking helped. What can you say about that? Huh?”

  She raises her chin. “What…were you guys too busy fucking on the floor to watch your daughter? Or did you try the wall? Oh, I know, I heard the bar makes a good position. Can’t get the whore to close her legs long enough to teach her class. Maybe she deserves to be on the street then.” Hatred laces her voice and fills every word.

  But the icy chill of anger runs through my veins. She went there. Over and beyond there.

  “X, I’m going to wait outside.” Naomi’s words break our argument. Her cheeks flush, not giving me a chance to even ask her to stay before she dodges out of the room.

  Zoey’s eyes dance with a vicious glint as she watches Naomi leave. She starts to open her mouth, but what she said—how she’s acting—I’ve had enough.

  “I’m telling you right now, don’t spread lies. Those lies have a way of becoming poison.” Gritting my teeth, I stop myself from lashing out even more.

  “Oh please, Xavier, what are you going to do about it? Nothing. That’s what you’re going to do. That’s all you ever do. You’re only good for one thing—your money. It’d be a shame to lose that daughter of yours you love so much for that whore.”

  A growl rolls through me, an evil smile pulling at my lips. “Really? You want to play? You want to throw punches, hit below the belt? Let’s go. I’ve been waiting for this. You open your mouth about Naomi one more time—one more damn time—and everything stops. The extra money, paying for your car—all of it—finished. Boy, wouldn’t that put a wrench in your plan to take Charlie away to get more money from me?”

  She steps back, her hand to her chest. I hit her in the only place it ever counts. The bank account. “How did you know?”

  “I know everything about it.”

  “You can’t.”

  “Wanna bet? I’ll see you in court. Because I’m done with you and your charade of playing victim. The only person who will lose, in the end, is Charlie. Not you. Not me. But our daughter who you’re supposed to put first.”

  “X, let’s talk about this and find a solution that works for me. I mean both of us,” she says, the levels in her voice playing nice. Only she can’t fool me.

  “Nothing to say. You come in here, and your first words are about making money. Not once asking if your daughter’s okay. Nothing. It was all about money. Always about money with you, and your daughter is your personal ATM. For years, I’ve put up with your bullshit for the greater good, but there is no greater good anymore. Not when Charlie’s emotions are getting screwed in the process. It’s over.”

  A tension in me releases as the words come out. No more holding back, no more kissing her ass to get some chance to see my child.

  “No judge
is going to give you full custody. Not being a crackhead and after her getting hurt. No one will.”

  No more hiding.

  No more hurting.

  I will do it, and nothing she says will break that vow. My daughter is innocent in this, and she won’t be touched by Zoey’s hatred any longer.

  “You said that very thing last time, yet I still got what I wanted. I’ve passed every single drug test I’ve taken. Surprise or not. By you and the court. Not even a damn trace of anything in them. I’ve been clean for almost a decade. You get that. Ten years. Charlie’s almost twelve and they’ll ask her who she wants to live with. That’s what it will probably come down to. What do you think she’ll say? Who do you think she’ll want to live with? Are you confident about what her response will be?” I fold my arms across my chest, and as her face morphs into a painful expression, I know I’ve hit a nerve.

  Zoey huffs out, “Fine. If you want her so bad, take her for two weeks and see how hard it is to be a full-time parent. Everything, and I mean everything, is going to be your problem to deal with. Don’t call me when you fail, because I know you will. You always do.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of asking for help from you.”

  When it comes to fighting for Charlie, I’m like a caged animal. Even with the door held open, I won’t want to move. All in fear it would mean I’d lose that safe spot with my daughter. Now, I know if I don’t step out, it’ll be over before I have a chance to fight.

  And Charlie will get all of that determination.

  Zoey pulls her purse over her shoulder and turns on her heel, leaving me alone.

  I got my baby.

  Chapter 8

  Naomi

  The sunset hits the top of his house as I pull down his driveway. His home. X hasn’t stopped staring at Charlie since they released her. He’s worried every bump, curve in the road, or brake of the car is going to send her back to the hospital. He’s the perfect father—it’s one of the things I can say I love about him and not feel an ounce of guilt over it.