Kara has been telling me all about her dates with Drake. She’s so charged about this guy. Not like Kara at all. “I know normally, I don’t do serious. I mean, you saw how I was with Sly. That’s how I usually am with guys, relationships are just way too much drama. Drake has picked me up several times from work. He makes plans for us to do things. It’s nice not to have to think so much.”
I smile. “Well, that sounds great.”
She grins like a middle school girl. “Maybe we can double date some time.”
I laugh. “Maybe. I mean if Lox asks me out again.”
She smiles and raises her eyebrows. “Oh, he will. He did Black Friday with you for crying out loud.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I guess he did.”
I have a few massages throughout the day and generally my first day back is going great. Then, not so much…
Around three, a middle aged man comes in. I overhear him ask Kara, “May I speak with Sloan Foster, please?”
She looks at him wearily and asks who he is. “I’m Trey Ashby.”
She says that she’ll come get me. Once she rounds the corner, she asks, “Did you hear that?”
I’m confused. “Yeah.”
“Who is Trey Ashby?”
I shake my head. “I have no clue.” I start walking. “I guess I’m about to find out.”
I step to the front desk. “I’m Sloan Foster.”
“Hello, can we speak somewhere privately?”
I look over at Kara and she looks at me nervously. I nod. “Yes, come this way.” I have him follow me to the break room.
Once we are in the break room, I turn to him. “Okay, can you please tell me what this is about?”
“Yes. Like I said, I’m Trey Ashby. I’m one of Mr. Lucas Smith’s attorneys.” He reaches in the breast pocket of his sports coat, pulling out a folded white piece of paper. “This is an order for a paternity test. Mr. Smith has stated that he’d like to know for sure if this child is his or not. He’s willing to pay for the test.”
“Um. Excuse me? I’ve never asked Lucas for anything. I’ve done my best to steer clear of him. So much so that I’ve moved from my hometown since your office was kind enough to contact me over six months ago and said that Lucas offered to pay me to sign a non-disclosure, since he was moving back close to home.”
He huffs. “First, I wasn’t his attorney then. Secondly, it seems that you’ve told people since then.”
“You mean when he verbally assaulted me in Jacksonville and my friends took one look at him and knew who my child’s father was?”
“Then recently his mother was approached.”
I shake my head. “Um, you may want your client to start being honest with you. My mother was approached by his mother. Funny enough, she also took one look at my child and knew.”
“Well, you promised your silence and you’ve not followed through with that promise.”
I’m getting pissed. “Excuse me. I never promised him a god damn thing. I never signed anything, never took any money, so you can tell him to go fuck himself.”
“Ma’am, he is formally filing for a paternity test. This is a court order to comply.” I’m starting to tremble. I’m about to cry and it has nothing to do with being sad. I’m getting ready to kill someone.
Doc walks in and snatches the paper from the attorney. “Sloan, my attorney will look into this for you.” He turns back to Trey. “You, sir, will get the hell out of my office and tell that piece of shit you’re representing, whom by the way, I witnessed Ms. Foster’s verbal assault from, to keep his bullshit out of my office.”
Trey turns and walks out of the office. I start crying the moment he’s out of the break room. Doc pulls me into his arms. “Shh. Sloan, it’ll be okay. I’m going to have my lawyer look at this. He owes me a couple of favors. This asshole has no right to come in here almost six years later and ask for a paternity test.”
“Doc w-what i-if h-he tries to take him?” My voice quivers.
He looks in my eyes. “We aren’t going to let that happen, sweetheart. Kara is calling Lox to come get you. I know you need to pick up Sage and he doesn’t need to see you so upset. I don’t want you driving that way either.”
I nod and sit down in the chair. Ten minutes later, Lox is rushing in the kitchen. He pulls me up into his arms and I really start sobbing. “Pretty girl, please don’t cry.”
“I’m so scared, Lox. I’m so scared. He has so much more money than me. He can do whatever he wants.”
He kisses me on top of my head. “We aren’t going to let that happen. Anyone who hears the story will know he’s the asshole here.”
“God, I hope so.”
Kara steps in the break room. “Hey, if you can hold together to pick up Sage, I’ll have Jade meet you at your place and Lox can take you to blow off some steam somewhere. That way you can go clear your head a little bit. I would take you, but Drake wants me to meet him.”
I nod. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I don’t want him to see me upset. He’ll start asking questions.”
A few minutes later, Lox is walking me out to his truck and my mind is racing faster than the speeds at the Daytona 500.
If karma is real, I hope it bites Lucas Smith in the ass double.
CHAPTER 32
LOX
I’m going to kill that son-of-a-bitch. He has hurt her for the last damn time.
We’ve been by Slick’s school and picked him up, he’s content in the backseat playing his DS. On the way to her house, I just keep holding her hand and brushing the back of her knuckles with my thumb. She’s done a really great job of holding it together while she’s in front of the kid. I think he knows something’s wrong with her though. He’s a smart kid, he can tell she’s not being herself. Along with the fact that I picked him up.
Once we’re in her driveway, he turns off the game. “Momma, are you okay? Are you sick again?”
I can see the tears brimming in her eyes so I speak. “Slick, your momma is just really tired. Today was her first day back to work. She just over did it a little bit. Jade is going to come by and take you out for a little bit so your mom can rest. What do you think about that?”
He fist pumps. “Awesome! Are we going to work out tonight?”
This kids is brilliant. Going to the gym will be a great way for her to keep her mind off of things. “Yeah, I’ll have Jade take you to the gym and we’ll meet you there in a little bit.”
She glances at me reluctantly. I nod my head, trying to convey my feelings to her.
A little while later, Slick is gone with Jade. Sloan and I sit on her couch paying no attention to what’s on television until a sports caster comes on and starts talking about the Panthers. I just grab the remote and turn it off.
Taking her hands in mine, I pull her to my chest. “Hey, we are going to get dressed for the gym. Once we get there, I’m going to teach you some kick boxing moves and you are going to work out on the heavy bag tonight. It’ll help with your tension.”
She shakes her head. “Lox, how can he be such an asshole?”
I stand up bringing her with me. “I’m not sure, sweetheart, but new assholes are born every day.”
Walking into her bedroom feels comfortable. She goes through the motions of gathering her workout clothes. “I’m just going to step into the bathroom and change.”
Normally I would make a crack about already seeing her pretty much naked, but today I just can’t. A few minutes later, she comes out with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, a tank top and gym shorts on. “Do we need to swing by your place for you to change?”
“No, I keep clothes at the gym.” I look down at the clothes I’m wearing. “Plus, I’m pretty much dressed for the gym all the time.” I finally see her crack a smile.
“Thanks.”
She grabs a couple of bottles of water from her fridge as we head out. I walk beside her with my hand on the small of her back to my truck.
We don’t say much to each other on t
he ride to the gym. I can tell her mind is running away from her, her eyes look like she’s a million miles away.
God, this girl. She’s under my skin, taking over my every thought. I’ve never had the feelings I feel for her with anyone. Ever. I’m not going to throw that on her, too. She’s got enough to deal with right now, one asshole is enough.
~*~*~
We’ve been at the gym for an hour now. She’s so freaking sexy when she sweats. I’ve been working with her on the heavy bag. She’s good, she has natural instincts. I’ve had to make her be careful because she’s still supposed to be taking it a little easy. Jade called a little while ago and asked if she could take Slick to a movie, which was fine with Sloan. We’re going to meet them at Sloan’s house later.
I hear Huck’s raised voice coming from the entrance of the gym.
I stop and so does Sloan. I shake my head. “Great, he’s probably at it with Elizabeth again.”
Then we hear anther male voice. “Stay here, babe.” I start walking quickly toward Huck’s voice.
“This is a private facility so you can get the fuck out of here.”
“I’m not leaving until I talk to him.”
Once I round the corner, I see the man of the hour. Lucas Smith.
I sneer. “What in the fuck do you want? You have a lot of nerve showing your pansy ass up here.”
“I came to talk to you. You tell that little bitch if she wants a fight, she’s got one. My lawyers are going to tear her apart.” He crosses his arm over his chest with a cocky smirk.
I step toward him. “Do not ever call her a bitch again. What is the point in all of this? Slick doesn’t know you, she’s never asked you for anything. You’ve gotten out of this Scott free. Why are you putting her through this?”
“Because I won’t roll over and be a good dog for him, that’s why.” Sloan startles all of us. “He’s a spoiled ass brat, he’s used to getting whatever he wants. He’s a selfish pig.”
He grins. “Nice to see you too, Sloan. I guess you got my message. My lawyer said you guys had a great talk.”
She steps toward him, with Huck and I standing at the ready. “What do you want?”
“Well, my PR guy said I need to try to make this right. After the scene your baboons caused at that after party, rumors are flying around. Now my wife has heard them and she didn’t believe them until my mother got in my shit the other day after running into that kid and your mom. Now, my wife and my mom are pissed at me.”
No one saw the slap she delivered coming. “So you are using my child as a PR stunt? What do you really want out of this, Lucas? To be honest I’m tired and I’ve never asked you for a damn thing. I moved here to keep from running into you and subjecting my child to that.”
“Well, my lawyer says I should go for custody since you’ve kept him from me all this time. I don’t really care though, but my mom wants to know him. I just want to save face with my public image and get my wife off my back.” He smirks at me. “Don’t think your little boyfriend here worries me either. I’m not the kind of guy who can’t deal with threats.”
Before I can move, Huck has him up by the collar and is hurling him out the front doors of the gym. “How’s this for a threat, you shit stain? If you fucking come back here, I’m going to beat you within an inch of your fucking life. Then since this is private property, I’m going to have you arrested for trespassing. How will your image be then, dick head?”
I start walking Sloan back to the heavy bag. She’s trembling. “I hate him. I always swore that I’d always try to stay neutral about it but I really fucking hate him.”
We walk back to the heavy bag and she starts. “Babe, as much as I hate to say this, you probably need to sit down and have a talk with Slick about all of this. Before some random shit happens and he’s hit with it.”
She sighs. “I’m going to have to explain the DNA test to him, I know.” She shakes her head sadly. “If Jade hadn’t taken him to the movies he would’ve been here.”
“Oh, if he’d been here, that asshole wouldn’t have made it in the door. Huck wouldn’t let that happen.”
She stops swinging and slides down next to the wall. “This is just so fucking messed up, Lox. He’s just a greedy asshole.”
I slide down next to her, pulling her to my chest. “I know, pretty girl. I know.”
CHAPTER 33
SLOAN
After calling my parents to fill them in the other night, my dad had to physically restrain Jacob to keep him from going to find Lucas. Both of my parents were really upset, but they agreed that I needed to talk to Sage about it. To take a little of the stress off me, my mom suggested that they come over for dinner tonight. That way we could sit down together and talk to Sage.
Lox offered to come over and help, but I feel like I need to do this without distractions. I have to think logically about this. I’m attracted to him, but we really don’t have any commitments to each other. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the guys helping me out and taking time with Sage, but I have to be his parent first. That is the major difference between Lucas and I. Being a parent will always come first. Right now I can’t afford to let extra people in our lives.
On the way home, I grab the items I’ll need to make tacos. My parents have already called and said they are about thirty minutes out. I look in my rearview mirror at the best kid on the planet. “Guess what, Bud? Nana and Pop are coming over for dinner tonight.”
“Yay. Am I going home with them?”
I smile. “No, they are just coming over for dinner.”
“Oh, okay.” He goes back to looking out the window.
Once we get home, I get started browning the meat and chopping the veggies. When there is a knock at the front door, I run in there expecting my parents. I open the door to a nicely dressed woman. “Sloan Foster?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
She hands me a piece of paper. “You’ve been officially served.”
I slam the door and open the paper.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA.
CASE NO. 08-1125A
LUCAS A SMITH
PETITIONER
AND
SLOAN A FOSTER
RESPONDENT
PETITION TO DETERMINE PATERNITY AND FOR RELATED RELIEF
Petitioner, Lucas A. Smith being sworn certifies that the following information is true.
This is an action for paternity and to determine custody, parental responsibility and child support under CHAPTER 742, Florida Statutes.
Petitioner is the ( ) Mother (X) Father of the minor child:
Name: Place of Birth: Date of Birth: Sex:
Sage E. Foster Gainesville, Florida Unknown M
I continue to read through the papers. Words like shared custody, sole custody and name change stick out. The son of a bitch doesn’t even have a clue as to when my child was born, but he thinks he should have shared or sole custody of him? He thinks my child should take his last name? The child he didn’t even want? The child he tried to pay me to abort? That fucking asshole.
“Momma, is that Nana and Pop?” Sage calls from his room.
“No, sweetie. They’ll be here soon though.”
I go back in the kitchen to finish getting supper ready. I’m not as eager to run to the door when another knock comes. Glancing through the glass pane, I sigh in relief when I see my parents. Opening the door, my mom pulls me into a hug. “How are you doing, sweetie?”
I nod. “I’m okay. I just wish this was all over with.”
“POP!” Sage comes flying around the corner.
My dad picks him up in a bear hug. “Hey, Bud. How’s school been?”
My dad continues a conversation with Sage while my mom and I go in the kitchen.
“Is Lox coming over for dinner tonight?”
I shake my head. “No, I figured this would be better.” I take the pan from the stove. “I have a feeling this is going to get really mess
y, he doesn’t need this. They have all of the new stuff going on at the gym and the deal with Bellator. He doesn’t need my extra baggage.”
She puts a hand on my shoulder. “Sweetie, I think he wants the extra baggage.”
I grab the papers off the counter I’d just received and hand them to her. She looks over them and the anger radiating off her could melt an igloo.
“That little piece of shit. I should’ve let your father throw him in the swamp and let the alligators tend to him years ago.”
I sigh. “Let’s just eat and get all of this over with.”
An hour later, we’ve finished supper and are all in the living room of my small home. “Sage, can you come sit down for a minute?”
He runs in the room and hops up on the couch. “What’s up?”
I turn to face him. “Honey, you know how you asked me before about your daddy? Why you don’t have one?”
He nods and I begin to explain the best I can how now his father wants to know him. I try to keep everything as neutral as possible when talking about Lucas without saying his name. For a five year old, finding out your dad plays for the NFL could be a very big deal, whether your dad is an asshole or not. However this works out, I just want to try my best to keep my baby from being hurt. I talk to him about the cheek swab he’ll have to do in the doctor’s office.
“Momma, why does he want to know me now? He could’ve hung out with me a long time ago.” I hear my dad saying something about him being such a smart kid.
What do I say here? Your dad is a douche who’s more concerned with what the public thinks of him than you? “I don’t know, sweetie. We’re still trying to figure it all out.” I pull him to my chest, hugging him tight. “But no matter what, you’ll always have me.”
“Do I have to go live with him? One of my friends at school, he had to go live with his dad.”
“I hope not, baby,” I say, trying not to choke up.
He lets out a frustrated sigh. “Why can’t Lox just be my dad?” He gets up and storms to his room.
I clasp my hands together and rest my forehead against them. “God, this is so messed up. I hate him. I hate him. I hope Karma catches up with him and bites his dick off.”
Letting Lox In Page 13