by Nikki Ash
“A judge would be the one to decide that. But I can take him in to put some distance between you two.”
“No. I’ll go, and that’ll solve everything,” I say.
“Can I come with you?” Eli asks.
“I don’t think so. You’re only seventeen.” I rub his head affectionately.
“What if he comes after me too?” Fear shines in his eyes. I don’t blame him. That was heavy shit for a kid.
“He won’t. It’s me he has a problem with.”
“Tell you what,” Jax interjects. “If I get your dad to agree to let Eli go with you for the night, do you have somewhere he can stay?”
I think about Lance’s condo and wonder how he’d feel about me showing up with a teenager. Even if he doesn’t want us there, I’d rent a room at the B&B before I said no to Eli.
“Yeah. I got a place.”
Jax looks curious, but doesn’t interfere. “Okay. I’ll go see what I can do.”
After he’s gone, I turn to my kid brother. “I’m sorry. I should’ve left when he asked me to. This is my fault.”
“It’s not your fault. You’re the only one who has been there for me. I can’t be here without you.”
“That’s not necessarily something I can control. Maybe in a few months when you turn eighteen.”
His face falls.
“All right, guys. Eli, you’re free to go with Bo tonight,” Jax says. “Just make sure you’re at school tomorrow.”
Eli nods and darts to his room, presumably to pack.
“I’m sorry you got mixed up in this.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Jax opens the front door. “Coming from someone who lived a lot of years hiding who he is for the sake of his parents, don’t do it anymore. Be yourself. Love whoever the hell you want to. Fuck ’em.”
“I’m trying. I really am.”
“And the guy is worth it?” he asks, and I chuckle. At least he tried not to pry.
“He is. You know Dr. Miller, I’m guessing.”
“I do.”
I smile and nod. Jax returns my grin and walks out. Seconds later, Eli is at my side. We load his backpack and the first aid kit and drive away. I should call Lance and warn him, but something tells me he’ll be okay with it.
“Where are we going?” Eli asks.
“My boyfriend’s house.”
Chapter Nine
Lance
I hear the front door open and I peek around the corner from the kitchen where I’ve been attempting to make dinner. I’ve got Lane strapped to my chest in some kind of harness and she’s sound asleep. Thank God.
What I see sucks the air from my lungs. A bloody and swollen-faced Bo looks back at me, and at his side is a scrawny teenager who looks like a younger version of his big brother.
“What the hell happened?” I rush toward him and cup his face in my hands, inspecting his injuries. He twists out of my hold, brushing me off.
“Pops happened,” the kid says.
“Lance, this is Eli. Eli, Lance.”
“Nice to finally meet you.” I give him a warm smile I don’t feel, because on the inside I’m freaking out.
“I would say the same, but I didn’t know about you until five minutes ago,” Eli sasses, glaring at Bo.
“Can we talk for a second?” Bo asks.
“Yeah, sure.” I turn to Eli. “Make yourself at home. The remote is on the coffee table.”
“Thanks.”
Bo grabs my hand, tugs me toward the master bedroom, and then into the ensuite. He’s wired, I feel it coming off of him in waves. He rifles through the medicine cabinet and brings out something I don’t recognize. He opens the white box up to reveal a first aid kit.
“I didn’t know I had one of those.”
“You didn’t.” He smirks. “But with little Lane there, you needed it.”
“Good call. I didn’t even think about that.” I place a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Pissed off, but fine.”
“What happened?” I ask his reflection in the mirror.
“I showed up to Eli’s game and he wasn’t there. Found out it was because my dad was too lazy to take him and too stubborn to let me.” He cringes as he rubs his face with an alcohol wipe.
“Let me.” I take the wipe and blot the wound. “Probably could use a stitch.”
“I’m fine. Put a butterfly on it.”
We have a stare-down, but eventually I give in. He’s had enough shit tonight. He doesn’t need it from me. I take out a butterfly bandage and get the wound closed the best I can.
“I went to go talk to my old man, but the stubborn bastard didn’t want to talk,” he says.
“Jesus. He did this to you?”
“He’s a brute.”
“And Eli?” I ask hesitantly.
“He didn’t want to stay. Sheriff Bell got Pops to agree to let him leave with me, and since this is my home right now, here we are.” He shrugs. “But say the word. We’ll go stay at the B&B. I don’t want to put you in a bad spot.”
“No. Of course he’ll stay here. I have a pull-out sofa in my office.”
He turns around and leans against the vanity, folding his arms. “I lost it. He started spewing all this bullshit about how I’m not his kid and how I should leave and never come back.”
“Oh, babe. I’m so sorry.” I pull his arms apart and settle between his legs the best I can with a sleeping baby between us.
“I didn’t even say hello to my princess.” He ducks down and kisses the top of her head. “How’s she been tonight?”
“Good. Happy. I tried to keep her awake, but she conked out on me twenty minutes ago.”
“Aww. Couldn’t hang tonight, huh?” He settles his hands on my hips. “Are you sure about Eli?”
“Of course. He’s your family and well, you’re my family, so that makes him mine too.”
He leans in and kisses me. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I pull my white lab coat on and take a seat behind my desk, bringing my computer to life to check emails before starting my shift. It’s been a rough morning already, and I’m hoping the day will improve.
As hard as Eli tried to talk his dad into letting him stay through the weekend, he had to go home the next day. Bo was hesitant to send him back, but our hands are tied.
It was fun seeing the brothers together. They bickered, but they also joked around and laughed a lot. I’ve gotten a glimpse of the nurturing side of Bo seeing him with Lane, but he’s much more paternal with Eli. He made him eat his vegetables and brush his teeth. I never had any doubts of what kind of dad he would be, but my suspicions were confirmed seeing him with Eli.
I scroll through endless emails I don’t feel like responding to, when one from my family attorney catches my eye. I’ve been pushing thoughts of next week’s hearing to the back of mind, knowing that stressing out about it won’t solve any of my problems.
I quickly read through it, and my jaw drops. How in the hell did they find out about…? I pick my cellphone up from my desk, go to my favorites, and click on Bo.
“Hey, I’m just pulling into the parking lot right now.”
“How would Maisy’s parents find out about your altercation with your dad?” I blurt out.
“What?”
“My attorney sent me an email this morning telling me that Maisy’s parents filed an emergency petition to get Lane removed from my custody because I have a violent man staying with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“Shit. I have to go. I need to call him back and figure this out.”
“Wait. Lance,” he says, but I hang up.
I dial my attorney’s cell and it rings three times before he answers.
“Lance, I was hoping you’d get my message sooner rather than later,” his rich baritone comes over the line.
“I don’t understand what this means. Tell me I’m not losing my daughter.” My leg bounces uncontrollably and I alre
ady have my glasses off, digging at my eyes.
“Not if I can help it, but I need more information. What happened last night?”
“My boyfriend got into an argument with his dad. But they weren’t at my house. Lane was nowhere near them.”
“An argument or a physical fight?” he asks calmly.
“A fight. But his dad attacked him. He had nothing to do with it, he barely defended himself.”
He sighs heavily. “Will his dad sign a testimony saying that?”
My stomach sinks. “Probably not.”
“Then it’s a moot point. Does your boyfriend have a violent past?”
“No.”
“Is he living with you?”
I hesitate. “He’s staying with me, but he hasn’t moved in.” I don’t tell him I planned on asking him to move in as soon as this case is settled. Now that I’ve had him in my bed, I never want him to leave.
“That’s going to be a problem. If I were you, I’d put some distance between you and him.”
I shake my head even though he can’t see. “Until the case is over?”
“Until forever. I’ve been practicing law for a long time and I’ve rarely seen anyone as motivated to get custody as Mr. and Mrs. Smith are.”
My stomach feels like it’s fallen out of my body and splattered all over the ground. I finally found happiness with someone I can be myself with. Someone who knows everything about me and loves me anyway. The choice will always be Lane, but that doesn’t make it easy.
“How did they find out about what happened?”
“Private detective would be my guess. They have unlimited resources and no common sense.” He has the decency to sound affronted.
“Is there any other way?” I ask without really wanting to know the answer.
“Afraid not. Of course we can always argue your case and hope the judge sees it your way, but you run an even higher risk of losing your daughter.”
“I can’t chance it.”
“I hoped you would say that. I’ll get the emergency petition thrown out since no police report was filed. They’ll still bring it up in court, but it’s too soon for them to have enough proof.”
“Thank you,” I say and mean it. He’s costing me a pretty penny, but he’s worth it.
“You’re welcome. Talk soon.”
I’ve no sooner set my phone down, when my office door is flung open and Bo rushes in.
“You hung up on me. What’s going on?”
I hold a hand to my forehead, my mind racing. “Maisy’s parents had a private detective watching me. And you too, apparently. He must’ve been following you last night and somehow found out about the fight with your dad. They’re trying to get Lane removed from my custody.”
“Fuck.” He sinks onto the couch. “I’m sorry, Lance. Jesus Christ. I fucked up.”
“You didn’t. You were trying to do right by your brother. I can’t hold that against you.”
“Why do I feel a but coming?”
“But I have to protect Lane. This isn’t what I want. I hope you know that.”
“What are you saying?” His eyes narrow.
“I have two options. Get a sworn statement from your dad saying he attacked you—”
“Or kick me out of your life,” he finishes for me, and I nod sadly.
“I’m guessing your dad won’t admit to that.”
“Not in a million years.” He rubs a hand over his nearly bald head.
“I didn’t think so.”
He stands up and tucks his hands in his pockets. “I’ll have my stuff out before you get off shift. I’ll go explain to the manager on duty that I can’t work today.”
“Bo,” I say, but nothing else comes out. What else is there to say?
“I know. I’m so fucking sorry, doc.” His voice breaks and I eat the distance between us. I wrap him in my arms like it’s the last time this will ever happen. Probably because it is the last time this will ever happen. I commit the way he feels and the way he smells to my memory. Then I kiss him so I can commit his taste to my memory too.
He will always be my happy. It fucking sucks he couldn’t be my forever.
“I love you,” I say against his lips, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
“I love you too.” He gently extricates himself from me. He cradles my cheek in his hand, brushing a thumb over the drop of sadness that fell. “Take care of our princess.”
“I will.”
He walks out and I sink to the floor. It was only a few months ago I was in the same position learning my ex-wife was dead. When shit hits the fan, I hit the floor.
I get the sudden urge to hold my baby. She got me through Maisy’s death, I can only hope she’ll get me through this.
The next week passes by in a series of devastating moments. First when I got home after learning Bo and I can no longer share a life, to find an empty home. It’s not like he had moved in any more than a couple of duffle bags, but it wasn’t the material possessions that left me feeling empty. It was him not being there to share all the moments. The blow-out diapers, the cuddling on the couch, the quiet love making. I missed all of it.
Then it was the awkward and sad encounters at work. He looked so depressed and lost. He’d start to ask how Lane and I were, only to stop himself and walk away like it was too painful to know. I was almost relieved because I didn’t want to lie to him. I didn’t want to tell him I’d been absolutely miserable without him.
And now, I’m getting on a plane with Lane and my nanny to New York. Without him. We had planned for him to come along. He had me convinced everything would be okay and after I was awarded permanent custody, I’d show him and Lane around the city. We were going to stay a few days and make a vacation out of it.
But instead of Bo sitting next to me on the plane, it’s a twenty-three-year-old girl who loves my daughter, but not in the way Bo does. Not like Lane belongs to her.
After we land, we check into the hotel and I say goodnight to Liz, telling her what time to be at my suite tomorrow morning. I shorted the trip and will be going home the day after tomorrow. Hopefully with Lane.
Not only is my heart eviscerated from losing Bo, there’s at least a fifty percent chance I’ll lose my daughter.
Lane and I spend a somber night together. I order myself room service and feed her a bottle. I put on my bathing suit and get into the jetted tub with her for bath time. I don’t bother laying her down in the portable crib the hotel delivered to me. Instead, I keep her snuggled on my chest all night. I know it’s not the safest place for her, but I can’t bear to have her away from me. Besides, I only manage to get sleep in ten-minute increments before I remember my dire situation and my mind would race once again.
The next morning, I dress in an expensive suit and kiss Lane before walking out the door. When I come back, I’ll either be the dad who gets the honor of raising her, or a stranger who gets to see her on holidays and over the summer. If I’m lucky. Who knows what kind of visitation Maisy’s parents will agree to should I lose.
My hand feels empty as I walk up the stairs to the courthouse. I wish, more than anything, Bo was here to give me the support I desperately need.
I almost hear his voice yelling, “Doc!” over the crowd. I shake my head. I’m such an idiot. This isn’t the movies and that’s not the way things happen.
“Doc! Wait!” I hear again, only this time it sounds real.
I flip around and see a tall, gorgeous, sexy as hell, black man running toward me. He’s dressed in wrinkled, sea foam green scrubs. Holy fuck. It is him. It’s Bo.
Chapter Ten
Boaz
Twelve hours earlier
I get off shift and drive in the direction of the B&B to spend another night alone. I haven’t been eating or sleeping. It’s irresponsible since I work in life-or-death situations, but I can’t bring myself to care. Especially since this is Brigs Ferry Bay, and not too many true emergencies walk through our door.
I walk in the door of
the swanky B&B, ready to bury myself under the covers and wallow. But I don’t get that far because I spot Eli sitting on a sofa right inside the entrance. He spots me and jumps to his feet. I’ve texted with him every day to make sure he’s safe, but things have quieted down at home. Pops hasn’t been an attentive dad or anything, but he did drive Eli to practice the last few days with minimal bitching.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, giving him a bro hug with a slap on his back.
“I did something,” he says, holding out a manilla envelope.
“Uh oh. Why does that scare me?”
“I think you’ll like it.”
“Come on. Let’s go to my room.”
I lead him where I’ve been staying and we take a seat on the bed. I open the manilla folder and pull out some documents. My eyes catch on the wording on top. Brigs Ferry Bay Police Department Witness Report.
“What is this?” I ask.
“I felt bad you lost Lance and Lane because you wanted to make things right for me. I knew Pops wouldn’t admit he was the one who attacked you, but I go to school with Sheriff Bell’s brother, Zak, and I told him about what happened. He talked to the sheriff—”
“Eli.”
“Just listen. He said I could fill out a witness statement. Yeah, I’m a minor, but apparently kids don’t lie as often as adults do, so the judge might actually believe me.” He shrugs and shows me another form. “Plus Sheriff Bell filled out a report saying what he found. That Pops didn’t have any injuries, but you did. A judge will have to believe a cop.”
“I don’t think this will change anything.” Even with reports, it’s best I stay clear from the whole situation.
“I’m not doing this for you and Lance. You guys might not be able to be together even with proof you aren’t a violent person. I’m doing this for Lane. To show the judge that Lance didn’t have her around a dangerous person. She deserves to have a good dad and not grow up thinking she wasn’t wanted by her parents.” He sniffles and wipes his nose with the back of his hand. It hits me why he’s so adamant about this.