Page 88

His tone is icy when he replies, staring daggers at Killian’s back. “Kind of seems like you’ve had that covered.”

“Dom, come on. You can’t seriously think I’m going to leave you to watch the kids when James won’t even talk to you.”

“Well, he talks to Killian. And he seems to know all their routines. He can take the lead.”

Killian turns around, the picture of impatience as he dries his hands and takes in his dad. I look between them. Even if Killian wasn’t coming, I would never leave the two of them alone in here. I’d probably come back to find my house razed to the ground.

“He won’t be here,” I say, watching the realization sink into Dom.

“Christ,” he spits.

My chest tightens, a familiar anxiety spreading through me. This is what Dom does. He shows up and makes me feel like a failure of a parent. You shouldn’t be leaving them with anyone so you can go out and fucking party. What kind of a mom does that?

I suck in a breath. “You know what, forget about it. I’ll just stay. It’s fine.”

“Scar,” Killian says, his voice gentle, like he can hear the rising panic in me.

“No. I’m putting my foot down,” Piper says, pushing back from the table. “You”—she points at me—“are going. You’re going to relax. I’m going to call Landon, and he and I will stay here with the kids. And Dom,” she says through gritted teeth. “We know their routines, and we’ll even call you at bedtime so Killian can read to them if you really want. But you’re getting out of this house. Both of you.”

“That sounds like a good compromise,” Killian pipes up.

Dom doesn’t look happy, but why would he?

“Is that okay with you?” I ask him, but Piper interrupts.

“I don’t care if he’s okay with it. This is what’s happening. If you don’t like it, Dom, the kids can come stay with me, and you’re welcome to go crawl back to whatever circle of hell you came here from.” Damn. Piper’s been holding back. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Killian turning away to straighten the dishtowel hanging by the sink. But not fast enough to hide the smile on his face.

Dom narrows his eyes at her, but he knows better than to snap at her. I can handle him disrespecting me, but he doesn’t get to start shit with my family. “It’s fine.”

“Great.” She crosses her arms and glares back.

The tension since Dom got here is exhausting. I miss feeling comfortable in my own house. Well, his house, as he was quick to remind me when he arrived.

“Can you two give us a minute?” I ask, glancing between Piper and Killian. Piper heads out with one last glare at Dom, but Killian hesitates. “I’m okay, Kill,” I promise softly, and he nods, not sparing a glance for his dad as he leaves us.

Dom crosses his arms, not budging from the fridge.

“Will you sit down? Please.”

He sighs but pulls a chair out and drops into it.

“The last month has been a lot. Hell, the last few years have been a lot. I need this, Dom.”

“‘This’ being a romantic getaway with my son,” he spits, and I have to force myself not to shrink beneath his gaze. I’m past that.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen. I didn’t ask for this. For any of it,” I say and he scoffs.

“Yet you still climbed into bed with him at the first chance you got.”

I hate how he makes it sound. Like it’s something cheap.

“And you invited me back to your hotel room when I was eighteen and you had a wife. You don’t exactly have the moral high ground here,” I point out. “I understand that this isn’t what you expected. It’s not what I expected either. Or Killian.”

“A few weeks ago, you told me you weren’t seeing anyone,” he says. That was before Killian and I had even kissed, but I don’t think Dom would thank me for the details. “How many other men have you been bringing around our kids?”

He says it like the idea of me having some kind of companion would be a bad thing. I know a lot of single moms who choose to stay single, either because they don’t want the hassle of dating, or because they’ve been too hurt by their ex-partner to consider letting someone else in. But there are plenty of single moms out there who date, too. Single moms who balance their work lives, family lives, and personal lives a hell of a lot better than I do. Neither is a wrong choice, but how I’ve done things—shutting down my own wants and needs for eight years—is the wrong choice.

“I haven’t been with anyone else,” I answer honestly, and Dom blinks in surprise. “I haven’t even had time to think about dating, and I wasn’t ready to let someone in.”