Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Yes. And Taylor is coming with us this weekend,” he says excitedly.
“Taylor?” I ask casually.
“Yeah, she’s Dad’s new friend. She got me a Nintendo Switch,” he says, as if I should know that. I assumed Noah had bought it for him. It didn’t even occur to me to ask.
“That was nice of her.” I try to keep my emotions in check, but I can’t lie and say a little sadness doesn’t pass through me, knowing Noah didn’t share this with me himself.
I hear a car pull up behind me, and I turn, expecting it to be Noah. But who I see step out definitely isn’t Noah.
No, it’s fucking Soren Nixon.
The man himself.
The dickhead of all dickheads.
He looks me over before his gaze moves to Oliver. He runs one hand down the front of his suit jacket as he approaches us.
Without saying a word, I glare at him. The last thing I want is for him to meet my son, especially with his vague threat toward my son.
“Good afternoon, Miss Knight. Who is this young gentleman?” He’s still eyeing Oliver.
Oliver smiles brightly at him. “I’m Mr. Knight,” Oliver says proudly, puffing his chest a little.
I can’t help the smile that touches my lips.
“Soren, why are you here?”
His gray gaze comes to mine before he says, “I was thinking you could join me for a drink.”
I scoff. “So, I can wear the wrong attire… again?”
“Of course not. What you’re wearing is fine.”
“Yeah, Mom, you look great,” Oliver chirps, and I pat him on the shoulder in thanks.
I’m dressed in jeans and a light-pink shirt. I finished work early so I could spend the afternoon with Oliver, since he’s going to be away for the week with Noah. I changed clothes to take him out for ice cream.
Before I notice what I’m doing, my back straightens a little, and Noah looks just as surprised to see me waiting out here. Usually, he comes inside and collects Oliver, which I’m guessing is what he thought would happen today. It’s probably why he brought her. He steps out of the car, and that’s when he sees Soren standing nearby, watching us.
“Dad!” Oliver goes straight to Noah and leaps into his arms. “I packed all my things, and I’m ready to go.” Oliver turns back to me and gives me a wave. “See you in a week, Mom. Love you.” I give him a small wave in return as he climbs into the back seat of the car.
The car door is shut, and he can no longer hear me, but I couldn’t care less that Soren is standing there as I ask Noah in a biting tone, “Taylor meeting the family?”
A crease forms between his brows as he stares at me and says sheepishly, “She already has.”
I wave a hand at him. “Of course, you’re engaged. How could I forget?” I glance at Oliver to make sure he isn’t paying us any attention before I look back at Noah. “Have a good week.”
Goddammit! I turn and walk back to my house, but just as I reach to the door, I look to Soren and say, “You can go now. You aren’t wanted here.” Then I slam the door shut behind me.
Leaning against it, I can hear them speaking.
“Are you two working together?” Noah asks Soren.
“You could say that,” Soren replies vaguely.
They go quiet again before I hear a woman’s voice.
“Soren, it’s good to see you.”
“Taylor,” he says in greeting.
And that has me whipping open the door, and everyone’s attention swings to me. I glare at Soren and point at him. “You. Get inside. Now.”
Soren’s eyes narrow before he makes his way to me. I step aside so he can enter, and when he does, I shoot a bright but fake smile at my ex and his fiancée before I shut the door. Taking a deep breath, I gather the courage to turn around and face Soren. When I do, I find him watching me with a curious expression. He looks intimidating, dressed in all black, but his hair is messier than usual. And his lips are pressed together in a straight line, as if he already knows what I’m about to say, but he speaks before I can get a word out.
“Nice family you have there. You plan to invite Taylor around for Christmas?”
Without thinking, I bend down, pick up one of my heels, and chuck it at his face. He catches it in midair.
Fuck him and his quick reflexes.
He glances at the shoe in his hand before dropping it to the floor, then returns his gaze to me. “Assault. Guess that one is new.”
“You knew I didn’t know about Taylor. Was that your plan, to unravel me so I wouldn’t keep fishing for a story?” I seethe.
“Did it work?”
“No, it made me angrier.”
“So, you invited me in to assault me. You could have at least kissed me first.”