Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
I looked at Ashley, who was now glaring at Palmer. Hell, I didn’t want her anywhere near Palmer, either.
“No,” I said. “She’s an adult, she can find a place to stay.”
“Mason Bryan.”
I spun around and looked at my mother. “You, of all people, surely do not expect me to let her into this house?”
“No,” my mother said. “But you should go to Palmer’s and get this figured out before Charlie hears.”
That made Ashley’s face light up. “I want to see Charlie.”
Without taking my eyes off of her, I said, “Palmer, will you please bring me my jacket and hat so we can go to your house?”
“Yes, of course.”
As Palmer and my mother hurried to get our coats, I stepped out onto the covered porch. I was so angry, the cold wasn’t even fazing me.
“What in the fuck do you think you’re doing, Ashley?”
She gave me a one-shoulder shrug. “I want to see Charlie. You changed your phone number, so I had to take drastic measures in order to find you both.”
I raised a brow. “And that was?”
“Hiring someone to keep an eye on your parents.”
“What?” I heard my father nearly shriek. “You’ve been having us watched?”
Ashley’s shoulders slumped. “Dan, it was the only way I could find Charlie and Mason. Nick won’t speak to me or return any of my calls. He has security at his building, and they won’t even let me step foot in there.”
“I see he finally wised up,” I said.
“I have the right to see Charlie, Mason. I want to see him now.”
I nearly grabbed her and shook her. “You signed those rights away, or don’t you remember?”
“Here,” Palmer said as she pushed my coat and gloves into my body. “Put these on and let’s take this away from a public street.”
I scanned the area. A few cars were driving by, moving through the snowstorm slowly, and I could see lights on in the houses across the street. I knew Palmer was right; standing on my front porch arguing with my ex wasn’t good for anyone.
After putting my coat on, I said, “Let’s go.”
Palmer headed down the driveway first, and I followed.
“Wait. I don’t have snow boots on!” Ashley cried out.
“Not my problem!” I replied.
As we headed toward Palmer’s, I glanced over my shoulder to see Ashley trailing behind us. I lowered my voice and said, “I’m so sorry, Palmer.”
“Why are you saying sorry to me?”
I shrugged, but she was more focused on where she was stepping. A large amount of snow had fallen throughout the day.
“I don’t know,” I said. “The day was perfect and now it’s tainted.”
“We’ll get this all worked out, Mason. I promise. The important thing is to keep her away from Charlie.”
If only I had Palmer’s optimism. It wasn’t a good sign that Ashley was here. It only proved that she was still up to her old games. She didn’t care about Charlie. No mother who signed away her rights the moment her child was born would suddenly fall head over heels in love with him. No, she was here for another reason.
Once we finally made it to Palmer’s, I waited outside for Ashley while Palmer went in. She had insisted on making us a pot of coffee.
The second Ashley stepped into Palmer’s house, I wanted to shudder. Something about her being in Palmer’s space made me feel sick to my stomach.
She glanced around while she took off her designer coat. Then she looked at me. “What should I do with this?”
I grabbed it and hung it up on the coatrack by the door.
Ashley slowly made her way around the living room as she peeled off her gloves. “She lives here?”
“She has a name. It’s Palmer. And yes, she rents it.”
“From you?”
I ignored her question. “Cut to the damn chase, Ashley. What do you want?”
Turning to face me, she plastered on a fake smile. “I came to see you and Charlie.”
“Why?”
“Can’t a woman want to see her husband and child?”
“Not when she doesn’t have a husband, or a child.”
Direct hit. Ashley flinched but then put on the same fake smile and sat down on the sofa. “Quaint little place she has here.”
I ran my hand down my face and let out a frustrated sigh. “You’re not going to see Charlie. No matter what you say or do, you will not see him.”
“Has he asked about me?” she asked with a tilt of her head. I could see so much of her in Charlie. His smile, his eyes. Everyone said he looked like me, but that was because no one had ever truly seen his mother. He was the spitting image of her.
“No, not in years.”
That seemed to deflate her a bit. “Probably because you never told him about me.”
“And why would I?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest. I still had my jacket on so it made it a bit difficult.