Page 73 of Dad Next Door

“I really wish I could have read it. I never got to do the big dramatic fuck you. It’s about time Simon has to deal with the consequences of his actions.”

“Me too. But I’m sure it was filled with things like ‘you’re an asshole’ and ‘I’m better off without you.’ Hopefully there was an ‘eat shit’ in there too.”

I snickered.

“Are you okay with Leo knowing about us?”

I paused. Quinn and I had decided together that we would wait a few weeks before telling him. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Leo to know or was trying to hide it from him; it was more that we wanted to figure out what we had before bringing him into it.

I appreciated how Quinn always deferred to me when it came to Leo. He offered advice and suggestions, but understood I needed to do what I thought was best for my son.

“I’m pissed, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. And Leo’s fine with everything.” I paused again. “Do you want to come over tomorrow? Maybe we can do dinner and watch a movie or something?”

“Yeah.” I could hear his smile. “I’d love to.”

Crash.

“I’m okay!” Leo immediately shouted.

“One second.” I pulled the phone away from my ear and covered the speaker with my hand. “Is everyone else okay?”

“Yeah,” he yelled back. “Freddie knocked the umbrella stand over.”

I put the phone back to my ear. “Still there?”

“What happened? I heard yelling.”

“Freddie took out my umbrella stand.”

“Do you need to go?”

“Yeah, I probably should. Wait, aren’t you dancing tonight?” I’d forgotten he had a shift at the club tonight in the craziness that had transpired since I got home.

“Yup. Your timing was perfect. I just pulled into the parking lot when you called.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you late.”

“You didn’t, and I’m the one who answered and kept talking. It’s not on you if I’m late. Text me a time for tomorrow, and if you want me to bring anything.”

“I will. Hopefully it’s a good crowd tonight.”

“Here’s hoping. Night, Tris.”

“Night.”

Ending the call, I stood and went to make sure the only casualty of Freddie’s enthusiasm was my umbrella stand.

15

QUINN

The ringing of my phone startled me. I looked up from my tablet and grabbed my phone off my desk to check the number. Tristan? Was he calling to cancel our plans for tonight?

I swiped to answer. “Tris?”

“Hi. I didn’t mean to sound the alarm again and call, but I’m freaking out, and I don’t know what to do.”

“What happened? Are you okay?” I jumped up from my chair, my work forgotten.