Page 131 of Fierce-Dane

“It means you’ve got a problem with me dating Sloane and I know it. I wish you’d talk to me about it and not make sly comments to the kids.”

“I don’t do that,” Mel said, crossing her arms.

“So Tiffani is making it up that you told her to check her toys when she came over a few weeks ago? Because you know, I go through and play with their stuff and then break it and blame it on ghosts.”

Mel’s face paled. “She took it out of context.”

“I’m not sure in what context she took it or was meant to,” he said. “But you should think twice because the kids tell me things. Like Tiffani didn’t want to wear a dress last weekend and you pushed it on her. Even Tyler said that because he was sick of waiting. That you wanted her to be the prettiest girl on my arm. Are you trying to put a wall up so that Tiffani is jealous of Sloane or Shiloh?”

“She’s upset you’re dating Sloane,” Mel said quietly. There was no reason for Mel to lower her voice. “She told me.”

“She told me she was upset too,” he said. “We talked. This was weeks ago. Since then I’ve asked her if she’s stillupset and she says no. I’m not sure why she’s telling you something different than me.”

And he didn’t believe it was happening. His kids told him most things they were feeling or he managed to get it out of them.

He prided himself on his relationship with his kids.

“It’s the same thing they do to you,” she said. “They tell you they have issues with Ethan and not me.”

“No,” he said. “Don’t go there. The kids tell me things about Ethan and I tell you. They also tell me they tell you and you do nothing about it or don’t want to hear it.”

“Which is the same thing here,” she said, lifting her chin. “Tiffani told me she spent last weekend with Shiloh. That Shiloh spent the night and then stayed here while Sloane worked on Sunday. Don’t you think that is pushing things?”

“So she said she got to play with a friend and you’re concerned about that?” he asked. “Because so far you haven’t said anything negative about the two of them getting along. You know what happened the first time because I told you.”

He wanted Mel to know in case Tiffani talked to her mother about it. That things were fine now but that Tiffani got lectured for her poor manners and then apologized.

“I don’t think Tiffani likes spending time with Shiloh. It’s one thing if you want to date someone, but forcing the two kids together is a bit much.”

This was getting out of hand and he was going to lose his shit in a minute.

“Follow me,” he said.

“Where are you going?” Mel asked, following him.

“To ask the kids what you’re saying. I think it’s only fairto ask and see their response together so someone isn’t reading more into it.”

“You don’t need to do that,” Mel said.

Her voice was more rushed than normal.

“I think I do,” he said.

He hadn’t slowed his pace and Mel was on his heels and they stopped at the loft area where the kids were watching the same animation that Shiloh had picked out to watch last week. They hadn’t even heard him enter the room.

He picked up the remote and paused it.

“Hey, Dad,” Tyler said. “How come you did that?”

“I need to ask you both a question. Are either of you upset that I’m dating Sloane?”

“No,” Tyler said. “Can you turn it back on now?”

“Tiffani?” he asked.

“No,” Tiffani said. “I was at first because you haven’t before, but I like Sloane. She’s not trying to be my mother or anything like Ethan tries to be my father.”

“Oh really?” he asked, turning to look at Mel.