Page 89 of Baby Daddy
“Fuck.” We panted out the word in unison.
While Drake didn’t stop pummeling me, my eyes blinked open, startled by how much my hot breath had fogged up the window. Lifting my palms off the glass, I straightened up as the phone kept ringing.
“Drake, I’ve got to take this. It’s probably Ty. Or it could be the airline or driver.”
Drake blew out a hot, frustrated gust of air and then slowly pulled out of me. “We’re not done here,” he breathed against my neck as I slid up my sweats. I sure didn’t want Ty to catch me with them down, and to my relief, Drake put on a robe as he followed me to my phone. Retrieving it from my bag, I sat down on the scrumptious king bed, Drake huddling close to me.
Sure enough, it was my daughter on FaceTime. Even though she’d called at the untimeliest moment, my heart lit up at the sight and sound of her. Just out of school, she was eager to tell me how well her final kindergarten graduation rehearsal went. The big event was taking place tomorrow at noon LA-time.
“Drake, are you still coming to my graduation?”
“Mighty, I can’t,” he answered.
What!?
A frown tugged on my little girl’s face. While my eyes widened, hers watered. “But, Drake, you promised!”
“I’m sorry, Mighty. A couple of important meetings I had today got canceled, and now I have to do them tomorrow.”
I shot him an angry look. Why hadn’t he told me? I was going to have to fly home by myself tonight to a broken-hearted little girl.
“Listen, Mighty, I’ll see you on Saturday, and I’ll bring you a special graduation present.”
The tears were now falling. “I don’t want a present. I just want you to be there to hear me sing.”
Her disappointment escalated into soft sobs. “Come home soon, Mommy!”
“I will, my baby. I will.”
My heart was now breaking; a toxic mix of disappointment, distrust, and disdain coursed through my veins. I needed to end this. Get away from him. I didn’t need a man in my life who could hurt my precious daughter.
“Mommy, I have to go,” she sniffled. “Drake’s mommy is giving me a skating lesson.”
“I’ll call you from the airport to say goodnight.”
“Okay, Mommy. I love you from here to the moon and back.”
“The same, baby, the same.”
The screen went dark. I threw my phone into my purse, and on my next breath, I felt Drake nuzzling my neck.
“How about we finish what we started before you leave?”
“Stop it,” I barked, leaping to my feet. I began to toss garments into my suitcase.
“Jesus. What’s the matter?”
Everything.Rage rose in my chest. “How could you disappoint my daughter like that? How could you not tell me you weren’t coming back with me tonight?”
“It happened last minute. I was going to tell you just before Tyson called you.”
Just after you fucked me?Fuming, I gave him the silent treatment. I didn’t want to waste words on him. I continued to haphazardly pack my bag.
“Aren’t you going to take your new dresses back with you?”
“I have no room for them in my suitcase, and to be honest, I don’t have any need for them in LA.” And I don’t have any need for you. On Monday, I was going to look for a new temp job that would hold me over until I started my teaching position in September.
I zipped up my bag and threw on a hoodie. I was comfortably dressed for the long flight home. Alone.
“I’ll call someone to take down your bag. The car will meet you in front of the hotel at six. And there’ll be someone to meet you at baggage claim when you land at LAX.”
“I don’t need anyone to take down my bag. I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself.” I wheeled the bag to the door, Drake trailing behind me.
Before I could crank the handle, he spun me around and pinned me against the wall. “Listen, Dee, I’m sorry. I can’t go back to LA without a toy deal. The Saxton deal is dependent on it.”
“Good luck,” I said, my tone as cold as dry ice. “Now, let go of me. I don’t want to miss my plane.”
He stepped away. Jerking the door open, I stormed out. As it closed behind me, I heard Drake bang it and curse under his breath.
Fuck him.