Page 23 of How to Prevent a Fumble
Tony Cross.
I look at Elara, sweat suddenly running down my back.
“Honey, can you put your headphones on?” I ask.
She sends me a quizzical look before shrugging and sliding her headphones on, pressing play on her little yellow Walkman on the table next to her coloring book.
Taking a deep breath, I answer the phone.
“Where the hell have you been staying?” he immediately asks, his voice a hiss.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking,” I say coolly, sitting back in my seat.
“You haven’t been staying at your place. So where have you been?”
“Have you been stalking me?” My fingers feel icy as my body starts to shake a little. It only happens when I’m really upset, which happens to be any time I have to deal with Tony ever.
“I haven’t beenstalkingyou, I’ve been trying to keep tabs on where my daughter is and where my money is going.”
“What I do with your money once I receive it is nothing to do with you.”
“You always have to be such a fucking brat, don’t you? Jesus Christ, Briar. Act like an adult for once in your life.”
“You know Tony, I’m really done with this conversation, but thank you so much for calling. I really appreciate your kind words and I really hope you have a wonderful day,” I tell him, saying almost exactly what my therapist told me to.
“I could easily take Elara, you know that right? I think you forget that sometimes.”
Over my dead body.My eyes flash to my daughter across from me, mouthing the words to whatever song she’s listening to as she grinds her green crayon into the paper a little too hard like usual. If there’s one thing I care about more than anything in this life, it’s her. And I’m not going to let Tony ruin her.
When we got divorced, we agreed that I would have her. But when he got really serious with the woman he cheated on me with, something seemed to have changed. He’s threatened this multiple times, and each time fire instantly ignites inside of me, consuming my very being.
Tony has money. He could easily take me to court for all I’m worth. Hell, I’m sure the slimeball could find a way to bribe the judge.
“You said you don’t want her,” I hiss, red clouding my vision.
“I don’t know. I feel like it would be nice for her to meet Amanda, don’t you?”
I don’t say a word.
“Where have you been staying?” he asks again.
“With Owen.” It’s not exactly a lie, right? If it’s just right next door? There’s no possible way he could ever figure that out. And he’s terrified of my brother.
He grunts, clearly not expecting that answer for some reason. “Well, you may want to get better locks on your door, Briar. It’s really irresponsible to have your kid living in a place so easily broken into.”
My blood runs cold as he ends the call, my eyes pricking with tears.
There’s no one in this life I hate more than him. No one comes close.
“Briar?” a voice calls from my left.
Lowering my phone, I attempt to shake off my hurt andsmile, but the second I meet Amara and Heidi’s gazes, I break, my resolve cracking right down the center, the pain tearing through my chest.
Elara looks at me with concern, taking her headphones off. “What happened?” she asks, reaching for me.
“I’m okay sweetheart. Mom just got some hard news is all,” my voice breaks.
The two women are over to us in an instant, Amara taking my hand and pulling me up. “Heidi, stay with Elara. I’m taking her to the bathroom,” Amara says, her gentle hand leading me away from my table.
