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Chapter 34: Daniel
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Juked Chapter 35: Quincy
I stare at the TV, Jamie Fraser's naked butt strolling by. That alone should hold my attention, but I can't concentrate on the most recent episode of Outlander.All I can think about is how it's been more than a week since I've heard from Daniel and how it's pissing me off. I texted him once. He never texted me back. I'm not surprised. I knew this was coming as soon as Chance called him dada. It was written all over his face. It scared the shit out of him and threw him right back into that default mode Blanca talked about. He'd tried to cover it well, but the fear was so obvious.The next morning, I saw his picture online. He and his teammates were coming out of some strip club at four in the morning. There's no way to convince me they went to Purple Palace to have a team meeting. So not only did he get freaked out, he lied to me, and immediately ran to the safety of other women. Distant women. Women whose names he will never know, and he doesn't have to worry about getting close to.
Juked Chapter 36: Daniel
We won our game against Chicago. That's not even accurate. We slaughtered them. Our team was focused and engaged. We were truly on point. Well, except for me.I couldn't keep my head in the game for anything. No one could really tell except me and probably Christian. Maybe my coaches. But other than that, I'm really good at faking it when I'm having an off-game. Everyone else was really on fire, so I didn't think they noticed anything. I look around the hotel bar at my teammates and notice how happy they all are. Lots of smiles, lots of booze, lots of Barbie doll women with fake nails and even faker tits. I don't begrudge them a good time. I just don't feel it. It all seems… empty."Is this seat taken?" One of the Barbies smiles brightly at me. Her long blond, highlighted hair and cherry red lips might have turned me on six months ago, but now it irritates me. I really want to tell her to get lost, but reality is, there isn't anyone sitting there. Her sitting doesn't mean I have to ta
Juked Chapter 37: Quincy, Part 1
I lean against the wall in the hallway, hugging a folder to my chest. My thoughts run rampant as I wait for my new attorney, a man I have never met but hired based on a recommendation. It wasn't hard finding him. The minute you start asking clients at a salon for resources, people come out of the woodwork to give you names and numbers. Ultimately, my coworker, Nathan, had a client who went through a custody battle last year. From what he says, it was really ugly. But she ended up winning, and she still sees Nathan every six weeks, which means she didn't go broke fighting for her kids. That's good news.Still, all of the "what ifs" mock me. What if the attorney charges more than I expect, and I can't hire him? What if I hire him, and he's in cahoots with Erik? What if he ends up bungling the case? What if he doesn't bungle the case, but we get a shitty judge who's had a rough day, and I lose custody? I recognize how ridiculous and irrational I sound, but that doesn't stop the thoughts
Juked Chapter 38: Quincy, Part 2
"It's all standard custody jargon. Nothing of interest that would throw off this case, so I'm not particularly worried at this point." He waves like the thought of this suit is no less pesky than an insect. "The first thing he's going to have to do is prove he's the father.""I assumed that's what you were going to say." I fold the papers and put them back in my purse."When we go to court in a couple of days, we'll ask the judge to order the paternity test. Unless this alleged father opts to pay for the results to be rushed, that'll buy us a couple of weeks."I swallow hard. "What if he rushes the results?""Then it's likely he'll want to speed the case up so he can take custody as soon as possible."I take a deep breath. "I was afraid you were going to say that. If he is the father, is there any way to fight him on custody? I mean, Chance is ten months old. Erik knew he was out there practically since he was conceived and had no interest in him until now. Surely that counts for somet
Juked Chapter 39: Daniel, Part 1
The door makes a snick sound as it closes behind me, and I'm immediately aware of the noise level in the house. It should be comforting. It was always comforting before. But now it's a reminder of what I didn't bring with me this time.It's been several weeks since I've seen or talked to Quincy. She texted me once. I didn't respond, and that was the end of that. I'm not sure if I was expecting her to keep trying. That's what most girls do. But Quincy isn't most girls. If I'm honest with myself, I was never her priority. Her child was. Like it should be.I keep reminding myself the kid is the reason I need to stay away. He will ultimately get hurt if this relationship, whatever it is, continues. But that doesn't make this separation any easier. I'm the one who cut all ties. I'm the one who decided this was what was best for everyone. But I miss her like I've never missed anyone or anything before. The six weeks I was out of soccer when I broke my tibia in high school was brutal because
Juked Chapter 40: Daniel, Part 2
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" I narrow my eyes at him and put the beer on the counter. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Geovany and Aaron stand up and discreetly position themselves next to us in case they have to pull us off each other. I barely notice because all my focus is on my oldest brother and how he can't seem to keep his fucking opinions to himself.Eduardo scoffs. "Don't get all defensive. I'm glad you saw through her act. You've always been so smart about relationships. I was worried someone finally had you fooled.""Lalo!" my mother yells as Blanca gasps. "Enough! No more fighting over this."I take a step forward, Geovany right behind me. "I didn't see through anything, Lalo. What I did was fucking freak out." I didn't want them to all know my business, but now that I've let the cat out of the bag, I can't stop spouting off about all my personal demons. "Her kid called me dada, and I panicked because I don't do relationships. Everyone says I'm like dad, and
Juked Chapter 41: Daniel, Part 3
"No, mijo," I say, grateful for his interruption. "Just some heavy conversation is all. What's up?""I wanted to talk to you. Do you have a second?" He points over his shoulder with his thumb."Sure." I address the rest of the family. "I've just been saved from this very uncomfortable conversation. I'll see you all at the dinner table."I follow Nicky through the living room, hearing Geovany yell, "Take me with you!"."What was that all about?" Nicky asks. "I've never heard the kitchen without noise before. It's freaky."We traipse out the door to the patio and take our usual seats. "Nah. Just some old hurts that were being mended. Nothing exciting.""Oh." He shakes his head as if to clear it. "I don't think I want to know what you're talking about, do I?"I chuckle against the lip of my beer. "Probably not." I take a drink before asking, "So what's up?""What do you think of her?" He leans forward, obviously excited about his new girlfriend. I could make this easy on him, but after th
Juked Chapter 42: Quincy
I hum and run a finger over Chance's eyebrows and down the bridge of his nose. He finished his bottle a while ago and has been asleep ever since, but I can't muster the desire to put him down for the night.I think about how much he's changed in the last nine months since I got custody of him. He's longer and not nearly as chunky as he used to be. All the crawling and pulling up is quickly burning off his baby rolls. His facial features are more distinct. He still bears a striking resemblance to my dad's baby pictures, but Chance looks more like, well, himself.His pouty lips move in a suckling motion, like he's dreaming of his bottle. It always warms my heart when he does it. It's a sign a baby feels safe, loved, and content.Lucky him. All I feel is terror. Tomorrow we go before a judge, who will decide where Chance will live for the next seventeen years of his life. A judge who will determine if the man who didn't care enough to acknowledge his own child can now parent that child a
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