“I don’t plan on getting in a wreck,” she said, throwing her hands in the air.
“No one plans on a wreck, but if they happen, you should at least be in something you have a chance of surviving in,” he yelled.
Some people across the street turned and openly stared at them. It wasn’t often people got into yelling matches on the sidewalk in Edmonds. Kian tried to calm his voice as he spoke next.
“We’ll find another vehicle right away,” he said.
Roxie gaped at him. “Not everyone has the luxury of buying a new car just because they feel like it,” she thundered.
“I do, and I say we’re doing it.”
He knew the second her eyes narrowed he’d said the wrong thing. Shutters flew over her eyes, and she took a step closer to him and stabbed him in the chest with her surprisingly sharp finger.
“You might think you have all the power in the world right now, but you haven’t ever seen me truly angry, Kian Forbes. Right now, you’re getting a small taste. You aren’t my boyfriend, my lover, my anything. You don’t get to tell me what to do or how to live. I’m an excellent guardian to Lily and haven’t done anything to put her in danger. Don’t you dare try to imply I have simply because I can’t afford to go out and buy a damn Hummer. This Ford is perfectly equipped with all the latest safety features. Now, I’m tired and emotionally drained, so we will continue this conversation later,” she growled.
Then she stepped away, and it took him a second or two to realize she was planning on leaving just like that. Hell no, she wasn’t!
Kian grabbed her arm just before she managed to jump into her car and speed away. They glared at each other, and Kian didn’t even care at the moment if anyone was watching them. He had a daughter, and the world could know about it. Heck, he wanted to shout it out from the rooftops.
“I’m going to allow you to go home tonight and rest. But I want to know a time and place for tomorrow for us to finish this. Do you want it to be in private or public?” He was very pleased with how quiet he was able to keep his voice when he wanted to roar.
She glared at him. “Allow?” she challenged.
“Yeah, allow. Got a problem with that?” he asked.
Oh, she certainly had a problem with it, and he didn’t care.
“Fine,” she snapped, obviously figuring out she wasn’t leaving until she made plans with him. “Meet me at the café on Main tomorrow at two,” she said.
He nodded and then allowed her to leave. It took all that was in him not to follow them to her place, just to assure himself they’d arrived. It also took everything not to sit in front of her place to make sure she didn’t leave.
He had a daughter now, and he didn’t want to let her go for even a single night longer. He knew he wasn’t going to get much sleep that night. Not much at all.
But, soon his daughter would be sleeping in his house with him. He certainly had some shopping to do. He wished he could ask Roxie to help him, but he knew how that would go. And it wouldn’t be a happy conversation.
It was okay, though. It would all be okay. Why? Because he was a daddy.
Chapter Thirteen
Kian almost felt the need to duck and cover as he entered the high school his brother chose to work at. What was wrong with Arden that he’d put himself through all this torture? His brother was a wealthy man; hell, they all had more money than anyone could ever spend in ten lifetimes, but they still found a love for life and for their individual passions.
Arden just happened to think being a history teacher and football coach was about as great as it got. Kian normally didn’t seek his brother out at school, but he had to speak to him. Kian loved all his family members equally, but Arden might just edge out his other siblings as his favorite, even if he wouldn’t admit that anywhere but in his own head.
The office staff knew Kian and had smiled with glee when they told Kian his brother was in the school cafeteria. They knew Kian would rather poke himself in the eye than enter that place.
As Kian walked in, the noise level alone was enough to make his head spin. His muscles were taut as he fought his way through the crowded room to where he spotted his brother at a table with a bunch of nerdy-looking kids. Arden was laughing so loudly, the sound echoed off the walls. It actually made Kian smile. Arden did have an infectious laugh. Kian quickly made his way to his brother’s table.
“I see you’re making an entrance,” Arden said, laughter in his voice as Kian looked around at all the kids staring at him, the noise levels so high he was getting a headache.
“Can’t you get these kids under control?” Kian grumbled.
“You can sit here, Dr. Forbes,” one of the boys said as he tripped while getting up quickly to give up his seat.
“You don’t have to move for me, Matt,” Kian insisted, but the boy was grinning.
“It’s no problem at all,” he insisted as he held out his hand.
Kian wasn’t going to be rude, so he sat down across from his brother, who looked like he was enjoying Kian’s discomfort at being in the cafeteria.
“What brings you to the zoo?” Arden asked him.
“It’s hard as hell to see you these days,” Kian grumbled.
“I know. I’ve been busy with school and practice. But you know you can join us on the field anytime you want. The kids love having the star running back from Stanford at our practices,” Arden said.
“Yeah, come to practice,” Matt said.
Matt was a smaller boy and not the most coordinated, but he’d joined the football team the year before because all the kids loved Arden so damn much. Kian had to admit his brother had a gift for teaching these kids, and he’d done a hell of a job of breaking the typical stereotype of what an athlete should look like. Sure, Arden looked as if he could be a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, but that didn’t matter. He respected talent, but he respected drive more than anything else. If the kids were trying their hardest, he’d give them a place on the team.
“How’s your running time?” Kian asked.
Matt beamed. “I’m the fastest guy on the team,” he said. The boy barely stopped himself from pounding his chest.
“Way to go,” Kian said, holding up his fist so the kid could bump it.
“I gotta run. I have a science test today, and I have more studying to do. The coach is harsh on grades,” Matt said. He might have been complaining, but there was a proud light in his eyes that made Kian smile.
“Go kill it, kid,” he told him.
Matt took off. Kian looked at the tray of crap Arden was eating and felt his stomach turn just a bit.
“I don’t know how you survive on this food,” he said.
Arden laughed. “Hey, food is food, and you know I have to show the kids I’m not too good to follow the same routine as them.”
“Yeah, well, I think I’d have to put my foot down at what I was putting into my stomach,” Kian told him. He did reach over and snatch a carrot from Arden’s plate, though. He’d missed lunch, and he was hungry.
“I c-could g-go and g-get you a t-tray,” Jenny said. Her stutter was getting much better, but right now she was nervous. She was so willing to please both Kian and Arden that Kian knew he couldn’t turn her down. It looked as if he was going to have to eat the crap they called food.