“I can’t chance it.”
“I hoped you would say that. I’ll get the emergency petition thrown out since no police report was filed. They’ll still bring it up in court, but it’s too soon for them to have enough proof.”
“Thank you,” I say and mean it. He’s costing me a pretty penny, but he’s worth it.
“You’re welcome. Talk soon.”
I’ve no sooner set my phone down, when my office door is flung open and Bo rushes in.
“You hung up on me. What’s going on?”
I hold a hand to my forehead, my mind racing. “Maisy’s parents had a private detective watching me. And you too, apparently. He must’ve been following you last night and somehow found out about the fight with your dad. They’re trying to get Lane removed from my custody.”
“Fuck.” He sinks onto the couch. “I’m sorry, Lance. Jesus Christ. I fucked up.”
“You didn’t. You were trying to do right by your brother. I can’t hold that against you.”
“Why do I feel a but coming?”
“But I have to protect Lane. This isn’t what I want. I hope you know that.”
“What are you saying?” His eyes narrow.
“I have two options. Get a sworn statement from your dad saying he attacked you—”
“Or kick me out of your life,” he finishes for me, and I nod sadly.
“I’m guessing your dad won’t admit to that.”
“Not in a million years.” He rubs a hand over his nearly bald head.
“I didn’t think so.”
He stands up and tucks his hands in his pockets. “I’ll have my stuff out before you get off shift. I’ll go explain to the manager on duty that I can’t work today.”
“Bo,” I say, but nothing else comes out. What else is there to say?
“I know. I’m so fucking sorry, doc.” His voice breaks and I eat the distance between us. I wrap him in my arms like it’s the last time this will ever happen. Probably because it is the last time this will ever happen. I commit the way he feels and the way he smells to my memory. Then I kiss him so I can commit his taste to my memory too.
He will always be my happy. It fucking sucks he couldn’t be my forever.
“I love you,” I say against his lips, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
“I love you too.” He gently extricates himself from me. He cradles my cheek in his hand, brushing a thumb over the drop of sadness that fell. “Take care of our princess.”
“I will.”
He walks out and I sink to the floor. It was only a few months ago I was in the same position learning my ex-wife was dead. When shit hits the fan, I hit the floor.
I get the sudden urge to hold my baby. She got me through Maisy’s death, I can only hope she’ll get me through this.
The next week passes by in a series of devastating moments. First when I got home after learning Bo and I can no longer share a life, to find an empty home. It’s not like he had moved in any more than a couple of duffle bags, but it wasn’t the material possessions that left me feeling empty. It was him not being there to share all the moments. The blow-out diapers, the cuddling on the couch, the quiet love making. I missed all of it.
Then it was the awkward and sad encounters at work. He looked so depressed and lost. He’d start to ask how Lane and I were, only to stop himself and walk away like it was too painful to know. I was almost relieved because I didn’t want to lie to him. I didn’t want to tell him I’d been absolutely miserable without him.
And now, I’m getting on a plane with Lane and my nanny to New York. Without him. We had planned for him to come along. He had me convinced everything would be okay and after I was awarded permanent custody, I’d show him and Lane around the city. We were going to stay a few days and make a vacation out of it.
But instead of Bo sitting next to me on the plane, it’s a twenty-three-year-old girl who loves my daughter, but not in the way Bo does. Not like Lane belongs to her.
After we land, we check into the hotel and I say goodnight to Liz, telling her what time to be at my suite tomorrow morning. I shorted the trip and will be going home the day after tomorrow. Hopefully with Lane.
Not only is my heart eviscerated from losing Bo, there’s at least a fifty percent chance I’ll lose my daughter.
Lane and I spend a somber night together. I order myself room service and feed her a bottle. I put on my bathing suit and get into the jetted tub with her for bath time. I don’t bother laying her down in the portable crib the hotel delivered to me. Instead, I keep her snuggled on my chest all night. I know it’s not the safest place for her, but I can’t bear to have her away from me. Besides, I only manage to get sleep in ten-minute increments before I remember my dire situation and my mind would race once again.
The next morning, I dress in an expensive suit and kiss Lane before walking out the door. When I come back, I’ll either be the dad who gets the honor of raising her, or a stranger who gets to see her on holidays and over the summer. If I’m lucky. Who knows what kind of visitation Maisy’s parents will agree to should I lose.
My hand feels empty as I walk up the stairs to the courthouse. I wish, more than anything, Bo was here to give me the support I desperately need.
I almost hear his voice yelling, “Doc!” over the crowd. I shake my head. I’m such an idiot. This isn’t the movies and that’s not the way things happen.
“Doc! Wait!” I hear again, only this time it sounds real.
I flip around and see a tall, gorgeous, sexy as hell, black man running toward me. He’s dressed in wrinkled, sea foam green scrubs. Holy fuck. It is him. It’s Bo.
Chapter Ten
Boaz
Twelve hours earlier
I get off shift and drive in the direction of the B&B to spend another night alone. I haven’t been eating or sleeping. It’s irresponsible since I work in life-or-death situations, but I can’t bring myself to care. Especially since this is Brigs Ferry Bay, and not too many true emergencies walk through our door.
I walk in the door of the swanky B&B, ready to bury myself under the covers and wallow. But I don’t get that far because I spot Eli sitting on a sofa right inside the entrance. He spots me and jumps to his feet. I’ve texted with him every day to make sure he’s safe, but things have quieted down at home. Pops hasn’t been an attentive dad or anything, but he did drive Eli to practice the last few days with minimal bitching.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, giving him a bro hug with a slap on his back.
“I did something,” he says, holding out a manilla envelope.
“Uh oh. Why does that scare me?”
“I think you’ll like it.”
“Come on. Let’s go to my room.”
I lead him where I’ve been staying and we take a seat on the bed. I open the manilla folder and pull out some documents. My eyes catch on the wording on top. Brigs Ferry Bay Police Department Witness Report.
“What is this?” I ask.
“I felt bad you lost Lance and Lane because you wanted to make things right for me. I knew Pops wouldn’t admit he was the one who attacked you, but I go to school with Sheriff Bell’s brother, Zak, and I told him about what happened. He talked to the sheriff—”