Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“If he’s around Gigi, then it is my business.”
Ah, so that’s why.
“Gigi doesn’t know that Rich and I are seeing each other. She thinks he’s just a guy I work with.”
“At the club?”
“No. The station. He’s a police officer. I work in admin at Aunt Elle’s precinct during the day. I only work at the club on weekends.”
“Jesus, Cam. You work two jobs?”
“Gigi’s always well cared for,” I state defensively.
“That’s not what I’m worried about. I’m talking about you working two jobs to earn money to care for our kid.”
“I’m fine for money. The job at the station gives me enough for us to live comfortably. Living here with Aunt Elle takes off the pressure. I only dance at the club…well, for me, so I don’t forget how to dance. And the extra money I earn there, I’m saving for when Gigi’s older.”
“Well, you don’t need to now. I’ll be giving you all the money you need for Gigi. So, you can quit both jobs.”
“I’m not quitting my job!” I exclaim.
His eyes narrow. “Why? So that you can keep on seeing your secret boyfriend?”
My brows slam angrily together. “Rich isn’t my boyfriend. And I’m not quitting my job because I don’t need you taking care of me.” Asshole, I silently add at the end.
“Well, I’m giving you money either way because I take care of what’s mine.”
“I’m not yours,” I fire back at him.
He steps forward. “No. But Gigi is. And you’re her mother.”
I step back and fold my arms over my chest. “Whatever. I’m not quitting my job.”
He sighs heavily. “Do what you want, Cam. Just make sure that Deputy Dick doesn’t get in my way, and then we won’t have any problems.”
“Deputy Dick? Jesus, Zeus. Childish much? And, for your information, he’s not a deputy.”
“Traffic cop? Thought so.”
“He’s a police officer,” I snap. “God, why are you being such an asshole about this?”
His face instantly clears, and he steps away.
I hate the way he can just wipe emotion away like it was never there. Like it never mattered.
“You’re right. I am being a dick. It won’t happen again. What time should I be here tomorrow?”
I loosen my arms, letting some of the tension go from them.
“Eleven a.m. We can take Gigi out to the park. She loves it there. I’ll come with you this time and probably the next few times. Afterward, I won’t come along. It’s just that she doesn’t know you right now, and—”
“You don’t have to explain, Cam. I’m glad you’ll be there.”
Glad. I’m not really sure how to take that.
He steps off the porch. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow at eleven.”
“Yeah, just…”
“Just what?”
“There’s something else I wanted to ask.”
“Hit me with it.”
“You’re in the public eye. I don’t want that for Gigi.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep her protected.”
“Okay.” I breathe my relief. “Thank you.”
“Not necessary. I’ll see you tomorrow, Cam.” He turns and starts to walk down the path.
I watch him leave, this strange clutching feeling in my chest.
“Zeus?” I call.
He stops immediately and turns around to me.
I walk to the edge of the porch. “Can I ask you something else?”
He moves a few steps back toward me. “You can ask me anything.”
I wrap my hand around the wooden porch post, leaning my hip against it. “Why did you come today? I thought it was because of Gigi, but you didn’t know about her.”
Zeus pushes his hands into his pockets. His eyes sweep the ground before they come back to rest on mine, strong and focused but also resigned. He exhales a breath and parts his lips. “For you. I came for you, Dove.”
Then, without another word, he turns and walks away.
And I let him.
God, what a mess.
All these years, Zeus had no clue that Gigi existed.
Aunt Elle was suspicious at first when I told her that Zeus knew nothing about me being pregnant and that Marcel had lied to both me and Zeus.
She said, “Just because Zeus said it doesn’t make it true.”
I questioned why he would have lied.
And she shrugged and said, “Why does anyone lie?”
I hadn’t even considered it, to be honest.
But I guess Aunt Elle deals with liars every single day, that it’s part of her makeup now to be suspicious of people.
I could tell Zeus wasn’t lying. His reaction alone when he realized he had a daughter wasn’t something you could fake.
I spent all these years hating him for walking away from Gigi, and now, I know the truth…that he didn’t abandon her. I don’t know how to feel.
He cheated on me. That fact hasn’t changed.
And, now, it’s all I’ve got left to hold on to, to keep my anger and resentment alive for him.
Because seeing Zeus after all this time has rattled my emotions. It always was impossible for me to be around him and not feel something.
And, after his parting words yesterday, I have to keep him at arm’s length.