Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
I crouch to tuck it back inside. Ordinary things shouldn’t feel this fragile. But they do when someone else gets to make decisions that affect your life.
In the bathroom, I pause in front of the mirror and study my reflection. I might not look different, but I am. So much has changed in such a short period of time.
I smooth a hand over my stomach, then over the ring on my finger.
Whatever happens in that courtroom today, they don’t get to decide who I am to this family. That choice has already been made.
When Laiken takes my hand hours later as we head out the door, I don’t think about what I might lose. I focus on everything we have to gain. The life we’re building in quiet moments with ordinary mornings. The little girl who curled into my arms like she belonged there, and the man beside me who chose me with certainty and conviction.
And then I think about how fiercely I intend to fight for it all.
48
Laiken
I take my seat at the table beside my attorney and fold my hands together, forcing them to stay still. The polished surface is cool beneath my palms. Behind me, Kia sits with Oliver and Rina.
Across the aisle, Elody’s grandparents sit stiffly in their seats, posture rigid with purpose. Their attention stays fixed straight ahead, chins lifted, expressions carefully neutral. Not once do they glance my way.
When the judge enters, the people in the room rise as one and then take their seats again just as quickly. My pulse thunders in my ears as the hearing officially begins.
This isn’t a negotiation.
It’s my little girl.
The very reason I wake up in the morning.
Their attorney starts where I expected, focusing on stability, structure, and the McIntyres’ concerns. Each word is chosen carefully, arranged to sound reasonable and responsible. Then they bring up the incident on the street and the viral video. It’s stripped of context and twisted into a version of events that turns ugly beneath fluorescent lights.
My jaw tightens as I press my thumb into the smooth band on my finger, calming myself in the physical sensation of it. Losing control, even for a second, would cost me everything I love.
When it’s my turn to speak, I rise slowly, taking a breath and keeping my hands loose at my sides. “I love my daughter,” I say simply. “And every decision I make is with her best interests in mind.”
The judge studies me closely. She’s not just listening but measuring and weighing the truth behind every word.
“I understand the concern about my career.” It takes effort to keep my voice steady. “There’s a perception that being a professional athlete somehow makes my life unstable. That it means travel, long hours, attention, and a lifestyle that isn’t conducive to raising a child.”
I glance briefly at Elody’s grandparents before looking back at the judge.
“But that’s not the life Elody knows.” My chest tightens. I need to get this right. “She knows routine. She knows her school, her room, her bedtime, and the people who show up for her every single day. My schedule is structured well in advance, and when I’m not physically with her, she’s surrounded by people I trust completely. People who love her—including my wife.” I pause before adding, “The incident the McIntyres brought up wasn’t recklessness. It was me protecting my family. My daughter. The people I love. I won’t apologize for keeping them safe.”
The courtroom goes still.
“I’ve never wanted to remove Elody’s grandparents from her life,” I continue. “They love her and have been a steady presence since the day she was born, and I would never take that away from her. Elody deserves every person who loves her. She deserves birthdays with too many presents, Sunday dinners, and phone calls just because they miss her. She should grow up in a family that feels bigger, not smaller.” I pause to gather my thoughts. “This was never about cutting people out. It’s about making sure the little girl at the center of all of this has the safest, most consistent life possible.”
Even when there’s a murmur behind me, I don’t turn or let it pull my focus.
“That being said, her home is with me. I’m the one who’s been there every day. I get her up for school, pack her lunch, and make sure she brushes her teeth even when she tries to talk her way out of it.” I swallow hard. “I’m the one who comforts her when she wakes up from a nightmare. The one she reaches for when she’s scared. And she deserves a life where she never has to wonder if the person she depends on is going to disappear again.”
My gaze stays locked on the judge. “Elody doesn’t need promises. She needs stability in the only home she’s ever known. With me.” I choose my next words carefully. “I’m asking for balance and boundaries. For a structure that puts Elody’s needs first.”