Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“Shut the fuck up,” Dane growls.
“Whatever you say. Didn’t mean to piss you off. I was just admiring your side piece, since she clearly wants men to do that. Every picture in her profile shows her in clothes she can barely hold together. I swear a couple of those buttons are only hanging on by a sheer miracle.”
“Daphne. I need to speak with you alone,” Dane says, after giving Crank a hateful look.
“I guess it’s a good thing you don’t have a plastic allergy,” Crank adds, as if Dane hadn’t even spoken. I’m tempted to let him continue but really, I just want Dane to leave.
“What on earth do we have to say to one another, Dane? Just talk to my lawyer,” I dismiss. The last thing I want is to talk to him, or worse, be alone with him. “However, since you’re here, would you like to see your daughter?” I ask, figuring he will turn me down. I can have Crank as a witness. I’m gathering as much proof as I can to show how he doesn’t even want to spend time with Cammie.
“I don’t have time, I’m already late,” he says immediately. I know if Cammie could hear him, she’d be glad. At one time she wanted to spend all her time with her dad. He destroyed that. She’s more than a little afraid of him now, which makes me feel like a horrible mother for staying with him for so long. The fact he turned down a chance to see his daughter—especially since he missed his last visitation and hasn’t seen her since Cammie’s birthday—where he left early after making a scene—is sickening.
“You really are a piece of work, Dane. If I agree to speak with you privately, will you leave quickly so I don’t have to look at your face?” I ask.
“Trust me, I have no desire to stay here with you and the junkyard dogs that you seem to hang out with these days,” he grumbles.
Crank replies by first, growling like a dog, drawing out the noise. “Grr …” I have to admit he sounds ferocious. He follows it up by making a high-pitched barking noise, but it’s more jarring than scary. “Ruff!”
Dane jumps back two steps, falls back into my island and almost falls. I can’t hold my giggle back, which pisses Dane off even more.
“Maybe I need to tell my lawyer the reception I get when I come by to talk to you about our daughter and some worries that I have about her safety.”
I roll my eyes. “Crank?”
“Yeah, Skittles?” he says with a smirk.
“If you were so worried about your daughter that you dropped by your ex’s house to talk to her unannounced—obviously because you were so-o-o worried.”
“Obviously,” Crank snorts after I draw out the word so.
“Don’t you think you would at least want to see said daughter?”
“You would think, but don’t blame ole’ Dane. The fumes from the plastic at night probably has caused issues and his brain is malfunctioning.”
“That’s it. If you’re not willing to act like an adult and a mother, you’ll hear from my attorney.”
I exhale, letting him hear my annoyance. “Fine, we can speak out on the porch. I feel the need to get you out of my house before it starts stinking.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go outside with him alone,” Crank points out.
“I’ll be fine. I know how to take care of myself. You can stay in here, if I need you I’ll call.”
“For God’s sake, Serena. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Once upon a time, I would have believed you. That was before your dick couldn’t stay in your pants, you didn’t take every opportunity to belittle me, and maybe you need to be reminded of the times you left bruises on my body.” When he just stands there looking at me, I huff. I should’ve known he wasn’t man enough to admit to everything he’s done. Dane leans on the porch, staring at me. “I have stuff to do, Dane. Can you just spit it out?”
“Fine. It’s about the men you’re letting in your house.”
“Which man would that be? Is it the contractor I had to get to fix the plug ends in the bathroom you never got around to doing? Maybe it was that pesky mailman who was nice enough to carry my boxes inside? Oh, wait! I know. It was the pizza delivery guy.”
“Stop joking around. You know exactly who I’m talking about Daphne,” he growls. “I want you to know I know who that criminal is you’re dating.”
“Oh, come on, Dane—”
“You need to listen, Daphne. If you don’t break it off right now, I’m going to push hard for full custody of our daughter.”
“That’s rich. You can’t even go out of your way to see our child, but you’re going to fight me for full custody.”