Chapter Thirteen
AJ
What have I done?
Why am I being so selfish? This isn’t about me. It’s about those two precious babies that need a loving, stable home. The kind of home Chad is already giving them. What makes me think I can provide a better life for them? Because I’ve got some money in the bank? Britney and I learned early that money doesn’t make a family. Love does. And I don’t even know what a loving family looks like.
My parents hated me my entire childhood. I was pawned off on nannies and housekeepers until I was old enough to drive, then I was never home. They didn’t even remember I existed until Britney began to rebel and brought that thug home. When their golden child fell from grace, they remembered me and started grooming me to be the offspring they could take out in public.
Obviously, that never happened. The first chance I had to get the hell out of there, I was gone. I got early admittance to the University of Utah and never looked back. At least, not hard enough. I should have searched longer and harder for Britney, but I didn’t. And now, I’m trying to take her children from the man she specifically asked to raise them.
Without giving myself time to change my mind, I bring up Troy’s number and hit call.
“Hey, man. How’s it going? Getting any spring skiing in?”
My best friend knows me well. And in any other circumstance, I probably would have been on the mountains every day, getting in as much riding as possible before the snow fully melts. “Nah, not yet. Been pretty busy with things.”
“How’s it going? You gonna be home soon?”
I squeeze my eyes shut and force out the words that shock the hell out of us both. “I think I’m gonna stay.”
“What?” Troy is as confused as I feel, but I know I’m doing the right thing. “For how long?”
I smirk and try to lighten the mood. “The next eighteen years, probably.”
“What about The Melted Belt?”
“That’s why I’m calling.” I pause for a moment to make sure I say this right. I don’t want Troy to feel like I’m abandoning him, even though I am. “How would you feel about running it permanently? I’ll give you fifty percent ownership, and maybe I’ll open a second location out here.”
“Seriously? Are you sure about that? There are great schools and day cares out here. My sister runs one from her house, and I know she’d love to take care of the kids for you.”
I shake my head, even though I know he can’t see me. “No, it’s not like that. I’m not going to petition for custody. They’re in a good situation now, and I don’t want to take them away. Besides, my asshole parents are suddenly getting involved. I don’t want to distract the situation by throwing my hat in too. I just need to help Chad keep them so my parents can’t.”
“Damn.” Troy blows out a long breath. “That’s crazy.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
“So, if this Chad guy is keeping the kids, why do you need to stay? Can’t you just visit?”
I’ve definitely thought about it. A lot. Even before my parents got involved, I think I’ve known Chad should be the one to keep them. I just didn’t want to back off and let anyone think I didn’t care. That’s not the case at all.
I do care.
With my whole heart.
And, in this case, that means I need to get out of the way and keep them where they belong. But it also means I need to stay in Denver too. I can’t abandon the only parts of my sister I have left. “No, I need to be here for them. I can’t just walk away completely. At least, not right now. So, what do you say? Are you willing to run the shop by yourself?”
“Yeah, of course.” Now his tone is back to normal, playful and kind. “You know I’ve got your back, no matter what.”
“Cool. I need to talk to Ren about some other stuff, so I’ll get him started on the paperwork. And if you have any questions or concerns, you can call him up too. I want this to be profitable for you, so whatever you need from me, just ask.”
“It’s fine, man. Half is four times more than what I’ve been making…and you were overpaying me to begin with. I’m good.”
I laugh at his reasoning. “That’s not true, but I’m glad you’re on board. Knowing you’ve got things under control makes my decision to stay a hell of a lot easier.”
“And I hope this isn’t too soon to ask…” Troy seems nervous, so I’m curious what he wants.
“Not at all. What do you need?”
“What are you doing with your condo? Are you selling it or renting it out?”
I laugh at where his mind immediately goes. He’s loved my place since I first moved in. I should have known that would be his biggest question. “Why, you interested?”
“You know I am!” Troy chuckles into the phone, and my heart grows warm. He’s such a good guy. If we weren’t study partners and then business partners, maybe something more would have developed between us. But with my current situation, I’m glad it didn’t. “I can’t afford to buy it, but if you’re gonna rent it, I want first dibs.”
“Yeah, I think we can make that work. What’re you paying in rent right now?”
“Thirteen hundred.” I can almost see his face scrunching up as he admits the number that isn’t even close to what my condo would rent for.
“That sounds fair. It’ll cover taxes, insurance and the HOA dues. So, yeah, the place is yours. I’m not sure when I can get in there to pack up, so you might need to box up my clothes and stuff. And if you need to put my shit in storage, go ahead. Or, if you want my furniture and everything else, consider it a housewarming gift.”
“Yeah, since I’m cheap and still have all my college furniture, I think I’ll keep yours. Your shit is a lot nicer than mine. I’ll move your clothes and personal things into the guest bedroom, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
Oh, shit. That means he’ll see everything. “Right…and if you come across anything…really personal… Well, everything’s been washed after use, so don’t freak out.”
“Great!” Troy laughs loudly, knowing exactly what I’m referring to. “Are all the toys in your nightstand or should I expect to find them scattered throughout the house?”
“Hey, you want the place. You get everything in it… butt plugs and all.”
“Jesus Christ, man. I’ll go through the place with gloves on. Heavy-duty hazmat kind.”
I could picture Troy doing just that. He’s always been a little on the squeamish side. “Whatever. Just be sure to wash them after you use them.”
His groan and choking sounds satisfy me immensely. I know I’ve grossed him out to the point of gagging. Mission accomplished. “I’ll let you go, man. But don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”
“Yeah, yeah. Take care of yourself, and keep me posted.”
~**~
Staring at the phone in my hand, I consider calling Sawyer and Chad to let them know my decision to duck out of the custody battle. I know I should, but something holds me back. I’m not sure if it’s my pride that doesn’t want to give up before the battle has even begun, or the risk that my affection for Chad will be too obvious if I explain myself right now that keeps me from hitting the call button. Either way, I decide to let it go for tonight. Maybe I’ll have a clearer head in the morning.