Chapter 27

Emmett

I hated that Autumn had to work late on a Friday, but it wasn’t like we hadn’t gotten to spend enough time together. She would still be home in time for a movie with Pen before her bedtime. Then she was all mine.

I didn’t mind sharing her, and Pen was a great little girl. She made helping out easy, too, and I loved to bring a smile to her face.

I pulled up at her school on time, and instead of fighting the pickup line, I parked and went inside, noticing that everything was on a much smaller scale for the kids. I felt like a giant. Surely, the school hadn’t always been that small? Autumn and I had attended the very same elementary in our day.

I went to the office where I was greeted by a few younger looking assistants, and even though I only had eyes for Autumn, I couldn’t help but think how much more attractive and young the staff looked compared to my day. This used to be an office of old ladies—one had even had blue-rinsed hair—but these ladies were my age, and apparently, they didn’t get many men at their counter. They tripped over each other trying to help me.

“May I help you?” asked the first one to the counter, who looked me up and down.

“I’m here for Penelope Adams,” I said.

“Oh, of course. Mrs. Adams called to say that her friend would be picking up Penny today.” I hadn’t heard anyone call her Penny before, but I supposed that made sense.

“Yeah, she’s working late.”

One of the other ladies leaned against the counter. “Are you Penny’s uncle?”

“No, I’m Penny’s mother’s boyfriend.”

The three exchanged a look, and one of them went back to her seat as the other two stayed put. “I wasn’t aware that Autumn Adams had a boyfriend. Last time she was in here a few weeks ago, she was telling me how she hadn’t been on the dating scene.”

I wondered if I was going to have to explain myself or if she was going to call Penny down. The other one moved closer to the intercom. “Did you two just meet?”

“No, we’ve known each other for a long time.” The two exchanged more looks, but finally the one called Penelope to the office. “Do I just sign her out?” I asked the one who was still looking at me like I was her next meal.

“Sure. Use the computer there.” I turned and went through the proper pages to find her name and noticed that only Autumn and Jason were approved to pick her up. The woman was still watching me as I finished.

“I’ll just wait out here.” I turned and headed out, and the one leaned damned near on top of the counter to say her farewell.

“I hope we see you again. Penny’s a very lucky girl, and so is Autumn it seems.” I turned as she flashed me a wink.

That was a much different experience than I expected. I walked over and looked at some drawings the children had done, hanging in the hallway. Some of the kids were really amazing, and some were not. I checked a few names as I waited, looking for Penelope’s work.

“Emmett!” I heard her voice before her footsteps, and then she ran over to give me a big hug. “I didn’t think you’d get to come and get me!”

“Yeah, your mom is with a client, but she’ll be home soon. I told her that you and I will go to the market and get dinner ready.”

“Awesome! Will you teach me to cook?”

“I’ll show you what I can. But I’m going to need your help in the grocery store.” She gave me a big smile and then walked over and pointed to a picture on the other side of the hall.

“This one is Paisley’s. She’s my bestie. And this one,” she walked a few steps back down the hall, “is mine.”

I couldn’t believe how good the drawing was. Her picture blew the other kids’ away. “You’re an awesome artist, Penelope. You should really pursue art as you grow up. You’ll be a master when you’re grown.” I reached out and took her hand, and it was so tiny compared to mine. As we passed the office, I noticed that the ladies were still watching, and I waved to them as we passed.

I took out the keys to the car, and as I walked Penelope across the schoolyard to her mother’s car, she dropped my hand. “Daddy!”

At first, it didn’t register, but then I looked up to see her father, my old best friend, Jason Adams, standing by the car.

“Hey, there’s my baby girl.” He held out his arms and Penelope ran to hug him. My heart stopped when I realized that he might try and take her and how angry Autumn would be at not only him, but possibly me.

“Hey, Jason.”

“Is that all you have to say to me, Emmett? After ten long years?” He kissed Pen on the cheek, and then she hugged his neck.

“Daddy, you know Mama’s friend, Emmett, don’t you?” She reached out to me, but Jason put her down.

“Of course, I do, Penny.” He gave me a pointed look, and his eyes bored into mine. I held his gaze steadily, not missing his vibe.

“Daddy, are you coming to get me for the weekend?” Pen didn’t seem too excited about that. “Because me and Emmett are making dinner for Mama tonight.”

Jason smirked and then feigned a happy smile for his daughter. “That’s nice, honey. You’ll get to have your dinner. I just wanted to come by and make sure that you’re okay and to tell you that I love you and I’ll see you Wednesday. Then you’ll get to come next weekend and stay until Sunday like you did before.” He turned his head, and his smile fell, his eyes dimming to a disapproving glare.

“Okay, Daddy.” She hugged his neck, and then he pulled away.

I hit the button on the Land Rover’s key fob and unlocked the doors. “Why don’t you go on and get in the car, Penelope?”

“Yeah, get in the car, sweetie, and I’ll take a moment to talk to your uncle, Emmett.”

Penelope got into the car and then gave me a strange look. I knew what Jason was doing, but confusing his daughter wasn’t going to do anything but piss me off. Since I’d promised Autumn I wouldn’t hurt him, it only pissed me off even more.

Once his daughter was secure in her seat, I shut the door and moved in front of it.

“What the hell are you trying to do, Emmett?” He was just as cocky as ever, and I crossed my arms if only to keep from swinging them.

“I’m just helping Autumn out.” I wanted to tell him how he should be the one helping her and Penelope, but I wasn’t going to make things worse for her or her mother.

“Looks to me like you’re imposing yourself into my wife’s life.”

“Your ex-wife. From what I hear, you’ve been divorced for nearly a year.”

“We’ve been divorced, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been together, and it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to work things out.”

“She’s done with you, Jason. Why start trouble just because I’m back in the picture? We’ve always been friends. Let’s keep it that way.”

“A friend doesn’t show up after ten years and start banging my woman. Regardless of being her friend, you were my friend, too.”

“I was her friend, Jason. I tolerated you.” It was the truth. I would have stopped being his friend long before ten years ago if it hadn’t been for Autumn.

“Fuck you, man. All you’re doing is imposing yourself and confusing my kid. She’s got a father. If she needs a ride home from school, Princess knows she can call me. She’s just pissed at me for my latest girlfriend, so she’s been keeping Penny from me.”

“That’s not the story I’ve heard, and I trust what Autumn says.” I hated to second-guess her, but I really hoped that he wasn’t speaking the truth. Autumn had told me how things were, and I had no reason to believe she was lying.

Jason held his hands up and backed away. “I see how it is, man. She’s giving you some of that sweet pussy, and now it’s all gone to your head.”

“You’re out of line, Jason. What I’m doing with her, it’s not your business.”

“She used to tell me how she felt sorry for you. I didn’t think she’d pity you enough to put out for you.” He shook his head and gave me a pitiful look.

“Are you done? You sound like high school, man. I don’t have time for it. I have to get Penelope home.”

“Or I could take her, and you could just fuck off. How about that?” His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t make a move to go around me.

“You’d have to take it up with Autumn, not me. But she wanted me to bring her home, and that’s what I’m going to do.” My blood was pumping, and I was spoiling for a fight. The asshole didn’t know who the fuck he was messing with.

“Fine, man. You know, I’m not even going to get into it with you because my daughter is here and I love her. But I won’t forget this. I think it’s pretty shitty the way you’re trying to take what’s mine. What’s always been mine.”

“Get over yourself, Jason. If you have an issue, take it up with Autumn.” I turned and started to head to the car.

“Oh, I’ve already seen Princess. She and I were alone in her office for a nice long talk about where our relationship needs to go. She agrees with me about us reconnecting, but I’ll let her tell you all about it.” He was putting on a good show, and I didn’t believe him for a minute. Autumn would have told me.

“You’ll see, man. How do you think I knew you were here?” He turned and tapped on the glass. “Bye, sweetie. Daddy loves you.”

“Daddy!” Penelope turned and watched her dad as he walked away. “Where is he going? I wanted him to go with us.”

“He’s got to go home, Penelope.” I hated that she was so upset and that it wasn’t a situation where we could all get along for the child’s sake. I also knew I needed to talk to her about the accusations he’d made and clear the air.

Penelope was beside herself. “But I wanted to ask him to come home and make dinner with us! You have to get him, Emmett. You have to ask him to come, too!” Penelope sounded like she was panicked, and then she started banging on the window, with fat tears falling from her eyes. “Daddy!”

I felt like I was about three inches tall. I needed to talk to Autumn, and I had a feeling she was going to be furious with Jason when she found out what happened, but most of all, I needed to know if she really did see him. How else would he have known that I was going to get Penelope, if he had really known at all? Maybe it had just been dumb luck.

“He had to go Pen; I’m so sorry. But we’ll go to the market and make dinner. We’ll have a good evening. We’ll still have fun.” I was trying to calm her down, but I had little experience with children.

I wished that her mother was there and that she could tell her everything was going to be okay and comfort her. I looked at the time and wondered if it was too early to call Autumn. She had an important meeting, and if I called her with this, it could ruin things for her. Not to mention, it would only make me look horrible for not being able to handle it myself.

By the time we got to the grocery store, I had her calmed, and she dried her eyes to help me shop. By the time we got to the house to start cooking, it was like nothing had ever happened.