I stare at him a moment.

“Let me set the record straight. I asked Owen to check on you because you might have had a concussion the other night and I was worried about you. And yes, I also wanted him to see if you needed help with Violet because I knew you wouldn’t ask. But I didn’t have him come over because I was somehow worried you couldn’t handle our daughter.” I take a cleansing breath before moving on. “Furthermore, I didn’t tell Owen anything about you. Whatever he said to you, he came to those conclusions on his own, because my personal life isn’t something I share easily. You of all people know this about me.”

The animosity between us is palpable, and his humorless chuckle reflects that.

“I thought I knew you.”

“Mama.” I glance down at Violet tugging on the hem of my shirt. “Poopie.”

Everything I’m about to say, I swallow and smile at my daughter. “Let’s go.” To Chase I say in a softer tone than I feel, “Thank you for staying, but you are more than welcome to leave.”

I stand in the doorway with a pasted smile on my face as my daughter goes potty.

“Fineesh,” she proudly announces.

I’m grateful she’s quick because Chase has almost made his way over to me. I don’t want to talk to him anymore. It hurts too damn much. She and I make fast work of cleaning up and washing her hands before I hand her a treat. The candy had been Owen’s idea, and it has worked so far.

“So that’s how it’s done,” he mutters.

With Violet nearby, I don’t chance a response and nod. Violet rushes to him, explaining her potty success in a mix of words and gibberish. I feel like a dead man walking, so I go to the kitchen to tackle lunch while I still have the energy to do it.

Just as I put everything back in the fridge, Chase comes in. I glance over to see Violet is busy with one of her shows, so I prepare myself for another verbal beating.

“Yes?” I hiss.

He takes a second before answering.

“You look tired, Andi. Why don’t you take a nap?”

“I can handle this,” I snap, more out of weariness than anything else.

He reaches over and turns my shoulder so I face him. It takes monumental effort not to lean into his touch.

“As much as I hate that you kept Violet a secret from me, I can admit you’ve done an admirable job taking care of her. I’m sure you have another overnight shift and that Owen normally helps you out.” His jaw muscles grind together, but he forces the words. “I’m here. Go get some sleep.”

I turn away because I can’t take his consideration. It only reminds me of the man I fell in love with.

“I’m fine. I can sleep when Violet does. I’m sure you have things to do, like your career. Don’t you have to get back to Italy or something?”

He spins me around to face him. Before I know what’s happening, he’s wiping a tear that’s spilled down my cheek. I hadn’t realized it. My body feels numbs from everything.

“I’m not going back yet. You let me worry about that. We need to take Violet home to Waynesville.” Panic wells in my chest. “Andi, it’s going to happen. You’ll have some time off in a couple of days, won’t you?” I nod. “We can go then, unless you can arrange time off sooner.”

“Chase,” I plead.

He shakes his head. “You can’t hide her anymore. I won’t lie to my parents. And it won’t be fair to yours if they hear about our daughter from mine.”

I cover my mouth. If I’d thought it had been rough dealing with Chase, my brother and parents are going to be devastated.

“We’re going to get through this.”

I can’t handle the distance between us, and finally I dart past him, saying, “I just need a minute.”

I quietly go to my room and close the door. I curl up on my bed for a good soaking-your-sheets kind of cry. At some point, I drift off. When I wake, the clock reads well past lunch. I shoot out of bed in search of my daughter. I breathe when I find her dancing around singing to herself in the living room with her poor seen-better-days doll. I’ve tried replacing it, but she’ll have nothing to do with the new one. When I look, Chase is cleaning up the kitchen. Lunch!

I walk over to him. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“It’s okay.” He’s being way too nice. I wait for the other shoe to drop. “Hungry?”

I think about it. “Yes, actually. Is there any chicken left?”

It’s almost odd how normal our conversation is.

“I saved you some.” He places a sandwich in front of me. And then normal is gone. “There is something else we should discuss.” I bite into my food, knowing I’ll probably lose my appetite at some point during this conversation. “I can’t go to Italy without Violet.” I nearly choke. “If you think about it, Andi, it’s only fair.”

I vehemently shake my head. “I can’t go to Italy.”

His expression cools. “I wasn’t asking you.”

My jaw drops. “You expect me to just hand her over?”

He gives me a duh face.

“It won’t be forever. Just until the season’s over, and we’ll come back.”

Every reason why this can never work pops in my head.

“And who will watch her when you’re at practice or games all over the world?”

This is my gotcha moment. Only he has a reasonable answer.

“I’m sure I can find a temporary live-in nanny that you can approve of.”

The idea of someone else taking care of my daughter kills me.

“And you think a nanny is better than her mother?”

He snaps back, “Do you think Owen is better than her father?”

I close my eyes, the fire in me extinguished because he’s right, and let go of my next retort. “And what am I supposed to do?”

“You can play house with Owen for all I care, Andi. You owe me this time.”

I sputter my next words. “Chase, she’s my world. I know you need to bond with her, but I just can’t imagine living one day without her.”

“Welcome to my world,” he says.

We glare at each other. But truthfully, I have no other reasonable argument. So I play my final card.

“And if I don’t allow it?”

“I’ll fight you.”

He has the financial means to take her completely away from me.

“And no doubt you’ll win,” I spit out. He tilts his head toward one shoulder in a half-shrug. “And you want to take her now?”

“Yes.”

Food forgotten, I press my lips together and stare at the ceiling before glancing back at Violet. “How can I live without her?”

“There is one other option.”

Hope blooms in my chest. “What’s that?”

“Instead of me hiring a nanny, you can come with Violet and stay in my spare bedroom. If anything Fletcher said to me makes total sense, it’s that she needs you as much as she needs me.”

Spare bedroom? Clearly, this isn’t an invitation to be a true family.

“What about my job?”

“It’s your job or your daughter. Maybe you could take a leave of absence? What’s more important, Andi? I’m not going to leave Chicago without her.”