“I work my ass off to be there for her,” I snarl, but almost immediately, the irritation that bubbles in my veins demands I don’t listen to another word of this fucking conversation. “You know what? I’m done.”
Hanging up, I practically chuck my phone onto the counter by the charger. I’m fuming, and I can’t stand still. I need to move. I need to get this out of me before I smash everything in this room to pieces, which would be so damn childish.
I can’t be in here. I…I need a drink.
Rushing down the hall, I go straight to my office and to the small bar I have in the corner. I pull out a bottle of whisky and pour a few fingers into a small rocks glass.
I take a gulp, appreciating the burn that winds down my esophagus, and then let out a heavy breath. I last for only a second before I have to slump down into the chair in front of my desk, pinching the bridge of my nose while I try to remain calm.
“How could she do that? She doesn’t know anything about our situation here.”
As I focus on the sound of my breaths, I hear a gentle knock on my door. When I look over, having not closed it, I see Hazel standing there, her brow furrowed with concern.
“Are you okay? I heard talking in here, and…”
The words dry up, and for a moment, all I can do is look at her. She went to the coffee shop earlier with Olivia, but her car is in the drive.
I completely forgot she was here. God, I suck.
“Sorry,” I shake my head, “did I wake you up?”
A smile cracks across Hazel’s face, and she steps inside. “It’s nine-thirty, Easton. I’m not eighty. No, you didn’t wake me up. I heard you talking. You sounded…pissed.”
Letting out a sigh, I take a sip of my whisky again before gesturing for Hazel to step inside. I have another small chair in here, just some dumb décor piece, but it’s functional.
She steps inside, walking over to the tiny, chaise-like seat and sitting on the edge.
“My mother called. She…she doesn’t think I can handle raising Jade.”
“Easton,” the word comes out on a gasp, “I’m so sorry. That’s ridiculous. I mean, there isn’t some extenuating circumstance I don’t know about, is there?”
I shake my head. “Not as far as I’m aware of.”
“Then she has no idea what she’s talking about.” Even though she just sat down, Hazel walks over to me, reaching out and putting a hand on my shoulder. “Your parents have not seen how hard you’ve been working to ensure Jade is okay. You’ve got me around to help because you knew you needed it, and you’ve been so good at not taking jobs too far away.”
I don’t like praise at the best of times, so now it feels especially awkward. Still, I smile, dropping my head as I lay a hand on top of Hazel’s, where it’s planted on my shoulder.
She looks kind of silly standing in front of me like this, and somehow, I’m still coming up to her shoulders because of the height difference.
“Thanks.”
“I mean it. I remember the story you told me about helping Janeen when she had a bully. He picked on her relentlessly and wouldn’t leave her alone. You stepped up and put that asshole in his place. He never bothered her again. No one did. That’s who you are, Easton. You’re a protector—to your sister, to her child, and to all the people you help through your business. Hell, you’re even protecting me. You got this.”
My heart is hammering against my ribs again, and it has nothing to do with being angry. Hazel sees me. It means the world to me that she gets how hard I’m trying, how much being there for my family means to me.
I’m not close with my parents, and I regret the distance that developed between Janeen and me after we were so close when we were young.
If I can be there for Jade now, it’s like I’m making up for that time. And she’s an amazing kid. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t started to love her like my own.
And then, of course, there’s Hazel.
She means…so much to me. I have to be honest with myself about it. I’m terrified something might happen to her, and asmuch as I’ve tried to keep my distance from her, we keep crashing back together.
I feel her pull my chin up when I still haven’t looked at her. “You’re doing everything you can for that girl, and all you can do is your best because you’re still learning how to be a parent. Don’t beat yourself up, Easton. Don’t let what your mother said get to you.”
“Hazel, I…” I look up into her eyes, and I don’t know what to say.
She’s said everything right, wowing me yet again with her ability to ease my frazzled brain and see the good. I don’t know how she does it, but I love that about her.
