“Relax, I’m not going inside with you. But I’m not staying locked in the truck, out of reach and ear shot, either.”
I nod. I don’t even know what to do with this. I’ve never been the sort to draw on people’s protective instincts, but that does seem to be what’s happening right now.
We don’t say anything as we walk up to the front door, and only exchange a quick glance when I rap my knuckles over the wood once before I let myself in.
“Hey!” I call out, walking right into the main living area. The floor plan is wide open, and given this used to be my house, I know my way around just fine.
“What are you doing here?”
Ah. Everyone is in the living room. Everyone except my kid.
“Sorry, I forgot we had a thing today. I just came by to grab Sloan.” I wave at the woman gawking at me from the sofa. “I’m Sloan’s mom,” I introduce myself with a smile. “Kenley.”
My ex is already on his feet and coming straight at me. Then, before I know what’s happening, his hand is gripping my wrist tightly. He keeps walking, throwing his body into my path and practically shoving me right back out the door as he says, “Let’s talk about this outside.”
Knox catches one glimpse of my wrist being squeezed by my ex and pounces.
“Wrong. Fucking. Move,” he snarls, startling my ex and quickly gaining the advantage as he grabs him by his free arm, pushing it into a position I think might break it if either of them moves wrong, forcing my ex to release me.
Knox doesn’t stop there. My ex still under his control, he walks him back inside backwards, much like I was pushed out the door a few seconds ago.
“Hi there,” Knox calls out, just as friendly as ever. “Sorry to interrupt, we’re just here to pick up Sloan.” He looks at me, still casually gripping my ex’s arm as if he’s not on the verge of snapping it in two, and nods toward the hall. “Wanna go get her while I visit?”
“Yep.” I smile at my ex who looks equally stumped as he does furious. He’s not used to being overpowered by anyone. “Just be a sec.”
Thankfully, Sloan is ready to go as soon as I show up at her room.
Now, I just have to get her past the men without her noticing that her father is being forcefully held in submission.
Panic sets in the closer we get to the end of the hall, because how the hell am I spinning this!? My eyes meet Knox’s and, justas I’m stepping out with Sloan in tow, he releases his grip and takes two steps back as if the entire altercation never happened.
I notice he places himself strategically between us and my ex, giving us a clear shot for the door.
“Sorry again for the interruption,” I call out as I’m walking through, moving my kid into the lead to get her out first.
“Bye, Daddy,” Sloan adds, though hardly loud enough for him to hear. I think it was more for principle than to serve a purpose.
“Y’all enjoy the rest of your day!” Knox waves goodbye even as he’s pulling the door shut behind us.
No one utters so much as a single word. We just hustle to get inside the truck. I don’t even say anything when Knox gestures for me to toss him the keys, already moving for the driver’s side door. I just do it and climb in the back with Sloan, who’s clearly still shaken from the morning’s events.
“He’s never been that pissed at me,” she whispers when we’re driving away from the house. “I remember how he used to get when you guys would fight, but I didn’t think he’d ever get like that with me.” She looks up at me, eyes red. “I don’t even know why I thought that. Seems stupid now.”
“It’s not stupid,” I tell her, stroking her hair back from her face. “You never thought that because you weren’t supposed to.” I tug her in close to my side. “He’s your dad. He’s supposed to make you feel safe, not frightened.” I have to choke back my own tears to keep going. “And when you were little, and we all lived together, it was easy for me to be the buffer between you two.” I turn around to look at her again. “I need you to know though, I came and got you today because you didn’t feel safe. Not because I believed you were in real danger.” I bite my lip, trying to choose my words carefully here. “Not physically anyway. I know his anger can be plenty hurtful in other ways.”
“I know that.” She wipes at her eyes. “I wasn’t scared like that. It was just...”
“His energy.”
She nods, eyes wide. “Yeah. It was like he was exploding everywhere.”
I remember.
“The good news is,” I add, trying to sound like there’s a positive side to this mess, “that all explosions die out. And his anger will too. And the next time you talk, he’ll be totally normal again.”
“Like nothing ever happened,” Sloan says dryly, rolling her eyes. “Yeah. I know. Unless he decides to give me the silent treatment for the next two weeks first.”
“Well, exploding can be tiring,” I say, smirking. “If he needs some alone time after to think about everything, that’s on him. You just go about your life and don’t take it personally.”
