“That’s still cool,” Arne said kindly.I bit back a smile.
Erik wanted to take us for dinner, and Arne and I needed to change.I left Erik in the kitchen making awkward conversation with my family.Dorian was out, but Bruce and Mom were there with Cora.My family weren’t big fans of his.Things had been tense during our marriage, and after he left, he’d been badmouthed freely.
“Did you know Dad was coming?”Arne asked as I pulled out some clean clothes for him.
“Nope.He showed up at Mr.Justin’s house and I was just as surprised as you.”
Arne untangled himself from his T-shirt.“He’s just here for a little while?Not for good?”
“Not as far as I know.”There was a less than one percent chance that he’d stay, but I didn’t want to say that to my kid.
“Is he coming to my games?”
I didn’t want to taint the relationship of my ex and my son, but I also wasn’t going to lie and break the trust between Arne and me.“I don’t know, kiddo.”
Arne pulled a clean shirt over his head.“Okay, I’ll ask him but not count on it.”
No kid should have thatdon’t count on itexpectation with their own damned father.I wanted to slap the younger me who’d been careless and got pregnant.But then I wouldn’t have Arne, and he was the best thing in my life.
Oh well, I couldn’t change things anyway.
The kitchen was empty when we came down.I heard Bruce in the living room, but Erik wouldn’t have joined him.Instead, we found him sitting on the outside steps.He followed me out to the Subaru, where I strapped Arne in the back seat.Erik stood by the passenger door, jaw set.
I closed Arne’s car door.“Were they that bad?”
He rolled his eyes.“Bruce wanted to know if I’d start paying child support.As if he pays for any of Arne’s expenses.”
No, I paid for all of those.
Erik caught my gaze.“You don’t use the money I send for your family, do you?”
I tensed.It was none of his fucking business what I did with the little money he’d sent through so far.Or maybe it was.“I’ve been putting it in a college fund for Arne.”
“Thank goodness.So you’re doing okay without it?”
I raised my brows.He wasn’t getting off the hook.I understood his income was irregular, but that was because he was pursuing his dream.Me?I had to do whatever I could to keep this family afloat, including Arne.“I don’t count on it.I don’t want to get him used to something and have to take it away when I don’t have enough cash.There are things he wants that I can’t provide.”Erik would be thrilled if he learned hockey lessons were on that list.
“Well, this job pays well so I can catch up.”
Sure, but what about the gap until the next job?But I bit my tongue.I did that a lot.“Right now, what I count on is the money I bring in.So you cannot come by places I’m working.That’s unprofessional and could cost me work.What the hell were you thinking?”
He sighed.“I shouldn’t have, but I stopped here and Cora told me you were with him again.”
I rubbed my face with my hands.“There’s so much wrong with that, Erik.First, you can’t accept anything Cora says at face value.She’s a shit disturber and loves to get people to react.She likes to find any weakness and use it.”
“She didn’t use to be like that.”
“You haven’t been around.Which is the second thing—we’re divorced.You remember that, right?Because what I do, unless it’s hurting Arne, is none of your business.”
“But Mia?—”
“But nothing.Do you want me poking my nose into your life in LA?”
His cheeks flushed.“No, but…” He didn’t finish that.
“Do you believe I’m doing anything that would put Arne at risk?”
“I know you wouldn’t.”