“Yeah. He’s perfect.”
She glanced back at him. Something warm invaded her gaze. Her lips curled up, and she stepped slightly closer to him. His breath caught, and he wondered what she was about to say. Whatever it was, the answer was yes.
But before she could say anything, a voice he did not want to hear cut through the laughter behind him.
“Vic! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
He closed his eyes. What the fuck?
Sydney.
She approached him in an emerald-green sweater, cream pants, and knee-high riding boots. Her blonde hair was left flowing down around her shoulders while her makeup was a little heavy for attending a child’s party. Her expression sweetened with the kind of smile she used when she wanted attention.
“Hi, Tachina,” Sydney said. Her voice was syrup sweet,but her eyes were sharp. She came to stand next to Vic. “Cute party.”
“Thanks,” Tachina replied cooly. Her attention turned back to Vic. “I’m going to head back over to the games if you need me.”
She spun around and stalked away. His gaze dropped down to her ass, unable to resist the peek. Sydney cleared her throat.
“I came to drop off a present for Kian.” She held out a bag to Vic. Her smile widened even more.
Right. Because she really wanted to come to a five-year-old’s party and bring a gift.
“Appreciate it. You can leave it on the table over there.” He tilted his head toward the patio where there was a table set up.
She of course didn’t move.
“So, what is going on with you and Tachina?” Sydney slipped closer to him and lowered her voice.
“This is not the time nor the place.” He resisted the urge to back away from her.
“I think I deserve to know.” She rested a hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side.
“You don’t.” His tone was firm because he meant it. They were no longer together, and she didn’t need to know anything that was going on with him.
“But you spend so much time together. How do I know you two haven’t been seeing each other behind my back?”Her jaw clenched. Her eyes flicked over to where Tachina was laughing with her cousin, Christina. Her gaze was filled with resentment.
“She’s the mother of my son.”
“That doesn’t mean you need to talk with her or invite her over. Don’t you think that is weird?”
“You need to respect my relationship with my son’s mother,” he growled. He stepped closer to her, eyes narrowed while his anger rose swiftly. This woman had never understood that two people who shared a child could get along. “Tachina and I have never done anything behind your back. I was honest with you from day one about my relationship with her.”
“Yeah, you fucked her a couple times then got her pregnant,” she muttered. She rolled her eyes while an unladylike scowl graced her face. “But the moment I mention having kids?—”
“Enough.” He kept his voice low and glanced around, hoping no one was paying them any attention. They had already had this conversation. This was one of the catalysts for Sydney breaking it off with him. “Just go.”
“Vic,” she started.
But he already had turned away from her. He stalked off, unable to believe she’d try this shit at his son’s party.
“Vic!” Tachina called out. “You coming to throw or what?”
He smirked. This was just the distraction he needed. Heignored Sydney’s gaze and couldn’t care less if she stayed or left. He arrived where Tachina and her family were standing. The Captain America Shield Toss game was set up, and it looked as if the adults were having more fun with it than the kids.
He accepted the foam shield, weighing it like a weapon. He could do this.
“Be careful. She’s on a hot streak.” Christina laughed. She stepped back to stand with her son who was about ten years old.