Page 125 of With a Cherry On Top

Anger and betrayal flood my veins so fast they nearly knock me sideways. I thought she was still in rehab. I thought she was still trying to get better. She kept her promise and called Sadie every day, and I thought she’d show up when she was ready.

But she’s back, and she hasn’t even come to see our daughter.

“You owe me an explanation, Aaron. I leave Sadie with you, then I get a call saying you were arrested? Are youkiddingme?”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing.Iowe her an explanation?

The door to the holding cells buzzes, and my head snaps up just as Max steps through, leading Charlotte into the waiting room.

She’s still in that green mini dress, the hem scandalously short. Her heels click against the tile floor, and her makeup is smudged, black streaks of mascara ghosting beneath her eyes. Even with her lipstick faded and kissed away, and her hair a red mess of strands ruffled and tangled from the chaos of the night, she looks radiant—and then shesmiles.

A small, lopsided curve of her lips. Tired, but unapologetic. A little amused, even, like she can’t believe we’ve actually ended up here.

Like it’s just another adventure to her.

I should be pissed. I should be so fucking pissed. But instead, the tightness in my chest eases just seeing her standing there, in one piece.

I close the distance between us in an instant. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Her eyes skim over my face, landing on the bruise around my eye. Her fingers lift, brushing the swelling so lightly it’s barely a touch. “Are you?”

“Jesus.” I catch her hand, turning it over. The skin over her knuckles is dark purple, swollen. She reallydidhit him. “He didn’t hit back, did he?”

“No, he started crying about his face and Instagram.” She scoffs. “Pathetic.”

“I can’t believe you fuckingpunchedhim.”

She smirks, her fingertips ghosting over my bruised cheek again. “I’ll punch anyone for you.”

I press a kiss to her knuckles. “I’ll bail you out every single time.”

Her grin lights up her face, andgod help me. She’s never prettier than when she smiles like this. Genuinely, with her heart.

“Who the hellisthis, Aaron?” Josie’s voice slices through the moment like a blade. “What is going on?”

I don’t have to check to know she’s glaring at Charlotte. I can feel the judgment radiating off of her.

I groan. “Josie?—”

“Holy crap.” Her eyes dart between Charlotte and me, widening. Her voice drops to a furious whisper. “Is she...underage?”

Charlotte stiffens beside me. “No,she’snot underage,” she bites out. “Andshe’sright here if you have any questions.”

Josie ignores her. “Getting into fights, Aaron? You’ve obviously lost your damn mind. Did you take her home? Introduce her to Sadie? Please tell me you didn’t.” When I just keep glaring, she mumbles, “Oh, you’re unbelievable.”

I have a sense that her next words will be against Charlotte, and I’ll be fucking damned if I let Josie make tonight even more difficult.

“You know what?” I say, raising a hand. “Just . . .stop.”

She crosses her arms, eyes daring me to say that again. “Excuse me?”

“You have no right—absolutelynoright—to be here screaming at me.”

“Oh really?” she spits. “Because?—”

“You’re here, Josie.” My voice rises, my anger roaring past my ability to control it. “You’re standing right here, and you couldn’t be bothered to see your own child.”

Her mouth opens. Closes.