Page 19 of Antagonist

“I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”

Harrison places Karina’s business card on Ellis’s desk and turns to the back of the room where the kids are.

“I understand,” Ellis says, looking so dejected I want to wrap him in cotton wool and punch Harrison for being so gutless.

“No, he doesn’t,” I say, failing to take any bitterness from my voice.

Harrison stares at me, openmouthed.

“How do you feel about being excluded from the fair because you’re divorced? Or not getting invited to parents’ night because you’re into men? Are you comfortable with Megan being taught about being a proper lady? How to put on makeup, wear the right clothes, and say the right things so she can attract the right kind of husband?” The more I rant, the more winded I get. The frustration of being excluded from school activities and having to keep my son away too is finally coming to the surface.

“Do you think all those things are right? Will you be okay when Megan gets invited to girls-only playdates, but she’ll need to wear the right clothes, play the right sports, act the right way? Do you think it’ll stop when she graduates from elementary school? Because it won’t—” I run my hands through my hair, gripping it to the point of pain before I take a deep breath and let go.

Harrison glares at me. “How dare you comment on my parenting decisions when you don’t know me at all?”

“Whose fault is that, Harrison?” I let out a frustrated groan. “What I’m trying to say is that for as long as Karina and her pearl-clutching friends think they’re in charge here, our kids will never know the freedom that comes with making your own choices, playing with whoever they want, expressing themselves any way they want.”

“Fletcher. Harrison,” Ellis says, getting up from his chair.

“Ellis, you have my full support,” I say, trying to instill as much calm in my voice as I can for Ellis’s sake. Then I turn to Harrison. “You do what you want, but I’ll fight for my son’s right to a Spring Fair he can attend and enjoy.”

If Harrison’s gaze could kill, I’d be a pile of ash. Instead, even though I want to throttle him, I also want to climb him like a tree. Not cool.

“Daddy.” George’s voice reminds me of the kids’ presence.

“You found your book?” I ask, walking around Harrison.

“Oh yeah, it was in T for treasure,” Megan says with a proud smile.

Her little button nose has to be her mom’s, but her intelligent dark eyes and smile are Harrison’s, one hundred percent.

“Well then, it’s adventure time,” I declare, ruffling my son’s hair. It’s starting to get in his eyes, so he’ll need a cut this week.

“Are we going to the lake?”

I nod, and he smiles in that way that always makes me feel like I’m the best person in the whole wide world. His superhero. His best friend.

As we leave the room, I take one last look at Harrison.

The frustration he brings out in me won’t even come close to the disappointment I’ll feel if he decides to stay away, so I take my son’s hand and head out.

We have a weekend full of adventure ahead of us.

6

HARRISON

I stareat the file in front of me, wondering how many pages it’s been since I stopped paying attention.

My eyes are tired, and I don’t want to reread what I’ve already read twice. I should know better than to push when I’m not in the right frame of mind.

Tate’s name pops up on my cell. I slide my thumb across the screen to pick up the call and get up from my desk, working out the kinks in my back before heading to the kitchen.

“Hey,” I say.

“What’s up, Hare?”

I smile at the concern in his voice. “I should ask you that. You’re the one who called me.”