Page 19 of Better Daddy

It shouldn’t surprise me. The man is an expert multitasker. Why would that change when he’s on the phone with his wife, whose fucking car is on fire?

“I don’t understand,” I mutter.

“You shorted the circuit and now it’s overheating,” he explains, clueless to my true concern here. The man really doesn’t give a shit, does he?

“It’s a new car.” I keep my tone even, hoping that’ll keep me from getting emotional. I can rely only on myself. I know this.

“Brand-new cars can still be wrecked,” Sully grunts out.

“But how will I get back and forth to New Jersey?” Fuck, I hate my life.

He’s silent for a beat, then, “You’re moving in?”

“God, Sully, focus.”

“I am focusing. I’ll buy you a new fucking car,” he grouses.

“Right, because that’s how you handle every problem. Throw money at it and hope it goes away.” I hang up, wondering why I bothered to call him to begin with.

“I think we should shut the door,” Julius says, pacing.

He stops at my side again, and we both peer into the car. The interior is still smoky, but it’s hard to tell whether the console is still short-circuiting. It could be what’s left from that initial spark.

“Step back,” he says, turning in a circle, like he’s looking for help.

My phone chimes, and on instinct, I lift it to check the display.

Sully.Of course.

Sighing, I accept the FaceTime request, but when I’m met with a black screen again, I grit my teeth. “Sully, I’m busy dealing with this car. I don’t have time for your dramatics, and clearly you don’t have time for them either.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re busy. The damn phone is obviously facedown on your desk while you work and try to deal with me. Well, I’m not your problem anymore. Don’t worry about me, I’ve got this covered.”

The dark screen is replaced by a blurry image I can’t make out. After a second, Sully’s crazed face appears. “I had the mobile on the seat because I’m driving.”

“Where?”

“To you,” he mutters, the lines on his face deepening.

“Why?”

“Because, sweetheart, youaremy problem. Nothing matters more than your safety, so before I get into an accident because I’m preoccupied with worry, would you please get away from the fucking car? And stay away until I get there to deal with it.”

My mouth hangs open. Forget the car; I’ve short-circuited.

“Sloane,please,” he begs in a tone that pulls at my heartstrings despite how badly I don’t want it to.

“Oh, baby daddy is having a meltdown.” Julius breaks into a smile and snatches the phone from my hand. “I’ll take care of her. Should we leave the door open or closed?”

“Caesar,” Sully grits out. “Just turn the bloody car off and get her out of there. I don’t care what you do with the door.”

“Right.”

The screen goes dark, the line disconnected, but his words echo in my head. Nothing matters more. I blink once, then again. Is that really true?

Another tear slides down my cheek as the words settle in my heart. Shit. This is so not my day.