Page 29 of Discretion

“What time is it now?” I massaged my temples.

He picked up my phone, and I squinted against the bright screen. I held up my hand to shield my eyes, and he said, “Seven three nine. Oh look! There’s a new message from Dad.”

“Seven thirty-nine,” I said, taking the phone from him.

Kai was learning how to read, and I didn’t want him to see what Craig had sent. Not until I’d screened the contents of the message first.

Kai pouted, and I knew he missed his dad. “But I wanted to read his message.”

I opened Craig’s message. It was too damn early for this. But Craig was Kai’s dad, and I was glad to see him making the effort. Hell, if our roles were reversed, I’d be trying to call Kai every day. Probably multiple times a day.

Craig: Is now a good time to video chat with Kai?

I wasn’tsure there’d be a better time. We needed to run some errands. Get some things ready for the week ahead. And hopefully do something fun together. I didn’t want all of Kai’s memories with me to be of me working or us doing chores.

Me: Yes. Call anytime.

Almost immediately,the phone started buzzing in my hand.Jeez. That was fast.

I handed it to Kai; he could answer it. His dad was calling to speak to him, not me. And I needed some coffee before I dealt with anything, let alone my ex.

“Hi, Dad!” Kai waved at the screen, a big smile on his face.

“Mate. How are you? Have you been working on the Hulkbuster I sent you?” Craig asked. Because, to him, being a good parent meant spoiling your son. Though, at least he’d asked to chat with Kai without any prompting on my part. That was something.

“Yeah.” Kai hopped up. “Want to see?”

“Of course,” Craig said, and I let out a breath of relief when Kai took my phone—and Craig—down the hall to see it.

I pushed out of bed with a groan. I gathered my hair and twisted it up in a clip before padding out to the living room. Kai was sitting on the floor, with the pieces laid out on the coffee table before him. My phone rested against the box so he and Craig could talk while he assembled it.

I couldn’t believe he’d spent almost an hour on it. I supposed I should be grateful to Craig for the extra sleep. As if he’d really had anything to do with it.

I went to the kitchen and started gathering the supplies for chocolate chip pancakes, keeping one ear on the conversation between Kai and Craig. Craig was asking him about LA and the things he’d done. The kids he’d met. Kai gushed about Jasper, and then Kai gave him a tour of our accommodations.

When Kai made it to the kitchen, he held up the camera so I filled the screen. “Say hi, Mum!”

I waved, forcing a tight smile. All the while, I tried not to let my annoyance show. It wasn’t Kai’s fault that he was excited to show off our current living space. I just didn’t know why I needed to be part of the tour.

“Hi, Hal. Nice place,” Craig said, the nickname grating on me. “Think there’s room for me?”

Kai was so excited he nearly dropped the phone. “Are you coming to visit?”

I narrowed my eyes at Craig. What was he up to? “Can I please have the phone?” I said to my son, taking it before either of them could discuss it further. Kai pouted, but I ignored it. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Kai. “See how much you can get done on the Hulkbuster while I’m gone, ’kay?”

“Okay.” Kai slunk back to his seat on the floor.

I went into my bedroom and closed the door. “What was that about?” I hissed, hoping Kai wouldn’t overhear.

“What?” Craig lifted his shoulder. He was dressed in a button-down shirt, as polished as ever, while I was fresh out of bed with messy hair. Since I was still in my pajamas sans bra, I kept the camera angled so that he could only see from my neck up. “I have some business in LA in a few weeks, and I thought Kai and I could celebrate his birthday early. Even if not, I want to see Kai. See both of you.”

I frowned. “I really wish you hadn’t said anything to him without talking to me first. What if something comes up oryour plans change?” It wouldn’t be the first time it had happened.

“My flight is booked. I’m coming. And I was hoping I could stay with you for a few days while I’m there.”

He…what?

The fact that Craig planned to come to LA had my heart pounding. But asking to stay here… What the hell was he thinking?