Page 96 of Faking it with the Billionaire

“I just want to see her.”

“Are you going to fight me for custody?” he asks, going right for the tough questions.

Ashleigh shakes her head no. “I wouldn’t do that to Bristol or to you. I know you’re a good father. I saw on the news that you’re engaged.” She finally glances at me like I haven’t been sitting here for the last five minutes. “Congratulations.”

“You didn’t come over here to congratulate us,” I say, finally having enough. I’ve tried to keep myself out of the conversation, but it’s difficult with the two of them having it right in front of me.

The brunette sighs. “No, I suppose I didn’t. I want Bristol pulled out of Briarwood.”

“That isn’t your choice to make,” Kyler says. “She likes her school, and she’s doing well. I’m not transferring her.”

I can hear the tension seeping out of his voice, and I reach across the table for Kyler’s hand, trying to calm him down. “Do you agree with her?” he asks, pulling back when I touch his hand.

“No, I don’t. But we also don’t know where we’ll even be next year. Your contract is up. You could get offered a deal with another team in another state.”

“I don’t want to play for another team,” Kyler says. He takes my hand and squeezes it. “I’m playing for the Ice Dragons, and Bristol will continue to attend Briarwood.”

Ashleigh opens and shuts her mouth several times. I’m not sure if she’s speechless or just realizes that she can’t win an argument with Kyler Greyson.

She turns and heads back to her table, drops a few twenties, and then grabs her coat and heads outside.

“Well, that was something else,” I mutter.

Kyler untangles his hand from mine. He takes a sip of his drink and gestures the waitress over. “Can we see your wine list?”

For the rest of the evening, Kyler is much quieter and more reserved than I’m used to witnessing. He has one glass of red wine and offers me the wine list. I turn down the offer, and he doesn’t push, which I appreciate.

He settles up with the bill, and then we walk a couple of blocks to Central Park. He still seems lost in his head, probably overanalyzing what happened with Ashleigh earlier.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, nudging him as we walk.

“Fitzgerald offered me a contract for next year,” Greyson says, the words thick and heavy, like he’s not happy about the news.

“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” I ask, turning to face him. We stop walking, and I reach for his hands, trying to offer a small amount of comfort. This is something he needs to decide on his own, what he wants from his career.

“It was. It is.” Kyler sighs. “I don’t know anymore. After what happened with Bristol and finding out it was Fitzgerald’s brother, I’m torn.”

“How so?” I ask, leading him to sit on one of the nearby benches with me.

He plops down, and I sit beside him, our legs brushing together. I rest my hand on his thigh, trying to help ease his mind.

“Fitzgerald would continue to be my general manager if I sign with the Ice Dragons. He’s a pig,” Kyler says, glancing up at me.

“And karma will give him what he’s due in time.”

“I keep thinking about getting him fired.”

“Do you want me to report him for what he did in his office?” I ask.

Kyler shakes his head. “You don’t deserve that type of media attention.” He leans forward, folding his hands together. “I’m considering buying the team.”

“Is it for sale?” I ask.

“Everyone has a price, babe.” He glances at me with a smirk, giving me the same nickname I gave him earlier.

I nudge him playfully. “Babe, huh? Couldn’t be more original?” I ask, teasing him.

“Okay, we can go back to M&M.” He chuckles and rubs his eyes while laughing.