Page 27 of Only for Me

His eyes narrowed and dropped to Avi who was grabbing at my shirt. “Maybe I am returning the favor because you damn sure made decisions for me, didn’t you?”

“You know what, I give up. Do whatever the hell you want. I deserve that. I kept a kid from you that you didn’t want. Hell, I’m still not sure you want her. You’re pushing so hard to be here but not once have you even asked to hold her. Every time you look at her you’re frowning like she’s an inconvenience or a problem in your life. There is no award for father of the year, but if there was, you damn sure wouldn’t win it by throwing your money and weight around to prove you have pull that I don’t. Try interacting with your daughter, Omiri. That might actually win you some favor with me.”

I turned to storm out the room and he moved off the sofa quick as hell and blocked my path. The way he glared at me had me taking a step back.

“Don’t speak on shit that you don’t know. All this is about keeping her safe. Hell, even keeping your annoying ass safe, because like it or not, you’re her mother and that’s important. I can’t do this without you…” He paused and narrowed his eyes. “For now. You told me to make her a priority. That’s what the fuck I’m doing. I want her safe. I’m damn sure not gonna apologize for that.”

His tone was harsh but the look in his eyes had me staring more closely. The cockiness and arrogance was there but he also seemed vulnerable and sincere.

“She’s been safe with me for the past four months.”

“I’m not saying she wasn’t but shit is different now. You don’t have to play every role in her life, so let me do what the fuck I do.”

The intensity of his voice made a rush of awareness crawl down my spine with a reminder of that same attraction and pull I felt toward him the night we met. My body responded to his assertiveness even when my mind knew better than to travel down that road again.

I left things where they were, walked over to Avi’s swing, and lifted her into my arms. “I need to get her changed and give her a bottle. I’m assuming you can handle the baby proofing.”

I needed distance before I said something stupid.

“Yeah, I got it.”

“Good, just please make sure they stay out of my personal shit.”

I turned and left the room but could feel his eyes on me. Regardless of how annoyed I was that he had been here disrupting my life all day, a small part of me didn’t mind having him around.

Which was definitely going to be a problem…

I fed Avi, got her changed and down for her last nap of the day then went back into the living room where I found Omiri stretched out on the sofa looking completely at home and in his element. He had one arm draped across the back and his leg stretched across the seat with the other planted on the floor. He had his phone to his ear, and as soon as I was in the room, he was tracking my every move while he spoke to whoever had his attention.

“I’mma pull up when I’m done here. She said she would only be another half hour at most. Yeah, I promise I got you.”

I rolled my eyes when a woman in jeans and a teal T-shirt with Safe Steps stretched across the front entered the living room, smiling at me. She had a clipboard in hand which she tucked against her chest and extended the other one to me.

“Ms. Phoenix?”

I nodded and accepted and we shook. “Makari is fine.”

“Hi, I’m Carmen. I’m assuming you’re aware that Mr. Hayes scheduled an assessment for your little one today.”

“I’m aware.” I cut my eyes in his direction and his were already on me so I quickly looked back at Carmen.

“Avi just turned four months; so this is premature.”

Carmen smiled softly. “They grow so fast you’d be surprised how quickly they can get into things and become a danger to themselves just because of their little curious minds. It may seem premature but better safe than sorry.”

I couldn’t disagree but the problem was this wasn’t my idea and that annoyed me. I wouldn’t, however, take my frustrations out on this woman. The problem was the man who was now growling at whoever pissed him off. I would have to guess he was on a different call based on the shift in his tone. The conversation was more heated whereas the one prior was more lax and casual.

“I agree, today has just been…” I cut my eyes at Omiri and sighed. “Stressful.”

She followed my line of sight and smiled wider. “First time dad?”

I narrowed my eyes at her and she seemed oblivious so I had to ask. If she knew Omiri, she would have known he didn’t have kids and that would make Avi his first. Or hell, he could have told her our situation. “You don’t know who he is?”

She frowned slightly. “No, should I?”

I studied her for a minute longer. “Omiri Hayes.”

She still seemed clueless and I relaxed. “He’s the quarterback for the Sharks.”