Page 80 of Settling the Score

‘No, she’d never run away from me, but I don’t know if the same could be said for you. Just… get your shit together, Cory. She deserves so much better than this.’

‘You don’t get to?—’

‘I mean, for God’s sake. I’m away forone weekand you can’t even hold it together for her?’

He stared mutinously at the screen.

‘Get it together,’ she said again. ‘I’ll call Melanie tomorrow. I’d better hear that there’s milk and eggs in the fridge.’

‘Yeah, yeah, okay. Whatever. Where are you, anyway?’

Sienna’s shoulders shifted again, this time with an exhalation. ‘It doesn’t matter. I’ll be home in a few days. Look after her until then, okay?’

‘She’s my kid…’

‘Cory?’

‘Yeah, okay. Fine. I’ll look after her.’

Sienna disconnected the call and lowered her head onto her knees, her cheek pressed there as she stared sideways.

He could retreat. Tiptoe backwards, hoping the ficus kept him hidden. Or he could go and talk to her. Tell her he’d heard the conversation.

Or he could just stay hiding where he was indefinitely, he concluded with exasperation.

‘I know you’re there.’ Her voice was a little louder, though it didn’t need to be. He’d heard her fine.

She turned then, looking back at him.

‘I didn’t want to interrupt,’ he admitted, straightening, feeling a little ridiculous.

‘The tree wasn’t exactly the best hiding spot for someone your size.’

‘Yeah.’ He shrugged. ‘Sorry. I didn’t want to interrupt but I just…’

‘It’s okay.’ Her lips pulled to the side.

‘So that’s him, huh?’ He strode over the grass and eased his large frame to the grass beside her, legs kicked out in front of him.

‘Him?’

‘The guy you dated after me?’

‘Right, yeah. That’s him. Cory.’

‘Seems like a real catch.’

She laughed, but it was a sad, frustrated sound. ‘Oh, yeah. I sure can pick ’em.’

He hated that.

He hated to be painted with the same brush as the other guy who was clearly a total drop kick.

‘But Melanie is amazing,’ she admitted, her eyes shifting to his and sparking with something that made his whole body tingle.

‘So you stay because of her?’

‘I’m not with him, any more,’ she said.