Page 123 of Whiskey and Regret

Evander had a way with words on and off the page. Frankie’s uncertain eyes warmed when she heard her daddy talk. It made my heart skip a beat.

“Our relationship won’t change either.” He kissed her temple gently. “We just gained a new family member, that’s all.”

“You think you can live with that, Frank?” I nudged her with my elbow and she nodded.

“Good. Now, go put on your shoes. We’re doing movies at midnight and then IHOP,” Evander said before he stood to his feet.

“Are we celebrating your new girlfriend?” She asked a warm smile spread across her cute face. It wasn’t harsh or pointed. It was easy and happy. I loved seeing her happy.

“No...I’ll explain on the way,” he sighed.

…

TWENTY-FIVE

My knees bumped against the table in the family mediator’s office. They didn’t have many tall men come in and sit down. I pushed away from the table and rested my ankle on my knee. I looked at my watch then at the door. Where the hell was Alexis?

No sooner than the thought popped into my head did she walk through the door. She was decked out in Louis Vuitton from head to toe with Cartier diamonds sparkling in her ears, around her neck, and on her fingers. She got to keep all the jewelry I’d gifted her while we were married and it felt like she was throwing it right back in my face. I watched her touch the studs in her ear and check her watch before smiling at me.

“Hello, Evander.” I knew she had some bullshit up her sleeve because usually, she called me Van. Evander meant there was a world of drama waiting for me.

I knew I could expect theatrics from her but what I wasn’t expecting was for my father to walk through the door right behind her. I opened my mouth then closed it, unsure of what to say.

“Son,” Dad nodded at me before taking a seat at the head of the table like he owned the building.

“What the hell are you doing here with Alexis, Dad? This is a family mediator’s office. Not family counseling.”

“She is my daughter in law.”

“Ex,” I said swiftly, holding a stiff finger in the air.

“In any event, she is the mother of my grandchild and she has concerns about Frankie’s well-being with that…girl as her nanny and your new plaything.”

“You’re shitting me. Alexis, are you that fucking petty? You brought my dad into this just to agree with your warped point of view?” A headache bloomed between my eyes.

“He’s here for moral support and to agree with my concerns because let’s face it, nobody knows what poor Francesca sees when she’s holed up in that house with you and that bitch.”

“Her name is Xari and you’re lucky we’re in a public place and I can’t put either one of you out.”

“Whatever. She’s unfit to be around my daughter.” Alexis sat down and crossed her legs. A smug smirk curved her pink lips.

I kept my mouth shut because if I opened it, I knew a bunch of expletives would jump out. When the mediator, Mrs. Reyes, walked in, she glanced around the rectangular table and exhaled.

“And who do we have here with us today, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman?” I hated that Alexis refused to let my last name go. I didn’t want her to have any more ties to me once we split up. We had Frankie and she was enough.

Besides, one day…I wanted to give Xari my last name.

“Hello, my name is Warren Freeman, I’m Evander’s father and Francesca’s grandfather. I didn’t catch your name?” Dad flashed Mrs. Reyes a smile because no woman alive could resist his charm.

“I didn’t throw it,” the mediator said, taking a seat at the other end of the table. “Sir, if you wouldn’t mind stepping into the waiting area while I speak with Evander and Alexis.”

“I’m here for moral support and to also voice my concerns about…”

“Well, that’s lovely,” she said, cutting him off. “But we don’t need any extra conflict here.”

“Exactly,” I huffed.

“Oh, you didn’t call your father in here?” Mrs. Reyes turned to me and blinked in disbelief.