Like a family.
CHAPTER FOUR
Olivia
I am exhausted. Again. I left after finding Cash playing cards with Sophie and Isabella. That scene … seeing him interact with the little girl … knowing Sophie was there, enjoying something with him that I can't … it was just too much. I couldn't bear to interrupt because all Cash was doing was spending time with a child that might well be his. I wouldn't ruin that for him, no matter how uncomfortable it made me. But Sophie … she's a different story. I could gleefully have yanked her up off the floor by her hair and then rammed her head into the wall. I don't have a nasty temper and I'm not particularly prone to violence, but that woman … I'd happily kick her ass and leave her for dead if given the chance and she caught me in the right mood.
"Is that harsh, Ginger?" I ask of my friend who is growling into the phone on the other end of the line.
"Hell no! That whore deserves to have her heart ripped out. She thinks we don't know what she's up to, but we're smart bitches. Crazy bitches, too. That skank better watch her back!"
I smile at Ginger's enthusiasm. She's loyal to a fault. She'd probably help me cover up a murder if I needed her to. Not that I'd go to that extreme over Sophie. But that doesn't mean I can't have mean, evil, hurtful thoughts.
"Well, I guess I'd better get home. I'm almost out of gas."
"That's what riding around, talking to your best friend for two hours will do for you."
"Thanks for listening. You're such a good friend."
"Think nothing of it. I like plotting pretend mayhem with you. It makes me feel like I'm not the only deviant in the world."
At that, I chuckle. "In that case, glad to help."
"Get some sleep, Liv. You've got to be exhausted."
I am. I really, really am.
"I'll try. If I could just get that image out of my head."
"I doubt that'll happen until you replace it with something better."
"Any suggestions?"
"Well, considering that lewd acts with your hunka hunka burnin' love husband are off the table until Daddy-O moves back home, I'd say plan a little thing with the three of you. That's almost as good as cutting Sophie out of a picture."
Just the thought of it makes my heart hurt. "I'm not sure that would help very much."
"Look, doll, I know you're all tore up about your empty baby oven, but you can be a part of this with Cash. Don't let that trollop exclude you. That's exactly what she wants. If this kid is his, make a future with her on your terms."
If this kid is his …
My stomach squeezes.
"Speaking of which, I wonder how much longer she's going to be able to put off the testing."
"Let's tie her up and make her go."
"Ummm, that'd be a felony for one thing. Secondly, we don't need her sample. Just her daughter's."
"Good point. Thanks for keeping a level head."
I smile. Ginger goes off like a shotgun blast when she gets something in her head.
"I think I might call that office in the morning. Wouldn't it be kind of me to make an appointment for her? You know, since she's got so much on her plate," I say, sugar dripping from my tongue.
"That would be so kind of you," she concurs then laughs maniacally.
"Maybe I'll drop by and talk to Marissa. Just see what she has to say from a legal standpoint."
"Also a good idea."
I feel better about tomorrow already.
"I guess I'll let you go then. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. On your night off, no less."
"No problem. I think my favorite Australian has probably had plenty of time to recover. I think I'll go see if he's ready for me to throw my shrimp on his barbie."
I snort. "That's an interesting euphemism."
"What?" she asks. I can all but picture her innocent expression. "He's firing up the grill. Sex makes me hungry."
"Oh. I thought … I assumed … "
"Nah, I'm just teasin'. That's totally code for hopping on his big c-"
"I got it, I got it!" I interject. "Go have fun with his barbie, then. I'll talk to you later."
"No mercy!" she reminds before she hangs up.
"No mercy," I repeat quietly to myself as I set my phone aside. I'm not about to let some two-bit harlot from Cash's past jeopardize what we have. Or what we will have. Cash is mine. One way or the other, Sophie is going to realize that.
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