“Why, Paxton? Why would you let this lowlife back into your life? He left you, remember? He doesn’t love you and never did. All you were was a sex thing for him to play with until he found something better.”
I walked up to him and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him away from Paxton.
“Fuck off, you son-of-a-bitch!” I hit him in the face, causing him to stumble back.
Paxton screamed and rushed to Joe. “Steed! Are you crazy?”
“He had his hands on you, Paxton. I’m not going to let him touch you and say bullshit things like that.”
Joe wiped the blood from his mouth as he glared at me from the floor. Paxton was kneeling down next to him. Why she gave a shit how he was, I couldn’t imagine.
I pointed at him. “You ever say something like that again and I’ll—”
“Enough!” Paxton cried out. “Steed, I think you need to leave.”
My eyes widened in shock. “What? Why in the fuck do I need to leave? He’s the one who came bursting in here and manhandled you!”
“I could have handled it, but it looks like some things never change. Your hot-headed temper likes to take control.”
There was no way she was taking that asshole’s side right now. “Pax, are you serious right now? We were talking …we were… I thought… Why are you doing this?”
“I need you to leave, Steed. Now.”
Joe stared up at me with a shit-eating grin on his face.
Nodding, I glanced between the two of them and settled my gaze on her. “Fine. If that’s what you want.”
She stared up at me, anger still visible.
“I guess maybe you were wrong,” I said.
The anger on her face immediately melted away. “What?”
“Maybe you did stop loving me.”
One more survey of Joe, and I simply nodded. “You got what you wanted, fucker.”
Paxton stood. “Steed. Wait.”
Without looking back, I walked out the front door and to my truck.
“Steed!”
I opened the door to my truck and glimpsed back at the house. “You asked me to leave, Paxton. I’m doing what you asked, unless you want me to stay. Do you want me to stay?”
She wrapped her arms around her body and said nothing.
I slowly nodded. “Okay, I guess I’ll see you around.”
My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest all over again. This time, before I walked away, I asked her twice if she wanted me to leave. I started up the truck and drove away.
Chloe was practically pulling my arm out of socket as she dragged me behind her.
“Hurry, Daddy! The carnival is about to start!”
Glancing around, I couldn’t help but notice all of the people. Where in the hell were some of them yesterday when Paxton needed help setting up? They must have gotten more help after we left.
“A petting zoo!” Chloe shouted.
Laughing, I shook my head. “Pumpkin, you live at a zoo practically.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not the same, Daddy!”
As we walked over to the zoo on wheels, I searched the crowd for Paxton. I knew she was here and a part of me dreaded seeing her. Especially since she let me walk away from her last night, leaving her alone with that fucker, Joe.
Before I knew it, I was in the damn pen chasing a duck down for Chloe to pet.
The battle was won, and it was worth it when I saw the smile on Chloe’s face. Her little blue eyes stared up and pleaded. “May I get a duck?”
My heart dropped. “Huh?”
A light chuckle came from my left. Turning, I wanted to groan when I saw Gina standing there. “They are so adorable at this age. Lilly wants a duck too.”
Chloe jumped up and down. “We can get sister ducks, Daddy. And then they can have play dates.”
Lilly jumped around in agreement. When I looked at Gina I had to turn away. Holy shit if she wasn’t giving serious fuck-me eyes.
“Chloe, we’re not getting a duck. Sorry pumpkin.” I took her hand and glanced back at Gina. “Good seeing you. We’ve got to run, meeting someone.”
Her lower lip jutted out in a pout. “Bummer. Let’s plan a play date! Soon!”
Lifting my hand, I called back to her. “Sure. I’ll get with you on it.”
The second we got out of the mini-zoo I took off. “Daddy, why are we walking so fast?” Chloe asked.
I slowed down my pace. “Sorry, pumpkin. How about we go find some games to play?”
Her smile grew bigger. “Games! Yes!”
We headed over to the area that had all of the games set up. Each one they got to play for something. A homework pass for the older kids, tea with your teacher, a trip to Build-A-Bear, a floating raft trip down the Frio.