Part 20 (2/2)

s.h.i.+t.

She went from vulnerable to numb in two weeks. Is this my fault?

”Ash, listen, just-”

”Here, you can carry him in,” she says while pulling out our adorable little boy dressed in a flashy suit. ”I'm sure everyone will want to see you holding your son for the first time. I'm going to go find Billy and Shannon.”

”You don't want to walk in with me?” I ask, a little surprised as the flocks start rus.h.i.+ng in.

She cringes each time someone's hand brushes up against her, and then she shakes her head before disappearing into the ma.s.s. I hadn't thought of how hard this is going to be for her.

As.h.i.+ara Shannon walks up, and I take the champagne from her hand to guzzle it all in one gulp.

”Thirsty?” she jokes.

”Very.”

My eyes turn back to see Tag jubilantly displaying our son as he heads toward us.

”Arrogant, stupid son of a b.i.t.c.h,” I grumble aloud while brus.h.i.+ng past her on my mission to find more booze.

”Okay... So I guess I don't have to ask how things are going.”

”I can't do it anymore. I'm sleeping in my own d.a.m.n room tonight,” I mumble while jerking a gla.s.s of champagne from the waiter's table, and I drink it just as quickly as the last before taking the whole bottle from his hand. ”I mean, of all the stupid a.s.sholes in the world, I had to fall in love with that one.”

She laughs a little at my rambling rant, and I roll my eyes while refilling my gla.s.s. Melanie giggles as she rushes by me to rip Trip free from Tag. He laughs as he relinquishes him, and he follows her toward the door.

”I don't even get a h.e.l.lo anymore,” I grumble as I turn the whole bottle up.

”Hey, whoa. Cla.s.sy function,” she chuckles, while taking my arm and leading me into the gallant house decorated for a baby shower after the fact.

There are so many gifts that they're pouring off the tables set up for them.

”Hey,” Billy says as he scoops me in his arms and twirls me around. Then he frowns as he puts me down. ”You're still too skinny.”

I narrow my eyes at him as I grit my teeth.

”Have a child with a man who doesn't love you, get stalked and threatened and have your child stalked and threatened by some maniac, then go live with the guy you can't tell you love him; have him find out he's the father of your child, hide out for your life, and then tell me how hungry you are.”

”Okay, okay,” he says while raising his hands in a surrendering motion. ”Chill.”

I shake my head as I pour my gla.s.s full, and I guzzle the fizzing bubbles quickly as Tag resumes control of our child and starts introducing him to the world of society.

”I don't even know why I came. I know Tag won't let anything happen to him, but I have to be a psycho control freak.”

”Psycho, definitely,” Billy drawls playfully, and Shannon elbows him hard in the ribs, making him puff out a harsh breath of air before laughing.

”Hilarious,” I sardonically release.

He laughs harder as I refill my gla.s.s once again, and I stagger lightly as the burning alcohol tries to catch up with me.

”Easy, don't get drunk in five minutes. It'll make it look like you don't enjoy motherhood,” Billy teases.

”Motherhood is perfect. It's my son's father that's driving me crazy.”

Tag Ash is in the corner with Bity and Shannon, talking and ignoring the chaos of the party. I'm relis.h.i.+ng the opportunity for everyone to see my handsome son.

”Hey, Tag,” Alaina, one of my many conquests, gushes as she walks over.

Who the h.e.l.l invited her?

”Hey,” I lightly offer while cradling Trip closer to me.

”I cannot believe you're a father. You were always so careful. Are you and the mother-”

”We're living together, if that's what you're asking,” I misleadingly interject.

I'm not telling this crazy b.i.t.c.h I'm still single, especially since I'm in love with my son's mother. I just don't know if I can ever trust her again.

”Well, that's a shame. The world is going to be full of sad, crying women.”

”I'm sure they'll move on as though I never existed,” I murmur as I head away from her.

I look back over to see a guy approaching Ash, his eyes hungry, wanting, and he smirks as he watches her from afar. He's tall, not short like her attacker, but he's a threat of a whole different kind.

Wren and Kade walk up, and my head motions in the direction of the wolf stalking my lamb.

”Who's he?”

”The guy with the blond hair?” Wren asks.

”Yeah. The one who can't tear his eyes away from Ash.”

Kade stifles a knowing grin, and Wren shrugs.

”He said he works for Mom. I spoke to him earlier when I saw him hanging around but not really talking to anyone. You jealous?”

”Not yet. If he touches her, then we'll talk.”

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