Page 69 of The Hook Up
John snorted and took another slug of Coke. “Run fast from this one,” he said. “Ty? He’s all kinds of fucked up.”
This time it was Ellie’s turn to scoff. “If he were—which I certainly don’t believe—don’t you think his upbringing would have something to do with that?”
Something flashed in the old man’s eyes. He stared at her through narrowed slits and then stood up, slamming the soda can on the end table.
She curled her hands into fists, ready to defend herself if it came to that. Being a single mom had spurred her to take at least a dozen self-defense classes over the years. If push came to shove, she could damn well stand her ground.
“That’s enough!”
The boom of Ty’s voice made them both turn. He came storming down the hall toward them, anger making sharp creases in his forehead. “John. Your parole officer is on his way here right now. Looks like you’re not supposed to set foot outside Polk County.”
John frowned and gave a snort of rage. “Fuck that shit.”
Ellie spotted her son right behind Ty, and his eyes widened at the curse. She hustled over, putting her hands on Henry’s shoulders and her body between the angry stranger and her child.
Ty stepped forward, ready to face down his father. “That’s it!” Ty snarled. “I told you not to curse in my house. You’ll wait on the porch until your parole officer gets here.”
Ellie felt Henry’s shoulders stiffen beneath her palms. She watched as her little boy processed everything— the fact that Ty was angry, that John had said something inappropriate, that the moment called for a strong reaction.
“Yeah,” Henry said, puffing out his chest and stepping up beside Ty. “Gentlemen don’t talk like that,” he said. “And you’re a squirrel fucker!”
Ellie heard herself gasp, and she glanced at Ty in time to catch his reaction. Horror flashed quickly, but it was gone in an instant and replaced with something worse.
Embarrassment.
Guilt.
Defeat.
Johnny said nothing, seeming at a loss for words for the first time since he’d set foot in the house. Ellie kept her hands on Henry’s shoulders, knowing there’d be time for a scolding later. Right now, Ty looked like a man who’d been punched in the gut.
When he turned to face her, he wore a blank expression.
“Wait here,” Ty told her. “I’ll be right back. My father will not.”
Ellie nodded as Ty hauled his father up off the couch and marched him to the door. Something in Ty’s posture, in the harsh set of his jaw, told her some line had just been crossed. That something had just split wide open inside him.
She shivered and bent down to hug her son.
CHAPTER16
The police cruiser pulled away with Ty’s father in the backseat. As the car turned the corner, the old man caught his eye and flipped him the bird.
“Fuck you, too, Johnny,” Ty muttered under his breath.
Then he turned and stared at his own front door. In case he wasn’t sure what had to be done, the words he’d just uttered underscored it.
Who the hell was he kidding, thinking he could be any sort of role model for a child? That he’d ever be the kind of guy a woman like Ellie deserved? Breaking things off now would be the kindest thing to do. He needed to act now, before anyone got too attached.
You’re already attached.
He shook his head and pushed open the door. His heart hung heavy as he moved through the living room. Ellie and Henry sat on the couch, and they looked up as he walked in. Her blue eyes shone bright with concern, and the compassion in her expression nearly stole his resolve.
But the memory of Henry cursing like a sailor put it all right back.
Ty picked his keys up off the side table by the door. “It’s getting late,” he said.“I should probably run you guys home.”
Ellie looked at him a moment, then nodded. She got to her feet, reaching down to offer a hand to Henry.
