Page 84 of Protecting Addison
Brady: What are you doing right now? Maybe I can come over.
Ellory: I’m not home, I’m at a family thing
Brady: A family thing that doesn’t include me?
Ellory: It’s with Ricky’s SEAL friends
Brady: I get it. I’m only a janitor. You’re embarrassed to be seen with me.
Ellory: I didn’t say that
Brady: Then agree to see me again. I want to get to know my daughter.
Brady: Ellory? Are you still there?
Brady: Don’t ignore me. Your mom used to do that and it pissed me off.
Brady: I’m serious. Answer me.
Addison’s fingers were moving before she thought about it. She vaguely heard Ricky growl into her ear, but she didn’t need him to take care of this. She could handle her ex. And this would be the last damn time he spoke like that to their daughter.
Ellory:This is Addison. Don’t youeverspeak to Ellory that way again. Don’t try to make her feel guilty about spending time with her family. She’ll see you on her own timetable, not yours. And I’m telling you right now, harassing her isn’t making her want to see you at all. Back off, Brady. I mean it!
She was breathing hard by the time she hit send. Her ex was an idiot. If he couldn’t tell that he was pushing too hard, was being a total ass, that was on him. But she’d be damned if Ellory suffered because of his stupidity.
Brady: I’m sorry. I don’t have experience in being a dad. I just want to see her. To get to know her better. And since she won’t answer my calls, texting is the only way I have to talk to her.
Ellory: If you don’t want me to block you altogether, you’d better get your shit together. I’m serious.
Brady: Okay. I’ll be better. I swear.
Brady: So…when can I see her again?
Addison groaned in frustration. He didn’t get it. Not at all.
Ellory: We’ll be in touch. Now don’t text again, we’re busy.
“What do you need from me?” Ricky asked, hugging her from behind. He put his chin on her shoulder as he tightened his arms.
“This,” Addison said, leaning against him. “Why won’t he get a clue?”
“I don’t know.”
That answer didn’t make Addison feel any better. Even though Ricky was as in the dark as she was as to Brady’s motives, she was still hoping for some sort of male insight.
Shoving Ellory’s phone into her pocket, she turned in Ricky’s arms. “If we ever get divorced and you want to see our kid…don’t be an ass like Brady is being.”
“First, we aren’t getting divorced. I’m not an idiot like him. I know when I’ve got the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m not going to do anything to fuck it up. Second, I’m going to have a close relationship with our children. I’m always going to support him or her, and you. So you don’t have to worry about me ever not pulling my weight, emotionally, physically, or monetarily.”
Addison took a deep breath and melted into her husband. She needed this. Him. Needed to be reminded that there were good men in the world. Good fathers. She didn’t need Ricky to tell her that he would always be there for their kids. She knew that without a doubt.
“I’m sorry. I just…he’ssofrustrating!”
“I can have a talk with him if you want,” Ricky said.
“No,” Addison said immediately. “Your talk will just end up with him yelling and getting pissed off.”
“All right. But if he has one more ‘discussion’ with El like he had today, I’m finding him and setting him straight. Just letting you know ahead of time so you don’t get mad when he tattles to you like the baby he is.”
