Page 11 of Louder Than Words

I shrug. “How does it ever go when Trevor and I are in the same room?”

“Oof.” She winces and leans her head back. “Do you think it’s headed to court, or do you think he’ll actually swallow his pride for once?”

“Oh, I’ll give him something to swallow, alright,” Ana mutters under her breath.

My eyes widen, and I shove her shoulder, laughing despite myself. Though if I’m honest, a small, bitter part of me wishes she actually would.

No. That’s not fair. I don’t wish anything bad on him. Not really, anyway.

I just wish he could see what he’s doing. What he’s doing to me. To our two little girls. Even to his shiny new girlfriend, who has no idea the war she’s just waltzed into. This really doesn’t have to be so complicated or become something so ugly.

“All I know is, if it does go to court again, I hope the new judge laughs in his face like the last one did,” Ana says, chuckling as she pops a chip into her mouth.

Nora’s mouth falls open. “Wait—what? Like, actually laughed? Out loud?”

Ana cackles and nods. “Oh yeah. The second he said he wanted full custody because Allie’s‘new boy toy’was in a rock band, the judge lost it.” She leans in, lowering her voice like she’s letting us in on a secret. “Turns out the judge’s husband is a part-time vocalist. Plays at that bar downtown.”

The second I picture Trevor’s face—fifty shades of red, that vein in his neck ready to burst—

That’s it.

I double over, laughing so hard my ribs start to ache. Across from me, Nora’s slapping her feet against the floor, cackling right along with us.

After a few breaths, Ana rests a hand on my back, her voice soft but firm. “No, but seriously, Allie. Don’t waste your breath worrying about any of this. You know he’s just trying to control you. He did it for six years. Don’t give him one more minute.”

“I agree,” Nora says, her laughter fading. “But has he saidwhyhe’s doing this? It just seems so random.”

I shrug, lifting a finger to swipe the tear from the corner of my eye from my fit of laughter just moments ago. Something I wish I could rewind, just to skip this conversation entirely. “He says Jax and I are just playing house with his daughters,” I say, my voice quieter now. “That since I can’t give Jax a child, I don’t get to use his.”

Ana’s head snaps toward me, eyes wide. “You didn’t tell me he said that.”

I wince and turn toward her, feeling that familiar pang of guilt already tugging at me. “I know. I’m sorry. I just… I knew—”

“That I’d kill him?” she cuts in, already half-standing. “Because yeah. Absolutely.”

I grab her hands and tug her back down beside me. “No. I just know he’s lashing out. I’m not excusing it, believe me, but he doesn’t understand what Jax and I have. He can’t.” My voice softens. “Besides, Jax would never try to take his place. Ever.”

Ana clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Yeah. What a shame that is,” she says with a grin.

I tilt my head, ready to respond, but Nora cuts in first.

“Is that where the girls are right now? With Trevor?” she asks, glancing around like they might suddenly pop out from behind the couch.

I nod. “Yeah. He’s been taking them from Thursday to Sunday.”

Ana groans beside me. “I still don’t get why you keep letting him have more time. Stop rewarding his behavior.”

I scoff, fumbling for words. “I’m not. I just... I don’t want to fight anymore. If he wants more time and I still get to have them here the rest of the week, then fine. But if he asks for anything more? He can pound sand.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” Ana’s voice softens. “I just hate how much he’s walking all over you and getting away with it.”

“Just wait until Jax is up here more often,” Nora says with a knowing smirk. “Guarantee you he wouldn’t stand for that shit.” She chuckles, then adds, “Gareth told me he’s gotten a little more cocky ever since the recording started.”

My mouth drops open. “He has not! There’s a big difference between being cocky and being confident. And Jax isanything butcocky.”

Nora chuckles, shaking her head like she doesn’t believe me before burying her nose in her phone. I glance at Ana, who just meets my eyes and shrugs, silently telling me to let it go.

But I can’t.