“Grace,” he growls, losing his patience.
“I guess it all depends if you love me too,” I say breathlessly.
I can barely breathe; my lungs are struggling to keep air in them. There’s just something about this that feels like jumping off a cliff or something.
“I love you,” he says firmly and without hesitation.
“You do?” I gasp. I don’t why a part of me doubts it. I suppose it’s because he brings so much to the table and all I seem to bring is a lot of Carson baggage.
“Yes, I love you. Now tell me you love me back.”
“I love you, Max.”
“Say it again,” he growls.
“I love you, Max, and I miss you. I wish more than anything I could be there with you.”
“Me too, baby, me too. When I get back we have a lot to talk about.”
* * *
I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy about the weekend coming to an end before. I’m on my way to pick up Hope at Carson’s, and Max should be getting in soon. I can’t wait to see him and tell him I love him in person.
I’m so excited, I hop out of my car as soon as I pull up to Carson’s house, meaning to just grab Hope quick so we can go meet up with Max. But Carson is waiting on the front porch for me and Hope is nowhere to be seen.
“Um?” My steps slow as I approach the porch. “Where is Hope?”
“She’s inside coloring,” Carson says, jerking his chin towards his front door.
“Okay?” I frown and check the time on my phone to make sure I’m not early. “Can you get her, please? We really need to get going…”
“No,” he says firmly and I blink at him in surprise. “You and I need to talk.”
“Carson…” I sigh in exasperation. I’m really not in the mood for his shit right now.
“I’m done waiting, Grace. You’re not getting her back until you talk me.”
“Fuck!” I snap at him. “Are you serious?”
Legally he can’t do this, and I’m getting sick and tired of him threatening to not give her back out of spitefulness.
“I just want to talk, Grace…”
I shake my head in disbelief. “So you’re blackmailing me?”
“Yes,” Carson answers as if he’s completely unashamed of his behavior. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my family…”
I glance down at my phone, seriously considering calling the authorities. If Carson won’t give Hope back now that his visitation is over technically it’s considered kidnapping.
“Don’t do it, Grace,” he warns me as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking. “If you call for help this is going to get real ugly.”
“It’s already fucking ugly,” I snap.
Carson spreads his hands out and says, “I just want you to talk to me.”
I could call the cops, tell them he’s violating the custody agreement and get him on kidnapping… but he just might hand her over right before they arrive. The hope though that this could give me enough basis to change the custody agreement is tempting.
Before I make up my mind he’s saying, “I have something I want to show you…”