“And if it happens again, Mr. Atkins, I will. I’m sorry. But in my defense, I was acting in the best interest of Zoey and her brothers. And need I remind you that those two boys were left in my car. Despite them not having rides, their two teachers left this school. Will that be addressed as well?”
“I will speak with their teachers immediately,” he said.
“Mrs. Espinoza, taking those kids away from Ryan is going to be a massive mistake. I don’t know what’s going on, but here’s what I do know. If you take them from family and put them into the system, they’ll be scattered. No one will adopt three Aaron children into their home at once. You’ll break apart a family even more than they’ve already been broken. Yes, Mr. Aa
ron has partying ways about him, but let me ask you something. Have you seen him in the news at all the past three weeks? Since he’s had those children?”
Maria looked over towards Mr. Atkins and I watched him shrug his shoulders.
“Exactly. He partied until he couldn’t. And then? It stopped. Completely. And that should be taken into consideration as well.”
The three of us sat in silence for a long time before Maria cleared her throat.
“Your voice has been heard and I will make sure your testimony makes it into my notes.”
“I would appreciate that,” I said. “Mr. Atkins?”
“Hmm?”
“If there’s nothing further?”
“Oh no, Miss Gentry. You’re free to go.”
Then I got up and hauled ass out of that room to go get my things. I wanted to get out of that school, get back to my apartment, and settle in for the night. I wasn’t sure if it was my place to tell Ryan what was going on or if that would somehow jeopardize things, but I knew I needed to do something.
CPS couldn't take those kids away from him.
I wouldn’t let them.
Twelve
Ryan
I needed to see Emma again. I couldn’t wait any longer. I thought I could shake her from my system. One good fuck and it would be all over. But all it left me was wanton for more. I could still taste her on my tongue. I could still hear her breathless remarks. I could still feel her skin underneath my fingers and her hips rocking against my mouth. Fuck. She had been beautiful. Far too distracting for a man who was acting guardian over three kids. But it wasn’t just her body that had me entranced.
It was her kindness.
Her willingness to get up at two in the morning and come help me with a sick child. Her willingness to check in on the kids despite my knowing what she really wanted. She could deny it to herself all day and night, but I saw it when she looked at me. That wandering eye that raked down my suit a little too slow. She wasn’t impervious to it. Most women weren’t.
The issue? I wasn’t impervious to her, either.
Night after night, she had been on my mind. Benjamin got better and the kids and I had settled into a decent routine. I had to shift some things around at work and set an alarm to make sure I didn’t keep any late nights, but I was getting the hang of things. My late-night partying sessions turned into pizza and movie nights with the kids, and I found myself less drained come Monday morning.
It was actually kind of nice.
However, my cell phone ringing out ripped me from my thoughts.
“This is Ryan.”
“You really need to look at your caller I.D. more,” Paul said.
“And miss out on your witty insults? That’s the best part of my day.”
“How’s Benjamin doing?”
“Much better. Been sick-free in our house for almost a week.”
“Good. Because Cassidy wanted me to call you,” he said.