I blew out a breath. "Yes, Brittany, she has given them to me. I've been busy, and you never said it was an emergency. I planned to call you tomorrow when I get back into the office."
"Well how on earth would you know if it was an emergency or not. You never called me back."
“I’d assume that if it was an emergency that you would say that. Can you please just tell me what it is you want?"
"Why? Do you need to run off to Miss Twenty-Year-Old?"
"Brittany, what exactly are you insinuating?"
"I'm sure you can put two and two together, Spencer. Honestly."
The tone of her voice made me want to punch the brick wall I stood against. She wasn't being fair. Although it shouldn't have surprised me; she never was fair. She hadn't been fair during our separation or our divorce.
"If you must know, I am having dinner with a couple of clients. If it makes you feel better, Ainsley is not joining us. Now, if you'd like to tell me what it is you need..."
"Fine, Spencer, I am wondering if we can switch weekends with Nikki. Something has come up on my weekend."
"So, hire a sitter, Brittany. You know I have planned out every weekend I have with her. If you can't get a sitter, she can of course come and stay with me, but I'm not switching."
"It's just like you to be difficult. Shall I call the lawyer?" she threatened.
This was just like Brittany. Whenever she didn't get her way, she threatened me with legal action. I blew out a breath. "No need to get the lawyer involved. We can switch."
"Thank you. Now you aren't going to leave her with Ainsley are you? I mean, she did tell me you left her Valentine’s weekend."
I rolled my eyes and looked up to the sky, then noticed the cab pull up to the sidewalk. "You knew that I had a prior engagement that weekend. It was a work-related event, and in case I need to remind you, it is the way I pay for child support, so yes, Ainsley stayed with Nikki.”
“I will have to let the lawyer know that too.”
I could feel the anger surge through my body. I could never win with her. “Listen, I have to go, my cab is here. I will call you tomorrow.”
“Fine, Spencer.”
I hung up the phone and opened the cab door and climbed in. The second the door shut, the cab driver pulled away from the curb and sped off toward the hotel.
Ainsley
"What time do we fly?"I questioned, yawning, looking over to Spencer. He stared at the screen of his laptop, looking over the job postings I'd created. He studied them, a slight scowl on his face. "Seven," he bit out.
"So we have to be at the airport at what, three?" I asked, looking to the clock on the side table.
"Close to it," he mumbled.
I rolled back over onto my side and stared at the wall. When I had talked to Spencer at the end of his meeting with the realtor he’d been in a great mood. It had taken him longer than he expected to return. I didn’t think anything of it until dinner. He was mostly silent, very distant, and closed off all the way through dinner, which had me worried.
We’d walked back to the hotel in silence, my arm laced through his. When we stepped inside the lobby, we could hear piano music coming from the lounge over. Spencer looked at me, then leaned into my ear. “Ainsley, do you mind if I take an hour, get a drink?”
His eyes were full of a sadness I’d never seen before. I simply nodded my head, raised up onto my toes, and placed a small, tender kiss on his lips. “Sure, Spencer, go ahead. I’ll be upstairs.”
“Thank you,” he said, kissing my forehead.
I watched as he walked over to the lounge and entered. He took a seat just inside the door, and I stood there watching him for a few minutes. He pulled at the knot in his tie, then removed it, placing it on the table in front of him. Then he unbuttoned the top of his shirt, ran his fingers through his hair, and relaxed back in his chair. Perhaps the meeting hadn’t gone well, and he hadn’t wanted to say anything, I thought to myself. Whatever was bothering him was none of my business. I walked over to the elevator bank and hit the call button.
Once I was back in the room, I’d decided to have a hot bath. I filled the jacuzzi with hot water and a little bubble bath and climbed in, allowing the heat to sink into my muscles.
I kept an eye on the clock, and once I’d climbed out of the tub, I reached for the box that contained the gift Spencer had given me when we arrived. I lifted the lid and looked down at the prettiest lacey red-and-black teddy, remembering the way he’d growled in my ear how he couldn’t wait to see me in it. I picked up the lacey material and held it up in front of me. Tonight, I would give him his wish.
Once I had gotten it on I glanced to the clock, I knew he’d be coming back any moment, so I sprawled across the bed. I’d just gotten comfortable, and like clockwork, I heard the click of the door. Except his reaction hadn’t been what I’d expected.