Hard Hit by Toni Aleo (IceCats #3) - Toni Aleo Page 0,2
they love Celeste, which is good.
I never saw myself in a large home. Especially since I slept at the rink for most of my life. Now though, I have a pretty decent four-bedroom beach home that I love. Things may not be how I dreamed them, but at least I have a career, a daughter, and a house I love. One day, a wife will come, but for now, I want to focus on training and Celeste. Maybe even upgrade the deck in the back. Something kid-friendly for when Celeste starts walking. I look out the large gallery windows to where my back deck is. It’s a nice deck, but the wood planks are way too far apart. It’s more decorative than practical. I want to replace them so I can take Celeste out there.
When the doorbell rings, I pull my gaze from the deck and the beautiful view of the ocean and head for the front door. It should be Lilly with Celeste, and when I open the door, I’m filled with joy at the sight of my blue-eyed baby girl. I reach for her, taking her chubby self in my arms and hugging her tightly.
“There’s my girl. How ya doing, CC?” She coos happily as I kiss her fat cheeks. Out of the corner of my eye, I take a quick glance, expecting to see irritation on Lilly’s face. She hates when I don’t greet her and just take the baby, so I make sure to do it every time. Petty? Yes. But to my surprise, she doesn’t look irritated. Instead, concerned. Or worried. I kiss Celeste again before I turn my attention to Lilly. She walks inside, setting a bunch of bags on the floor. Way more than what I need for a week. I meet her gaze as she looks up. “You didn’t need to bring so much. I have stuff too.”
She shrugs as she swallows noticeably. “We need to talk.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she says, and I wish I didn’t still find her beautiful. Celeste takes after her with the bright blond hair and light-blue eyes. Celeste looks like me, but she lacks my darker coloring. Instead, she’s a beach babe like her mom. Lilly exhales heavily as she tucks her hands in the pockets of her shorts. “Marc and I are going to Italy.”
I shrug. “Okay. Just let me know what time you’ll be in on Sunday, and I’ll have her ready.”
She shakes her head, and I eye her curiously. “I won’t be back.”
“Huh?”
“Marc has a job offer, and I knew you wouldn’t let me take Celeste, so I’m leaving her with you so I can go with him.”
“To Italy.”
“Yes.” She says it with no concern, no remorse.
“And you’re leaving Celeste here, with me?”
“Yes.”
I blink. “I don’t understand. So, when will you be back?”
She bites her lip. “I don’t know.”
I want to say I’m surprised. I want to say I expected more from her, but I’m not and I don’t. “So, because you want to go with your boyfriend, you’re abandoning your daughter.”
That sparks something in her eyes as she glares at me. “I’m not abandoning her. She’s with you.”
“So, you aren’t going with your boyfriend?” I ask dryly, and her glare deepens.
“Kirby, don’t be a dick.”
“Don’t be a dick. My daughter’s mother is leaving her for a man—please tell me how I am supposed to take this. Do you want me to be happy for you?”
“That’d be nice. You don’t think I’m a good mom anyway! You want her all to yourself.”
“That’s true, but she still needs you, Lilly. Grow the hell up.”
She rolls her eyes. “I never wanted to be a mom, and you know that.”
“Sure, but here we are, and Celeste needs you. Think of her.”
The look on her face tells me she has absolutely no intention of staying. Or even coming back. “I don’t want to, Kirb. I don’t want to be a mother. You should have just let me abort her.”
It’s like she’s stabbed me in the stomach. “Lilly, you don’t mean that.”
“I do. I don’t want to be a mom. Not everyone is made for this life, and I’m not. I don’t want this. I never did. I did it for you.”
I know this woman. I know how she thinks. There is no changing her mind. “You’re making a mistake, Lilly. Honestly.”
“I’m doing what’s best for her. She’s better off with you.”
Before I can even stop her, she’s out the door without even a goodbye to her daughter. Within seconds, every