Rushing the Goal
Page 99

“I don’t, and I do only care about that.”
“Then fix the problem. Make her feel welcome, and maybe I’ll consider your request. Maybe we can make it a four-day weekend. But not until Angie is comfortable.” She was trying to smooth things over. Trying to hold off because a custody battle was not what she wanted to get into with him. She wanted Angie to be happy. But the more and more she thought about it, the more she knew a custody battle was in her future. Because Rick was a lot of things, but he wasn’t one to back down from a fight.
Glancing over at him, she found he was fuming, his fists clenched. For a second, she worried he was about to hit her. She could see it in his eyes, that hatred she had seen before. But he looked away, almost growling as he seethed. “She is comfortable. If she isn’t, it’s your fault.”
“How?” she asked. “How in the world is that my fault?”
“’Cause you and your dumb family have turned her against me.”
“You are delusional.”
“It’s cool. I’m documenting it, and I will get my daughter back.”
“You never had her,” she said simply. Really, she knew she should just let it go, but like him, she wouldn’t back down either. Which was probably a big part of the problem. “This parenting plan has been in place since we split. Even in the beginning, when you told me you couldn’t keep Angie the whole weekend ’cause it was too much on you and Heidi with having Nina, I let it go. I didn’t demand my child support, I didn’t push her on you guys, I raised our child. When you decided you wanted to keep her the whole weekend, I allowed it, because it was the parenting plan. I didn’t ever complain; I let it be, especially when it took you two years to catch up on all the child support. I have been very understanding when I didn’t have to be, when I should have had your ass thrown in jail.”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “Why are you bringing up the past? It’s over, and you weren’t as easy as you said. You constantly reminded me that you always had her, that you needed your money and shit. Don’t lie.”
“Are you serious? I never reminded you. I was good. I worked, I went to school, and I took care of Angie and me. I didn’t need you then, and I don’t need you now. I just want Angie to be happy, and for some reason, I think having you in her life will do that.”
She was starting to rethink that, though.
“You’re wrong. Angie needs me. Mom and me both say Angie would be better off with me and Heidi.”
Ah, his mom. The lovely Mrs. Hart. “Well, when your mom pushes Angie out of her twat, then she can have some say. But until then, we will follow the parenting plan.”
Shaking his head, he looked out at the ice once more and scoffed. “What, you get a boyfriend and you’re all high and mighty? All of a sudden you’re good?”
Don’t answer him. Ignore him, she begged herself but, yeah, it didn’t help. “I don’t need anyone. I’ve always been good on my own.”
“Whatever, you’re pathetic. You depend on your family for everything. Now you’ll do the same to him, and he’ll leave. No one can handle you.”
Motherfucker. Glaring, she sucked in a breath and stood up, her body shaking with rage. “I’ll get Angie.”
“Aw. Did I hurt your feelings? Oh, wait, you don’t have any.”
Ignoring him, she walked around the rink, waving at Angie to come on. Shea looked over at her and concern filled his face. Skating toward her, he opened the side door. “You okay?”
“Yeah, Angie’s dad is here. She’s gotta go. Every other Friday, it will be like this.”
He nodded slowly as Angie slipped past him. “See ya, Coach.”
“Bye, Hart, see ya tomorrow.”
She smiled as she nodded, heading toward the lobby to change. Looking back at Shea, Lucy smiled. “Bye, Shea.”
He looked from Lucy to Rick and shook his head. “Bye, see you tomorrow. Her game is at ten fifteen.”
He said it loud enough for Rick to hear it, but he was walking away, heading to the lobby. Nodding to Shea, she sent another wave and then followed Rick and Angie. When she entered the lobby, Angie was already almost done, putting all her stuff in her bag as Rick stood by, playing on his phone.
“Her game is at ten fifteen,” Lucy reminded him.
Without looking up, he said, “According to the parenting plan, I don’t have to bring her.”
Lucy’s brows rose as Angie’s eyes widened in protest, looking between her parents. Holding her hand up to ward off Angie’s potential freak-out, she glared at Rick.
“Yes, but I would think you’d want to bring her since it’s something she enjoys.”
“We’ll see, but I have stuff planned tomorrow,” he snapped, looking up and glaring. “Let’s go, Angie.”
“But, Dad, I want—”
“I said, let’s go.” His voice was chilly, his body rigid as he looked away. Angie looked to Lucy, tears in her eyes, and Lucy’s heart started to jackhammer in her chest.
“Rick,” Lucy called when he started to walk away. “You guys will be here at nine thirty, right? If not, I’ll pick her up and bring her. She wants to come. This is important to her.”
“Whatever, Lucy. I said we’ll see. You’re the one who wants to follow the parenting plan.”
Fucking dick. “And I’m telling you she wants to come. This is important to her,” she stressed, but Rick just rolled his eyes.