Tessa’s heart turned to rock. Her hands coiled into fists.
“Now, just stay on Tessa’s good side. Work out something amiable for the immediate future. This will be a process, but after a year or two of consistency, we can go back to court and petition for you to take full custody in time for Sophia to enter kindergarten.”
Tessa’s entire body vibrated with anger. And fear. A fear that knowing her legal rights couldn’t calm.
“Uh, look,” Zach said. “Things are pretty up in the air right now, but this is all good information. I appreciate you looking into this for me and for all the research you’ve done.”
“My pleasure. I’m always gratified when I can reunite a child with their father.”
Tessa bit her lip in an effort to control the hysteria bubbling beneath the surface.
Zach thanked the attorney again, who added, “Well, you know how to get ahold of me when you’re ready to move forward. Jax has me on retainer, and he’s made it clear he’ll cover any legal costs involved in the custody arrangement. So don’t hesitate to call.”
Zach thanked her, disconnected, and leaned his forearms on the railing, staring out at the ocean.
So many emotions roiled inside Tessa, she didn’t know which to grab on to first. She crossed her arms tight over her mi
ddle, fisted her hands, and searched for her barriers. But they were all shredded.
Zach turned toward the condo and froze. “Oh. Hi.” He darted a look behind her, then back. “I didn’t hear you.” He scanned her expression and lifted his hands, palms out. “Okay, I can imagine how that conversation sounded, but—”
“That’s the same woman you were talking to when I came over to your hotel.” She crossed her arms. “So which story was the lie? That she’s your sister, or that your sister is getting her masters in clinical psychology?”
Zach pushed the screen aside and stepped into the house. “I didn’t hire her—”
“How long?” Despite the fear and pain and panic whipping up inside her, Tessa’s voice came out cold and dead. “Why didn’t you tell me you were consulting with an attorney?”
“Don’t make this more than it is. Jax hired her for me so I’d have someone to talk to.”
“You could have talked to me. I’ve been totally open with you. Totally honest. You should have talked to me.”
“I know that now, but I didn’t know that in the beginning.”
“Yet, here you are, still taking her advice.”
“Tessa, be reasonable. You’re an attorney. You had an attorney draw up those papers for you. Don’t try to tell me you didn’t consult with her.”
“I didn’t do it behind your back. And I didn’t conspire with her to take Sophia away from you. Once I discovered the truth of your situation, I never even considered taking Sophia from you.”
“I’m not—”
“You don’t give a shit about me.” The truth of it felt like a hammer in her gut. “You’ve only been with me because you thought that was your best avenue to Sophia.”
“No.” His denial was quick and deliberate. “That’s not true.”
She shrugged and shook her head. “And why would I believe you? You lied about who you were talking to on the phone. You met with this attorney behind my back. You’re conspiring to sue for custody—”
“I’m not.”
“That’s not what I heard. I’ve been completely honest with you. I told you the truth when I could have lied. I stayed when I could have left. I fostered a relationship between you and Sophia when I could have built a wall. I’ve given you my very best—all my patience. All my experience. All my trust, my hope, my belief.” And all my love. “All while you were getting advice from your friends and consulting a lawyer.”
The hurt of his betrayal throbbed beneath a hard, numb shell. “How do you think it makes me feel knowing everyone at dinner tonight knew what was happening? And knew I didn’t have the first clue? None of them were sincere. This was all just…an act. God, I’m such an idiot. Of course it was an act. You all live in Hollywood, what else would it be? Everything that’s happened between us—it was manipulation to get what you wanted in the end. All your friends—they pretended to be genuine.”
“No.” His adamant bark didn’t faze her. But when he caught up with her and wrapped his warm hands around her biceps, tears burned her eyes. “Tessa, I care about you. I want you and Sophia. But you have to admit, you haven’t been exactly eager to find middle ground.”
“Middle ground doesn’t happen overnight. Middle ground is finding something that works best for Sophia, not for you or me. And it may have to come when she’s older, when she has the emotional ability to handle things. You find middle ground by working things out together, looking at options, searching for alternatives, communicating. What the hell do you think we’ve been doing?”
He rubbed his eyes with both hands, paced in a circle. “You’re leaving in a couple of days. I was…” He faced her. “I’m scared. I don’t want to lose you.”