“You’ve changed,” he says.
“Yes.”
“Because of him.”
“No,” I say firmly. “Because of you.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Charged.
He looks like he wants to say something cruel. Something final.
Instead, he leans closer.
“You’re not keeping her from me,” he says low. “If I have to go to court, I will. And they’re going to look at your new boyfriend’s criminal record and rip custody from you so fast your head will spin.”
Ice floods my veins.
“You’d use that against her,” I whisper.
“I’d use whatever I have,” he replies.
There it is.
Not love.
Control.
I nod slowly. “Then go ahead.”
He blinks. “What.”
“File. Threaten. Do your worst. But don’t show up here screaming like a goddamn child again.”
For a second, he looks unsure.
That’s new.
“You think he can protect you,” Evan says.
I hold
