“You can pack her things.”
My eyes narrowed when I signed.“You’re not taking her. She has school tomorrow.”
“Aren’t you a teacher? You can come with Rylee and do the teaching.”
What?
“Teaching is my job. I can’t just up and leave because you snapped your fingers.”
“Your job’s more important than Rylee?”
The smugness in his expression was sexy and infuriating.
“You’re the one trying to snatch her out of the only familiarity she has to get back to your precious football. Is yours?”I angled my head to the side and he shook his head but signed the rest.
“But it pays the bills and I’m pretty sure my job pays a hell of a lot more than yours. I’m also willing to pay you to come with me. She doesn’t know me and she’s not going to want to leave you. I can see you care and she’s obviously happy here. Rylee is leaving regardless, because my life is in Crescent Falls, which means hers has to be too.”
I quickly offered a resolution.“She can stay with me. I don’t mind. I’m sure you’re busy. Raising a kid is a lot of work.”
“I am incredibly busy which is why my time spent arguing with you could be better spent ensuring Rylee has what she needs to be comfortable with me.”
He locked his arms over his chest, lowered his chin, and scowled at me.
I signed confidently,“Leave then. She can stay.”
“No. She belongs with me.”
She did but still…
I tried to compromise.“What if I keep her with me just until school ends? That’s only a few months.”
“No. That doesn’t work. Can’t you take a leave or something at work? I’m willing to pay you a lot more than you make now. Or just quit. I’m sure I could pull some strings to get you hired at whatever school I choose for her. You can even homeschool Rylee if you want. I have to travel with games, that way you two can travel with me. She’ll be with me but her world won’t be completely turned upside down. You claim her happiness is important to you, right?”
Oh, wow. Low blow…
“Well, so do you. It will make her happy to stay here,” I returned, not willing to give in.
“Possibly but staying is not an option. You don’t have custody, I do. This is happening. Whether it’s an easy transition is up to you.”
Double low blow…
Asshole.
I glanced at Rylee, speaking animatedly to Miranda while Marlee interpreted. My heart hurt at the thought of losing her and Rylee being upset for fighting to keep her, giving Rylee hope, and having to watch her leave with an emotional meltdown.
I couldn’t believe what I was about to do, but he was right. Rylee’s happiness was far more important to me than winning.
“Fine, if you promise to let us finish the week and I can get the leave, I’ll agree to go with you…her… I’ll go with Rylee to make sure this transition isn’t any more traumatic than it has to be.”
His brow lifted when he signed,“Traumatic.”
“Yes,”I signed, offering a nonchalant, one-shouldered shrug.
He shifted his eyes toward Rylee, watching her with his mother, then conceded to agree, which looked like it pained him. I had a feeling it did because he loved his sister, whether he knew her or not.
But so did I…
“I have to leave tonight, I have a game on Sunday. I’ll be here right after the game. I need her packed and ready to leave. I also don’t want you filling her head with nonsense about how terrible her life is going to be because she has to live with me.”