Just Like That (The Kings)

My entire body shook with nerves.

Confusion, fury, anger, sadness—it all soaked through me and was directed at one person.

Him.

First he got my sister’s name wrong, and his continual dismissal of Teddy was enough to make a girl want to haul off and slap the handsome right off his face.

JP was still staring at the photograph on the judge’s desk. His brows creased as though he was performing mental gymnastics, trying to figure out where the photograph had come from.

The judge’s voice stole my attention. “Given the information presented today, I believe there is another logical way to move forward.” His kind smile was the only comfort I could find. “Perhaps young Teddy could weigh in and have a voice in whether or not he would be comfortable spending time with Mr. King?”

My mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air.

Sure, I’d set out to Outtatowner to honor my sister’s final wish to allow Teddy to get to know his dad, but as soon as I’d realized what an epic jerk he was, I had been left with no choice. Teddy would never feel unwanted as long as I was there to care for him, and if that meant seeking full custody, then so be it.

Judge Burns pushed a button near his phone. “Margerie? Can you please send in the young man in the waiting room?”

Moments later Teddy’s face peeked out from behind the door.

“Come on in, son,” Judge Burns greeted. “We don’t bite.”

Teddy’s eyes turned to mine, and I found the courage to smile. A sense of ease washed over me. The relationship Teddy and I had formed over the past four months was stronger than ever. He didn’t even know JP, and I was confident Teddy’s logical brain would make the right choice.

If JP wanted to deny the fact he was Teddy’s dad, then he didn’t deserve to have such a cool kid in his life anyway.

My nephew stood between the chairs and looked at the judge.

The judge’s voice was soft and confident. “You’ve been through a lot, young man. I was saddened to hear about the loss of your mother.”

Teddy showed no emotion and my heart rolled.

The judge gestured between JP and me. “I’ve been having a conversation with your aunt Hazel and Mr. King⁠—”

“He’s my dad,” Teddy said proudly. I placed a hand on Teddy’s back and rubbed.

JP looked like he was about to throw up all over the judge’s desk, and there was a low ringing in my ears that wouldn’t go away.

The judge smiled. “We’re going to have some scientists run a test to make sure that’s the case. It helps us dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Does that make sense?”

Teddy nodded.

“Good.” Judge Burns chuckled. “While we wait for that, how would you feel about spending some time getting to know Mr. King?”

JP ran his palms down the thighs of his slacks.

Teddy shrugged. “It’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

The adults laughed, easing the uncomfortable tension that had filled the room.

I looked up at my nephew. It didn’t matter what I wanted, this was about Teddy, and I needed to remember that. I gently squeezed his shoulder. “Yeah, I guess it is, isn’t it?”

“Besides,” Teddy continued with a confident smile. “Being public-facing with a kid like me could help demonstrate empathy to the public.” He looked directly at JP. “This could help you and your business.”

My mouth dropped open.

JP shook his head and smiled. “I appreciate you thinking about the business, but I can manage. What do you want?”

Teddy looked at JP with seriousness. “I want to get to know you. My mom told me once that you had a good soul.”

My eyes sliced to JP, daring him to crush Teddy’s sweet little heart in front of me. Instead of the dismissal I expected to come from him, JP laughed and looked at Teddy with something akin to awe.

My heart fluttered, but I pushed it down.

JP stood and held his hand out for Teddy to shake. “If you want to get to know me, I’m good with that.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “But I’m afraid you’ll find my life around here is pretty boring. Lots of meetings.”

He and Teddy shared a smile and my heart clunked. He wasn’t supposed to look at my nephew with softness. He wasn’t supposed to make self-deprecating jokes.

He was the enemy.

With a satisfied chuckle, Judge Burns dismissed us and walked us out of his office. Stunned, I followed JP and Teddy down the corridor of the courthouse and out into the late-summer sun.

JP walked us toward the parking lot, and as soon as the skoolie came into view, Teddy took off like a shot. “Last one home is a rotten egg!”

JP shouted. “Be care⁠—”

“Slow down!” My voice overlapped with JP’s and we looked at each other.

Silence grew legs and filled the space between us.

I shielded my eyes from the sun as I watched Teddy reach the bus. I stopped and turned to JP. “Why did you do it? Agree to get to know him?”

He kept his focus on Teddy, who was doing a pretty impressive impersonation of JP, with a hand on his hip and his foot tapping. “It’s not the kid’s fault his mom got his dad wrong.”

Annoyance flitted through me. “She’s not wrong. You saw the picture.”

My attitude must have struck a chord because JP’s jaw flexed as he turned toward me. “You’ve barely seen your nephew in seven years and I’m the asshole?”

An indignant noise shot out of my nose. “Less than two weeks in and suddenly you think you’re the father of the year?”

His icy eyes pinned me in place. “You weren’t even here for two days before you lost track of him. I don’t think it’ll be difficult to raise that bar.”

“Dick,” I spat as I stomped away.

“Hex,” he called to my back.

“Hex?” I turned and scoffed.

His eyes raked over me. “A hex. A witch.”

I strode away from him, a wicked grin spreading as a laugh shot out of me.

Buddy, you have no idea.