After the Divorce, I Only Need My Daughter

When every other guy his age was chasing fresh-faced college girls and dating women barely out of their teens, Reginald Matthews claimed he'd fallen for me at first sight.

Me. A divorced single mother.

He showed up at my breakfast burrito cart every morning, a whole crew of his buddies in tow, buying enough to keep me in business. He pulled all-nighters helping me fight my divorce case, battling my ex-husband for custody of my daughter. He even swore that he'd chase me for the rest of his life if he had to, and that as long as I didn't say yes, he'd never cross a single line.

Then came the school sports day at my daughter's school.

Moira Walker tugged at the hem of my shirt, her little face bright with hope.

"Mommy, can Uncle Reggie come?"

"I want him to be my new daddy."

That was the moment I knew my own heart. I was ready to give Reginald an answer.

I followed the location he'd tagged on his Instagram story and found the bar.

And heard him and his buddies, loose-tongued and drunk, talking about me like I was a piece of merchandise.

"You were so pissed when Fiona Lawson dumped you for that older guy."

"So to get back at her, you went and found yourself an older woman, following her around like a lost puppy every day."

"Now that little brat of hers is calling you Daddy. Don't tell me you actually fell for your own act?"

——

My hand froze on the door. I thought I must have heard wrong.

Then Reginald's voice cut through, unmistakable.

It dragged me back to reality and sent my heart plunging into ice water.

"Like they say, fresh paper pairs with fresh paper, and old newspaper pairs with old newspaper. You think she's in my league?"

His friends relaxed instantly, laughing.

"Exactly. A used-up woman like Hailey Walker? She's lucky if she lands some divorced deadbeat who smacks her around. She actually thought she had a shot with Reggie?"

"You guys haven't seen it. If he accidentally brushes against her, he's so disgusted he goes back to the dorm and showers three or four times."

"Honestly, it worked though. Fiona totally bought the act. She just got back to the country and already sent us to feel things out."

"I told her the truth about everything. She's on her way here right now."

I thought about Reginald skipping class to come stand beside me at the cart, baking under the blazing sun until his skin turned red and started to peel.

How he'd just wipe the sweat away like it was nothing and keep fumbling along, trying to learn how to fold a breakfast burrito with his clumsy hands.

How once, when my spatula accidentally grazed the back of his hand, he'd yanked it away like he'd been shocked. His ears flushed scarlet. He turned his head and couldn't look at me.

I'd laughed and called him sweet. Innocent. I thought he was being careful with me, that he treasured me.

Turns out it was just his excuse for being repulsed.

A cold numbness spread through my chest. I stood frozen in place.

A perky voice chirped behind me.

"Are you the waitress bringing drinks to this room? Why are you just standing there?"

The girl brushed past me, pushed the door open, let out a squeal, and threw herself into Reginald's arms.

She clung to him like a koala, legs wrapped around him.

"Long time no see! Did you miss me?"

Reginald's expression went stony, but she wasn't the least bit intimidated.

She leaned in and nuzzled the tip of his nose.

"Still acting like a little kid who can't hide his feelings. So grumpy all the time." She giggled. "How are you ever going to get a girlfriend like this?"

I stared, numb, at the same man who recoiled from the slightest touch of my skin.

Now his arms moved on instinct, years of habit taking over. He caught her effortlessly, his forearms flexing to support her full weight beneath her thighs.

His face darkened further. He let out a cold scoff but didn't let go.

"We broke up, Fiona. What I do is none of your business anymore."

"You're the one who likes older, mature men. Don't expect me to turn into one of them."

The light caught her face.

And I realized I'd seen it before.

One year ago. The night I caught her tangled in the sheets with my then-husband, Alvin James.