Chapter 14: Losing My Mind

Maxwell's POV

I was losing my goddamn mind.

The car ride back from the courthouse was pain. Hailey sat beside me, staring out the window with that wounded expression that made something uncomfortable twist in my chest.

I'd lied to her. Called her an investment. Reduced what happened in that courtroom to acting. All of which was bullshit.

Because defending her hadn't felt like acting. It had felt necessary. Like watching someone go after what belonged to me and needing to punish them for it.

Which was the problem. Whatever we had was supposed to be a contract. Six months together, then we'd likely part ways.

Except everyday made that harder to remember. Especially when she moved so gracefully. I was beginning to notice too much. Wanting to much.

"We're here," the driver announced.

Hailey stepped out of the car before I could open her door. Like she couldn't wait to escape me.

Inside the penthouse, she kicked off her heels and headed straight for the kitchen. I followed, unable to stop myself from watching the way she moved. The curve of her hips in those jeans. The way her hair fell over her shoulder when she bent to grab a glass.

What would she look like with that hair wrapped around my fist? With those jeans forgotten on my bedroom floor? With that mouth gasping my name instead of throwing cold words at me?

I shoved the thoughts down hard.

"You should eat something," I said, my voice rougher than intended.

"I'm not hungry." She said coldly.

"Hailey..."

"I'm fine." She poured water with shaking hands.

Before I could say something, footsteps moved down the hallway.

"Daddy!"

Gio burst into the kitchen, his face lighting up the way it did every time he saw me. It made my chest tighten.

He launched himself at me, and I caught him instantly, his small body slamming into my chest with complete trust.

"You're back!" He said excited. "Susan said you had to go somewhere important. Was it fun?"

"Not exactly," I said, adjusting him on my hip. His arms wrapped around my neck, and something in me settled. "But I'm back now."

"Did you bring me anything?"

"Gio," Hailey warned. "We don't ask for things..."

"Actually," I pulled a small figurine from my jacket pocket, "I did."

Gio's eyes went huge. "Really?"

I'd grabbed it during a pit stop on the way back, from a shop near the courthouse. Gio's face lit up when he opened.

"A dinosaur! This is so perfect!" He hugged me tighter. "You're the best dad ever."

The words hit harder than they should have.

Because I wasn't his dad. Not biologically. But watching him now, feeling his arms around my neck, hearing that absolute trust in his voice...

I wanted to be. More than I'd wanted anything in a long time. Which was dangerous as hell.

"Alright, baby," Hailey said softly. "Why don't you go play with your new dinosaur? Daddy and I need to talk."

"But I just got here...." Gio said, clearly upset.

"Gio." Her voice was gentle but firm. "Go."

He sighed dramatically but kissed my cheek before scrambling down. "Love you, Daddy."

The words were so casual. So easy. Like they'd always been true.

"Love you too," I said before I could stop myself.

He ran off, and the kitchen fell into a deadly silence.

Hailey's eyes met mine. "We need to talk about that."

"About what?" I leaned against the counter.

"About him calling you Dad." She crossed her arms. "About the fact that you still haven't corrected him. That you just told him you love him."

"Is that a problem?"

"Yes!" She stepped closer, her eyes flashing, and I watched her cheeks flush red. "The custody battle started today, Max. Floyd has lawyers. DNA tests. At some point, Gio's going to find out the truth. And when he does..."

"He'll deal with it." I kept my voice steady.

"He's five years old!" Her voice rose. "He's going to be devastated when he realizes you're not actually his father. That we've been lying to him this entire time."

"I haven't been lying to him." I straightened. "I just didn't correct his assumption."

"That's the same thing..." she snapped.

"No. It's not." I moved closer, and she backed up against the counter. Right where I wanted her. "Lying would be actively telling him I'm his biological father. I haven't done that."

"But you're letting him believe it." Her breath was coming faster now. "We should've told him the truth from the beginning. That you're my husband, yes, but not his biological father. That there's someone else..."

"Floyd is nothing to him." The words came out harsher than intended. "A sperm donor at best."

"That's not your call to make." She pushed at my chest, but I didn't move. And her hands lingered there, and I felt the heat of them through my shirt.

"Isn't it?" My voice dropped. "I'm the one raising him. I'm the one he runs to when he has nightmares. I'm the one who knows he hates loud noises and needs that stuffed cat to sleep." I leaned in slightly. "Floyd doesn't know any of that. So tell me, who's really his father?"

"But biology matters.." Her voice was breathy now.

"Biology means nothing compared to showing up every day." I placed my hands on the counter on either side of her, caging her in. "You know that. You've know that since the day you decided not to Floyd you were pregnant."

She shook, her hands still pressed against my chest. "That's not..."

"It's the truth." I was close enough now to smell whatever perfume she used that had been driving me crazy all day. "And deep down, you know I'm right. Gio chose me. Not because I lied to him. But because he needed a father and I was there."

"And what happens when this arrangement ends?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "When our six months are up and you decide you're done?"

"I'm not walking away from him." The words came out final.

"You can't say that..." Her fingers curled into my shirt, and I wondered if she realized she was doing it.

"I just did." My eyes met hers. "Whatever happens between us, I'm not abandoning that kid. Ever."

Hailey's eyes searched mine, and I watched her lips part slightly. "You should've corrected him from the start. Now when he finds out, it's going to hurt so much worse..."

"Maybe." My hands were still on the counter, caging her in, and every instinct screamed at me to touch her. To run my hands down those curves I'd been trying not to notice. "But at least this way, he knows he's wanted. That someone chose him."

Her throat moved. "Maxwell.."

"This conversation is over, Hailey." I forced myself to step back before I did something stupid. "It's been a long day."

"We're not done talking about this..." Her voice rose a little.

"Yes." I moved toward the door, needing distance before my control snapped completely. "We are."

I left before she could argue. Before I could acknowledge the way her eyes had darkened when I'd gotten close. Before I could act on the tension that had been building between us since that wedding kiss that had gone too far.