Surviving the Pain (A Baby Saved Me Series Book 1) by P. J. Belden Page B

hear you cuss for one. For two, you’re crying.”
    Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she knelt down in front him. “It’s just hard on me seeing your daddy after so long. I’m okay. Are you doing okay on your homework?” she asked in hopes of changing the subject.
    “Yeah, I’ve just got to read a super boring book that will take me less than a day to finish by the end of the week. Can I wait to do that so I can spend time with Daddy?”
    Nodding her head, she swallowed hard. “Sure, honey. I believe that’s the sole reason he came here was to spend time with you.”
    Running over to his father, he tugged him down to his room. Sage looked back at her, but she turned away before her tears started again. Moving back to the kitchen, she checked the potatoes, turning them, and then set the table. Just as she finished, there was a knock at her door. Ember went stiff as a board. Slowly, she made her way to the door and peeked through the peephole. Sighing with relief, she unlocked the door and opened it.
    “Grey, I’ve told you to call before you show up. You know what it does to me.”
    “Sorry,” Grey said as he stepped into the apartment. It was then he saw three places set for dinner. “Are you expecting someone?”
    She could easily lie about it, but what was the point in that. Ember would eventually slip up because she wasn’t a liar. Taking a deep breath, she knew this wasn’t going to go well.
    “Actually, it’s funny you ask.” She forced an awkward laugh. “Sage actually came back. He met Hudson, and now Hudson won’t let him go.”
    “You let that prick around my son,” he hissed. “Are you fucking him too?”
    Before she could stop herself, she slapped him hard across the face. His head snapped to the side with the hit. When he looked at her, she could see the hand print she left on his cheek. She was shocked, however, when she saw the tears dancing in his eyes.
    “How dare you! I just saw him today! I accidently drove to my parents to pick my son up and forgot he was in the car. Second, he is not your son. He’s…”
    “He’s my son,” Sage said in a firm voice from behind me. Ember squealed as she jumped in fright.
    “Sage,” she worked hard to get her body under control. “How long have you been there?”
    “Long enough to know that the man that I thought was my best friend wasn’t and is trying to claim what’s mine,” Sage hissed as he stalked toward Grey.
    “What’s yours? You left them in your dust a long time ago,” Grey hissed back.
    “You don’t want to press your luck with me right now, Grey. I’ll lay all your shit and lies bare.”
    “Will both of you, stop it now! I don’t need my son witnessing your pissing contest,” Ember growled in frustration.
    Sage stepped backwards a bit and grabbed Ember’s waist, taking her with him. Grey had been the one person that he’d trust his world with whenever he couldn’t be there. Grey obviously wasn’t that man anymore. Truth be told, Sage didn’t know who Grey was anymore. But one thing he did know for certain. Ember and Hudson were his, they would never be anyone else’s as long as Sage lived and could help it. No doubt in his mind that he fucked up five years ago, but he was damn sure not letting another moment pass by him that he didn’t try his damnedest to make it up to Ember and to his son. This was his family, the family they’d always talked about having. He wasn’t letting them go again.
    “I’m sorry Ems,” Sage whispered near her ear before impulsively pressing a tender kiss to the curve of her neck. He’d realized his mistake when she tensed in his arms. It was slight. No one would have noticed, but he did. By the small smirk on Grey’s face, he did too. Grinding his teeth together, he worked hard to keep from just ripping into the douchebag.
    Putting her hands on her hips, she stepped away from Sage and looked between him and Grey. Sage already missed the feel of her near him. It was weird how