Other than that, she was in jeans, a maroon button-down that had her company’s insignia over the breast pocket, her hair in a ponytail, her face made up like she did it for work: mascara, foundation, some blush, and done.

It’d help if she found a man. Zadie would begin to catch on if his ex also moved on.

He suspected she might go to a bar and hook up.

Other than that, she’d never bother.

“Hey,” she greeted as she got to him at his truck that was parked next to her car.

“Hey,” he replied. “Thanks for the time.”

She nodded.

“Won’t take a lot of it,” he told her. “But gotta share with you that Zadie was not good with meetin’ Millie.”

“I figured that,” she said. “She bitched about it a lot since you took them to pizza at Bonnie Brae.” She threw out a hand. “Sorry. I probably should have warned you about that.”

“She warned me at the time seein’ as she wasn’t pleased about it then and she’s Zadie. She had no problem communicatin’ that. I warned Millie but I didn’t know where she’d take what she was feelin’. Where it took her was pretty much dumpin’ her full Sprite in Millie’s lap even though we hadn’t even ordered dinner at the Spaghetti Factory.”

He watched Deb’s eyes get big and ticked.

“You’re kidding me,” she snapped.

“Wish I was,” he told her. “Consequences of that were we left without dinner. She hid the shit she did the next day and Millie didn’t share what it was. But got it outta her that Zadie said some things to her. Millie canceled plans because she thought the girls could use a break. She was right. I was pushin’ too fast, too soon. But I had a chat with them this mornin’, laid some things out about Millie and my history, and nothin’ sunk in with Zadie. She was a snot to Millie and she was a snot to me.”

Deb tipped her head to the side and asked with mild curiosity, “What’s your history with Millie?”

It struck him then he’d never given her that.

And it struck him then, since he hadn’t, even in the little he knew they had, how little they’d actually had. He didn’t dig deep with her. She didn’t dig deep with him.

He and Millie had talked all the time. It wasn’t just good times and good fucking. She knew everything about his life. His thoughts about it. His feelings about it. And she’d given the same.

He gave none of that to Deb.

And he got none of it back.

“We were together, my early twenties, and we were together awhile,” he explained. “We both wanted a family and were gonna start when she finished school. We started. Or we tried to start. She found out she couldn’t have kids. Instead of tellin’ me that, she dumped me so I could have them.”

Deb straightened her head and he saw understanding wash through her features.

She knew how much he loved his girls. She knew how tight he was with all the family he had. Fuck, it was him who opened the negotiations that led to them having Zadie.

And he reckoned the only things in her life she truly wanted, truly loved, were their girls.

“Oh, High,” she whispered.

Yeah, she understood.

“It sucked. We reconnected, wasn’t pretty ’cause I was in deep with her and didn’t take it real good when she cut me out. Eventually found out why she got shot of me. We worked it out. But she made a sacrifice for me that I get ’cause if I was in her shoes back then, I’d make the same one. That’s over now and we’re movin’ on. I just need the girls to move on with me.”

“I’m not trying to be a bitch, really I’m not, when I say that the way Zadie’s being has a good deal to do with you. You’re too soft on her, High.”

“That’s why we’re talkin’,” he stated. “ ’Cause I got that right in my face this weekend. Millie got more of it. And I gotta put a stop to it. Zadie’s gonna react, you’re gonna hear it, likely see it and have to put up with it. I realize it’s totally uncool, me standin’ here askin’ you this shit, but I got three girls in my life who I want to get along, so gotta do it. And that’s me askin’ you to take my back with this.”

Her brows snapped together and she said, “Of course, High. God, you don’t even have to ask. It’s not like I don’t want you to be happy.”

He had no fucking clue what Deb wanted second to second, day to day or for her life.

But he was shocked as shit she wanted him to be happy.

It wasn’t that she’d want him to suffer.

It was just that he didn’t think she gave much of a shit.

“Means a lot, Deb,” he muttered.

“You want me to talk to her?” she asked.

“Think she should sit on what she’s done and what she knows. Cleo is Cleo. She’s on board. Maybe she’ll have a word.”

Deb made a face that said it all.

No one had much effect on Zadie when she wanted something, not even her big sister.

He grinned. “Worth it to hope.”

He watched Deb’s lips curl up slightly.

He continued, “Just want you to be aware so you aren’t blindsided by any of her shit. And if she starts bitchin’. . .” He shook his head. “Whatever you could do would be appreciated.”

“I’ll keep an eye and we’ll have a chat if she gets bad,” Deb offered.