Since I've Been Lovin' You | Happy Lowman/OC (Book 2)

six | Abel

SIX MONTHS SINCE ARREST

"Okay, you have the diaper bag, right?" Tara asked as she passed Abel to Victoria, her pregnant belly nearly getting in the way in the process. "And the toys he left here last time?"

"Yes, we'll be fine here. You just worry about your appointment and not us."

Gemma was officially off of house arrest as of two weeks ago, so she'd happily volunteered to take Tara to her ultrasound appointment. Victoria had offered to watch Abel since she was all moved in to the house she'd been renting for the last few months. She'd babysat for him many times, even more now that Tara was barely able to tie her own shoes at nearly eight months pregnant.

Abel was pointing at the train set Victoria had helped him set up last week in her living room, kicking his feet wanting down. She let him go, and the blonde toddler took off to play.

"I appreciate you so much for doing this. He really enjoys your place."

"You know I don't mind watching him. It keeps me busy."

Tara smiled, and started to walk back toward the car, but she turned a few steps away. "Phil said he'd swing by to check in in a few hours," she said, keys jingling in hand. "And I'll call."

"It's fine, Tara. He's safe here, I promise."

The look on Tara's face said she wasn't so sure. "Have you heard from him, your ex?"

Victoria frowned. "No, not in months," she lied.

Her phone rang about once a week, always an unknown number, always silence on the other end of the line except for the soft exhale of breath every few seconds. She didn't know for certain that it was Cameron, but who else could it be? Either way, it scared her, but she was sick to death of living her life in fear. She kept the .380 loaded in a shoebox safely stored in the top of her bedroom closet, and she'd had cameras installed shortly after moving in. She'd done what she could to make herself safe.

Tara accepted her answer as truth, and Victoria felt bad deep down. "Okay, I'll see you later."

Victoria waved as she pulled away, and headed inside to see what Abel was getting into. She found him right where she expected to—playing with the train set, and she sat down, crossing her legs, to participate. He made silly, childlike choo-choo sounds as he moved the toy around the tracks, and Victoria couldn't help but smile.

Victoria was making the two of them lunch when her phone rang from its place on the counter, plugged in. She glanced at the clock. Tara had texted earlier that they were stopping for lunch after her appointment and wouldn't be back until later, and she'd spoken with Happy early this morning. Her father scheduled their phone calls like she was one of his clients, and those were usually on Sunday afternoons after his usual game of indoor golf.

Gemma rarely called, she just showed up now that she was free again, so when Victoria answered it, she fully expected it to be Chibs. He was the only other person who wouldn't text first. It wasn't Chibs.

"I thought it was time we talked," Cameron said as if they'd just spoken last week, and Victoria's heart sank. "You've had your time and space, so have I."

She glanced back at Abel seated in the high chair, oblivious to the world as he played with his dino nuggets. "What do you want?"

"For us to discuss what happened like adults."

Victoria's eyes widened slightly and she turned her back to Abel. She couldn't believe how normal Cameron sounded, as if his behavior was normal. There'd been enough time and space between them for her to realize how much that wasn't true. "Calling me regularly and saying nothing when I answer is handling this like adults? What you did to my apartment, too?"