"Word on the street-or blog, I guess," he snarked and Lucy's glare deepened.

"So you're following hockey blogs now?"

He shrugged. "When they have the name of the dude who's trying to play daddy to my daughter, yeah, I do."

"Well, that's fine. But one thing is for sure, Benji is not you, Rick," her mother spat, but she pressed her lips together when River squeezed her hand.

"Aw, I don't miss you, Autumn. Why are you here?" he sneered at her and then he rolled his eyes. "Angie, let's go."

"No. I don't want to go."

"Get in the car, Angela," he said more sternly, his eyes boring into Lucy's.

"No, Dad. I don't want to go. I want to stay with my mom," she said louder. "Go home, go to Disney World with Heidi and Nina."

Lucy looked up. "What? That's where you're going for Christmas?"

"Yeah. So?"

While she didn't want Rick to take Angie anyway, he couldn't even want to take her? "You didn't tell me this."

"Why would I?"

"Um, I'd assume you'd take Angie."

"No, I can't afford it."

"Wow, Rick, that's low. Even for you."

He scoffed. "What?"

"You don't think she'd want to go? You can't make that work?"

"I can't make money appear," he said simply and Lucy shook her head.

"But you have all kinds of money for all these lawyers?"

He rolled his eyes, taking a step forward. "Angela, let's go now."

"No!" she yelled and his face started to turn red.

"I won't tell you again, Angela Lynn. Now."

"I said no," she said, wrapping her arms around Lucy's waist.

Meeting Lucy's gaze, he pointed to Angie. "Let her go and make her get in the car."

Lucy only shook her head no, her tears spilling over her cheeks. "No. According to my lawyer and our parenting plan, I don't have to force her to go with you."

"You stupid bitch," he muttered, pulling his phone out.

"Watch your mouth, Hart," River warned and Rick laughed.

"Shut it, old man. You don't even belong here," he spat back, and Lucy looked back at River, shaking her head.

River sucked in a deep breath as Rick yelled into the phone. "She won't fucking come. What? No, this is my time. No, I'm sure her mom talked her into this. Whatever. Okay."

He hung up and then looked over at Lucy and Angie, his eyes full of anger. "Get in the car, Angela, or I'll make you."

Angie's eyes widened as Lucy's heart broke into a million pieces. This was really about to happen. Holding her breath, Lucy looked down at her daughter as Angie said, "I don't want to."

"I don't care what you want. Get in the car." Rick practically stomped his foot.

"No!"

"Lucy, make her get in the car!" he yelled, his fists clenching at his sides, his voice rattling her soul.

Lucy's lips trembled as she said, "No."

"Lucy, be a fucking adult here and give me my kid."

"I don't have to," she said simply, trying to keep her cool, when she really wanted to rip his head off.

"Mommy, don't cry," Angie said then, her arms tightening around Lucy. "It's okay. I'm not going."

"Yes, you fucking are," Rick said, grabbing Angie's arm and yanking her to him. Lucy cried out, wanting to hold on to her, but she couldn't.

She fucking couldn't.

Pulling away as hard as she could, Angie dug her fingers into Lucy as she screamed, "Mommy, make him stop!"

"I can't, Angie. I'm so sorry," Lucy sobbed as River came to her side, hugging her shoulders and kissing her cheek.

"It's okay, honey, breathe," he soothed. But she couldn't. She couldn't do this.

"Leave her alone!" Lucy yelled and Rick yanked once more, but Angie wasn't letting her go.

"Mommy! No!"

But then Autumn bent down, her hand on Angie's back as Rick screamed at her. "Let go!" he yelled but Angie wouldn't let go.

"Two days, my love. Just two. Just go," Lucy heard her mom say. "Just two."

"Grandma, I don't want to!"

"I know, my love, but you have to," she said softly.

Rick was breathing hard, glaring at Lucy. "This is all your fucking fault," he seethed, but she shook her head.

"No, it's yours. You've made it to where she doesn't want you," she spat back, her heart breaking.

"Mommy, I don't want to go," Angie cried, her fingers still biting into Lucy's waist.

Lucy looked down at her sweet baby and slowly nodded as she cupped her face. "I know, baby. I'm so sorry." Angie's little lip quivered as her tears rushed down her cheeks. With all the strength she had, Lucy whispered, "Only two days."

"And then Benji will be home?"

"Who the fuck cares? Get in the car!" Rick yelled, but Lucy nodded.

"He will be and he'll be so proud that you were strong and went. We both will."

Angie's bottom lip puckered out and then she nodded slowly, letting go of Lucy. Rick went to grab her, but she moved out of his way, glaring up at him. "Stop! You're so mean."

"Get in the car, now."

"I'm going!" she yelled back, her tears streaming down her face. Angie shook her head and looked back at Lucy. "I love you, Mommy."

"I love you more," she said, her voice breaking as the sobs suffocated her. "I'm so sorry."

But Angie just shrugged resignedly, grabbing her bag from Autumn and then walking toward his car. Getting in, Rick looked back at Lucy and glared.

"Thanks for ruining our fucking weekend."

"If anyone ruined anything-a weekend, a relationship-it was you, Rick Hart, and you'll have to live with that," Autumn spat at him. "You will be completely alone one day, and then what?"

"Whatever, lady. You watch-when I win, I'll make sure you never see her again."

Autumn took a step toward him. "Bring it, asshole."

Rick laughed, stepping back as Lucy clung to River, crying so hard, it hurt everywhere. As Lucy watched Rick drive off, Angie looked back at them, her little tears falling as she waved slowly.

It was enough to make Lucy wish she were dead.

It was almost midnight when Benji FaceTimed her.

When she hit answer and the little box of herself appeared in the corner, she could see she looked like death. Her face was red and swollen; she had cried until she couldn't cry anymore, and her heart just ached.

"Hey, baby," he whispered and she tried to smile, but nothing moved. No, she was frozen in a state of turmoil. "It didn't go well?"

"No," she answered, shaking her head as she rubbed her face against his pillow. "He tried to yank her away from me, Benji. And she clung to me, crying for me not to make her go. I couldn't do anything. I just cried and, River, bless him, he was holding me, telling me it was okay, but it wasn't. It was horrible."

Benji's brow furrowed as he shook his head. "I'm sure you handled it like a boss, but still, I'm so sorry, baby."

A certain kind of calm washed over her, her heart slowing a bit as she nodded. "She was so strong, though. She let me go and she went of her own accord."

"Of course, she did. She's your child."

"She is," she agreed, wiping away a tear. "I hate him so much, Benji. You know where he is going for Christmas?"

"Where?"

"To Disney World, but he can't afford to take Angie."

Benji scoffed. "Thought he had all kinds of money."

"Apparently not."

"That piece of shit. Whatever, that's fine. We'll take her to Disney World, and you better believe I'll make sure she sleeps in Cinderella's castle."

Lucy smirked. "Only, like, celebrities can sleep in there."

He made a face. "I'm a professional athlete. Don't you worry, I'll get us up there."

She smiled, shaking her head. "You're crazy."

"About you, I know," he said with a wink and her heart fluttered. Shaking his head, he curved his lips as he whispered, "I don't know how I am going to make it until tomorrow. To see you."

"I don't either."

"It will be hard."

"But we'll make it."

"Yup," he agreed, lying back in his bed, his hair falling in his face. "Are you at my house?"

She shrugged, a grin pulling at her lips. "Yeah, I didn't want to go home and have Baylor be all over me as I cried."

"Yeah, I mean, you can move in tomorrow if you want."

She rolled her eyes. "Anyway...great game."

He chuckled as his lips turned up in a big grin. "I got four penalties 'cause every dude I saw was Rick."

"That's awesome in my opinion."

He laughed as he nodded. "I guess. Your brother was just as bad. Apparently your mom called all the boys, crying 'cause you wouldn't answer the phone. She told Jayden you were so strong and she was so proud of you and Angie, but he didn't give me details."

"She was great, but she did try to make me come home with her and River. Had to get out of that quick."

He chuckled. "Yeah, you've seen enough family members having sex."

"Right? Gosh," she said as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I have such a headache and I'm so tired."

"Go to bed. Or better yet, go take a bath."

She shook her head. "I don't want to move, and I also don't want to drop my phone in the bathtub."

He grinned. "Shoot, I was hoping to see you naked," he said with a wink, and she smiled back.