“Do your rights override what’s best for the children?”

I sobered slightly, considering her words. “Isn’t knowing their father best for them?”

“They had a father. A good one. They don’t need another, especially one who drinks until he passes out and sleeps with random women.”

Her words stung, but I couldn’t deny I’d done my fair share of being a bad boy since I’d made the pros. “I want to know them.”

“In time. You have to prove to me you’re serious about being in their lives, not just when it’s convenient, but especially when it isn’t. I don’t trust you or your ability to put others before yourself.”

She had a point, but I hated to concede that fact.

“They’re still grieving over the loss of their father. Maybe it’d be better if they got to know you as a friend first. They’ve had a tough time of it.”

“You want me to deceive them?”

“Not exactly. I need to be sure you’re going to stick around. That you won’t get tired of them like you got tired of me.”

“I won’t.” I bristled, ready to chew her ass, but some still-remorseful part of me recognized the truth of her words. She didn’t know me. All she knew was how much I’d been partying lately. She had no idea what kind of person I was or how my presence might affect her children. I’d be cautious if I were in her position; any caring parent would. That didn’t mean I wasn’t pissed as hell at the situation. I was.

“I need to see your commitment to them before I let you in their life as their father. Throwing money at them when you have a lot to throw around is easy. Being a real father is the hard part.”

I clenched my fists and counted to ten. I had to maintain a level of civility with her. Having parents at each other’s throats wouldn’t do anyone any good. “Okay, you want to see commitment? I’m moving you to Seattle. I’ll have the arrangements made. I leave for a road trip in a few days. By the time we get back, it’ll all be settled. I’ll get my people to manage the details.”

“I am not moving to Seattle.”

“Like fuck you aren’t. What’s keeping you wherever you are?” My jaw hardened, and she drew back at the restrained fury on my face. I looked away for several seconds. When I turned back, my face was a careful mask of indifference.

She stared out the windshield as if thinking long and hard. When she turned back to me, her defiance had turned to defeat. “We’ll move here. They have a right to know you, same as you have a right to know them. You can be an old family friend, and we’ve reconnected. I require I be there whenever you’re with them.”

“Have it your way.”

“Thank you.”

Caro scratched out her personal deets such as snail mail on a piece of paper and handed it to me. She reached for the door handle, ready to bolt at any moment. “Is that all?”