I saw that, Lucas. Meet me once your meeting is over.

That was it. Ted has some nerve.

I told John about us and all about Jadon.

Apparently, Tom already spilled the beans so it wasn't news. John said Tom had a few beers at some gathering they had recently and Tom happened to let it out that I have been "trying to court" his daughter better known as my "baby mama."

Allie would stop breathing if she heard that.

It's nothing bad, but she would be embarrassed and I know Tom didn't mean anything bad by it at all. He usually keeps a straight head, so it's nothing to get upset about.

I also told John about Ted coming in and grabbing her. That, he agreed, was unacceptable. With everyone coming back to get their classrooms ready, the office doors are usually unlocked for staff. They won't be unlocked anymore for the summer.

I'm glad I came and took her out of that office when I did. Ted was the one to leave the little note so I know he was watching. Though, maybe I should have done that with her in her office so he could see how much happier she is without him. With me.

Ted's car is parked down the street and he's waiting while I make my way over to him. I have to wonder if Mark bought this fancy car for him. Yes. Yes, he did. That much is obvious.

But why?

He rolls down the window and doesn't look at me, but he has sunglasses because he must think he's James Bond or something. "Get in."

Get a load of this guy. "I'm good right here." I lean against the door on my hip. I may have unzipped my pants just a little so he knows who was there recently.

He growls at me. "You're going to leave her alone."

Is he on drugs? "Who the hell do you think you are? You're not going to tell me to stay away from Allie."

"He doesn't want her with you. He wants her with me."

And he has my attention. I bend over to rest my forearms where the window should be. "And tell me... Teddy bear... what is it that Mark has on you that he would even care about playing matchmaker? It's pretty obvious you never had any interest in Allie." I don't see why he wouldn't, but maybe he just can't see what she is. Damn special.

"I know you stole the file, Lucas. He knows it, too."

Is that supposed to worry me? If anything, all it does is open up doors for them to end up being found guilty of a hit and run. Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with them?

Ted lowers his glasses down his nose. Has he always been a prick or is this because of whatever he has going on with Mark?

This guy was there when Allie was in the hospital pretending he didn't know a damn thing and has been around holding Jadon like he was trying to be his father.

"I think you know by now that Mark has a certain amount of pull here and you're too stupid, Lucas. If you want to keep your job and don't want her to end up in another accident, you'll leave her alone. Take Jadon if you want, but Allie's coming with me."

I give him my best-winning smile. "I don't think Allie wants to go with you, Ted. I mean, I don't think she was ever really interested the way she thought she was. You probably know, maybe not, but we just fucked in a classroom where I happened to see one of your old homework assignments stapled to the wall."

Ted's lips wrinkle together. I know what he's thinking, and I get choices and all that, but I need to rub it in his slimy fucking face. There is some sort of underlying jealousy, but I think it's more out of conquest than anything else. Every time I look at him, I think about how he played some role in Jadon's life and it wasn't even genuine.

"She begged for it, man. All night and just now." I bite my lip enough to look just a little too cocky. "What can I say? She knows what she wants. She wants the whole deal in a matter of weeks. Wants another kid, and wants to get married. Easiest relationship of my life. I don't get how you waited so long when you had perfection right in your hands."

"You tainted her the night you ruined her."

Now that's just disgusting. I think they call that misogynistic. "Wait, you're upset because you didn't deflower her? Because you didn't fuck her first? What the fuck year is it?"

"It has nothing to do with her. It has everything to do with you."

"What the hell do I have to do with anything?"

Ted has one of those laughs like a cheesy film villain and shakes his head. "You had Kat. You had the fucking prize, Lucas."

"If you think Kat is all that magnificent, please, be my guest. I don't know what makes you think I want Kat over Allie. Clearly, you do. You already know her father." When he says nothing, I know I need to make my point clear. "This is your last warning. Stay away from them, Ted, or else I won't be this friendly. If you go near her or call her, I'll hunt you down myself."

Ted sneers and then speeds off in his little fancy car, nearly running over my feet in the process.

Interesting. I'm not sure if he ultimately came to threaten Allie or threaten me, but there was absolutely no point in that conversation.

Fucking dumb asshole.