My Ex-Stepfather

Chapter 39

Harry-

"You don't like Xander do you?" My extremely smart little boy asks as we make our way into town, I look back at him with his hair in disarray from his experiment last night and sigh.

"I don't like him for Angel, I think he's an as... An awesome player but not a great guy." I reply correcting myself, "I think Angel needs a better boyfriend."

"Me too." He whispers as he looks out the window, soon we pull up at a high end salon. I had called ahead and made sure there was someone on staff that was good with children.

"Come on Ariel, we have a meeting with a school tomorrow and we need to get your hair fixed." I say as I open his door, he unbuckles his car seat and takes my hand as we walk in. The air is bright and welcoming, the receptionist is an early 20s raven haired woman who spends about an hour too long in front of the mirror every morning. She is beautiful, don't get me wrong. Just over made and it gives her that plastic look.

I find beauty in imperfections, the way Angel's nose is just a little too big is beautiful to me. It makes her unique, my only Angel.

"We have an appointment with Abbey." I tell the raven haired woman, she nods and calls back for Abbey. Soon a bubbly woman in her late thirties comes out with a large smile.

"You must be Ariel!" She chirps, "Come on back and let's see the job you did kiddo."

Ariel and I follow her back to her spot in the salon, she pulls out a chair for me and offers us something to drink. I can't tell you how much I want a glass of whiskey right now, just taking my son to get a hair cut has my anxiety through the roof.

Maybe because Angel loves his hair so much, that it reminds her of me. Wait, what does that mean?

"Aww, baby. What's wrong?" Abbey coos breaking me out of my thoughts, I look over to see Ariel crying.

"What's going on buddy?" I ask.

"I'm scared." He whimpers.

"Oh it's nothing to be scared of, right daddy?" Abbey chirps, have you seen my hair lady?

Kind of a big deal.

"Daddy I want long hair like you." Ariel whimpers as his bottom lip quiver. Ok, it's time to man up and be a real dad right?

Right

**

The warm Miami breeze sends shivers down my spine as it flows across the back of my head, I reach back and frown when I feel the short cropped hair. Ariel smiles up at me as we walk into McDonald's, his now much short hair cut makes him look older and I can;t wait for it to grow out a bit. I had Abbey keep some length on the top of mine but it will take same getting used to.

I can't remember the last time my hair was this short, the only solace I have is that the length of my hair went to make a wig for a child suffering from cancer.

After ordering Ariel a happy meal I order myself a chocolate shake and pay for our food, Ariel runs into the indoor play place squealing as I find a seat nearby. "Eat your nuggets and then you can go play," I say to my son who's eager to burn off some energy. He nods and sits down before digging into his food, I love that he doesn't argue. He simply does what he's told but at the same time, why is he like that?

What did Nissa and Jaxon do to him to make him so compliant?

My phone buzzes with a new email and when I open it, my heart drops. Now I have all the proof I need to get Xander out of Angel's life, but will I use it? Can I use it knowing it will hurt her? Knowing how upset with me she would be from keeping it from her?

Maybe I should let the pieces fall where they may.

"Is that your son?" A smiling redhead asks as she nods at Ari who is playing with a redheaded little girl I'd assume to be her daughter.

"Yes." I answer simply, the woman slips into the seat across from me as she watches them.

"I bring Katie here all the time, never seen you two before. I'd remember you for sure," She says licking her lips suggestively.

"Never bring him here," I shrug and look at my watch. Angel should of been home by now and I want to talk to her.

"Ariel, we need to go." I bellow, he's at the top and nods before climbing in the slide.

"Ariel? You named your son after a Disney princess?" She asks as I gather his things hurriedly.

"It's pronounced are-e-elle and it means lion of God." I correct sharply before putting his shoes on.

"I'll see you around sometime?" She pleads as she touches my arm.

"Probably not, my girlfriend usually brings him out." I shrug as I move her arm off of me, Ariel takes my hand and I led him back out to the car.

"That lady smelled funny." He mumbles and I chuckle.

"That's the smell of desperation Ari, you smell that scent and you run far away."

**

Once we arrive home it's well after 7, I put Ari into the bathtub before going downstairs to think. There's a sport scar parked outside so I'd imagine Xander and Angel are talking, suddenly I hear Angel's strained voice. Before I know it I'm on my feet climbing up the stairs two at a time.

"Get the fuck off of me Xander, I'm not having sex with you." Angel shouts as I push open the door, Xander is on top of her pinning her down to my bed as she tries to fight him off.

"Get the fuck off of her." I bellow causing him to jump, when he doesn't move I grab his shirt and rip him from her sending him into the wall. "Are you alright?" I ask as she pulls her dress down, she nods and I turn towards the idiot in the room.

"What are you going to do? Punch me again?" He sneers and I smirk.

"I'll do better," I growl before turning back to Angel. "You need to be done with this tool Angel, he doesn't deserve you."

"And you think you do? You think that dragging my name through the mud with her will put you in a good light?" Xander asks as he crosses his arms over his chest.

"No, I don't actually. She'll be pissed off at me but at least she'll know the truth." I retort before sighing, "He's cheating on you, he never stopped cheating on you." I say as I hand her my phone with the photos loaded.

She looks through them, tears threatening to fall. "Who is she?"

"Rebeca Johnson." I reply looking straight at Xander as his face pales.

"No, that can't be right." She says and I look at her questioningly as Xander looks as if he's going to pass out.

"That's his and Jaxon's mom Harry."