Emily flung the door open, irritation over her interrupted orgasm poised to be unleashed...only to stall in her throat when she caught sight of Clyde standing there. She huffed an annoyed sigh. "What?" she demanded curtly.

"Nice to see you too, Emily, as always," Clyde replied.

"What are you doing here, Clyde?" she asked. She made no attempt at being civil, at polite conversation. She wanted him off her front step as quickly as possible and wasn't afraid to make that abundantly clear.

He quirked a brow. "An odd question, considering we share a child," he replied, leaning casually against the door frame.

Rolling her eyes, Emily retorted, "The word 'share' would imply that some of the time you take care of her..."

"Bitter isn't a good look on you, Darling," he said with a smirk.

She didn't share in his amusement.

"Well?" he prompted. "Can I come in?"

She looked like she very much would've liked to say no, but ultimately nodded once, stood back to let him in. Arms crossed over her chest, she waited for him to illuminate her as to his true motives.

He languished in her impatience, becoming smugger by the second as he watched her glare get more and more frosty. At length, he asked, "Seeing anyone?"

"Clyde," she snapped. "I'm not going to..."

"That's a yes," he interrupted.

She huffed. "I don't see how it's any of your business," she muttered darkly, which only made Clyde laugh. Glaring, she said, "Is that all or...?"

With a self-satisfied smirk, he moved further into the foyer and into the living room to settle on the couch. "Fetch me a drink, would you, Darling?"

Reluctantly, she stalked into the kitchen to bring him a beer. "Well,?" she said impatiently once she'd handed it to him.

"I've been thinking..." he said slowly, vaguely.

She gave a snort of laughter. "Well, that's new..." she jibed.

Ignoring her, he continued, "Why couldn't we make this work?" He gestured between them with his beer bottle.

"You're kidding, right?"

He shrugged. "We had chemistry, we worked well together, the sex was great..." He smirked, waggled his brows.

"For you, maybe," she replied under her breath.

"What was that?" he asked, smirk growing wider.

Her stare was pointed. "You never seemed to have a problem cumming, but I – on the other hand – well..." She trailed off, letting him connect the dots.

He, of course, wasted no time prying, "Is your new fella getting the job done, then?"

She growled, "Clyde! Why are you where?"

Apparently done beating around the bush, he said, "I've been thinking maybe I should make more of an effort with Rosie."

This, she'd never heard before. She barked out a laugh, thinking him joking...but clearly, he was not. "Why the sudden urge to be a parent after sixteen years?"

"A girl needs a strong male role model in her life," he said simply.

"And you figure you're a role model? You spend half your nights getting drunk, trying to fuck some random girl half your age – hell, that's how we met, how I got pregnant in the first place! When I told you I was pregnant, you had no interest in her, said being a parent wasn't a priority. You've been to maybe five events in her whole life – always when it's convenient for you – so, what's your fucking excuse this time?"

Before he had a chance to respond, though, feet came thumping down the stairs.

"Rosie, go back to bed," Emily called out.

Rosie didn't listen, though. She rounded the corner into the living room, immediately spotting Clyde. "Daddy!" she trilled, throwing herself at Clyde.

"My little Rosie Posy," he greeted, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "I've missed you."

Emily sighed heavily, combed a hand through her hair. "Rosie, please go the bed. We'll talk in the morning..."

"But..."

Squeezing her eyes shut tight, Emily relented, "Maybe your father will meet us for brunch."

Clyde smiled brightly, tousled Rosie's hair. "With pleasure."

When Emily called her back, Alex picked up on the first ring. "Where were we?" she said playfully, grin audible in her voice.

Emily gave a frustrated sigh. "Unfortunately, that train has well and truly left the station and isn't about to return..."

A moment of confusion followed. "What?"

She huffed. "Clyde fucking Easter showed up on my doorstep, suggested we fuck, then invited himself to breakfast with Rosie and I."

Even more confusion. "As in...your ex?" she asked. "I thought he was in London..."

"I thought so too," she said with a shrug, even though Alex couldn't see it. "I'd kind of hoped he'd fallen into a sinkhole, never to be seen again except in my worst nightmares."

Alex raised a brow. "You don't mean that," she said.

"I mean, I'm glad, I guess, that he's showing an interest in being a parent. Finally. For Rosie's sake. But he's got some fucking nerve," she muttered.

Alex sighed audibly, in that thoughtful way she had when she wasn't completely certain she wanted to say what was on her mind. After a few moment's debate, though, she asked, "I... I just need to know... Did you ever actually want to be with him?"

It was Emily's turn to sigh. "Are you asking me if you need to be worried about Clyde?"

"Maybe," she said meekly.

"Alex, Clyde Easter was a mistake. I could never regret my daughter, but I'll spend the rest of my goddamn life wishing I could have gotten her any other way."

Alex nodded slowly, thoughtfully.

"You don't have to worry about him," Emily whispered. "Okay?" She could almost heart the wobbly smile that crossed Alex's lips at that. "Clyde is no threat to you. To us." She sighed, softer this time. "I love you, Alex."

"I love you too," Alex echoed. A beat. "Now, are you absolutely certain that there's no chance of you finishing what we started?"

Emily laughed. "Maybe you should just come over if you're that fucking horny..."