Don't Play Nice

Don't Play Nice

Jordan didn’t even watch Tessa drive off. Jaw clenched so tightly it made his headache pulse behind his eyes. His palm throbbed where he’d gripped the doorframe too hard. His chest rose and fell with deep, ragged breaths, each one barely containing the rage buzzing through him.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside, slamming it behind him with a force that made the picture frames on the hallway wall rattle.

His mother was standing in the living room doorway, arms folded, expression carved in stone.

“Sit,” she said.

Jordan dragged his fingers through his hair. “Mom…”

“Sit down.”

He obeyed, dropping onto the edge of the sofa like a man sitting on a landmine. His whole body was still vibrating with leftover adrenaline.

His mother stepped slowly into the room, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She lowered herself into the armchair opposite him, smoothing her skirt, her face unreadable. Only her eyes revealed anything sharp, calculating, blazing with a storm he couldn’t yet name.

“You provoked her,” his mother said sharply. “Let’s not pretend you didn’t have a hand in this mess.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m trying to fix things. I’m…”

“No.” She raised a hand, silencing him. “You’re trying to play nice, being nice doesn’t win custody battles.”

Jordan blinked. “Custody…?”

“You have a daughter,” she said, leaning forward. “Your daughter. And that girl” she flicked her hand dismissively, “is acting like she owns all the rights in the world simply because you made a mistake years ago.”

Jordan let out a shaky breath. “I hurt her. I know I did. But I don’t want to fight her. I just… I want to know my child.”

“And you should.” His mother’s voice softened but only by a fraction. “But Tessa is not going to give you access willingly. You saw her reaction today. She’s unhinged. Emotional. Irrational.”

“That’s not fair,” he muttered.

“Fair?” His mother lifted a brow. “Life isn’t fair, darling. If you want a place in your daughter’s life, you take it.”

Jordan’s gaze dropped to the floor. He felt like a boy again, sitting across from her and absorbing her version of reality. It was always so clean. So sharp. So simple.

Too simple.

His mother reached for her phone on the coffee table. “I’m calling Hannah.”

“Who?”

“My friend. Family attorney. She’s the best in the state. She’ll take your case.”

Jordan rubbed his forehead. “Mom…”

“And,” she said with deliberate calm, “you will file for a restraining order against Tessa too.”

He jerked his head up. “What? No. I’m not doing that.”

“You have to,” she said. “She came into your home and assaulted you, Jordan.”

“She didn’t…”

“Do not defend her.” Her voice sliced through the air. “She shoved you. She stormed into your home. She threatened to take your daughter away. That is harassment. You need to protect yourself.”

He stared at her, chest pounding. His mother was right.

His mother leaned forward again, lowering her voice. “Listen to me. If you want to see Naya, you cannot afford to look weak. You need leverage. A restraining order gives us that. It allows us to argue that Tessa is unstable. That she is unpredictable.”

Jordan’s breath hitched. “Mom… I don’t want to hurt her.”

“You’re not hurting her,” she said. “You’re protecting your rights as a father. And protecting your child from a woman who refuses to cooperate.”

A chill slid down his spine. “That’s not true.”

His mother stood and began pacing. “I’m tired of watching you be soft. This is your daughter. Your blood. You should have been in her life from day one. Tessa robbed you of that. And she’ll do it again unless you take action, your child will end up detesting you.”

He stared at his hands.

“And if legal action isn’t enough,” she continued mildly, “we do what we need to do.”

His eyes snapped up. “What does that mean?”

She stopped pacing and looked at him. A slow, cold smile spread across her face.

“It means,” she said softly, “there is more than one way to get what belongs to you.”

Jordan stiffened. “Mom… illegal? What are you talking about?”

She moved closer, heels whispering against the floor. She placed a hand on the back of his neck and bent down, her lips near his ear. “All you need to do is...”

………..

Tessa didn’t feel the steering wheel under her hands. She didn’t feel the cold air blasting through the vents. She didn’t feel her heartbeat thrashing against her ribs.

All she felt was the weight, the humiliation.
The anger.

By the time she pulled into the police station parking lot, she felt like her insides were made of glass. She pushed the door open, stepped inside, and forced herself toward the front desk. Each step felt like dragging a hundred pounds behind her.

The receptionist looked up. “Good morning. How can I help you?”

Tessa swallowed hard. “I… I need to file a restraining order.”

The woman studied her for a moment her red eyes, her trembling hands and nodded gently. “Come with me.”

Tessa followed, barely registering the walk down the corridor, the forms placed in front of her, the officer assigned to take her statement.

“Who are you filing against?” the officer asked.

Her throat tightened.

“Jordan Troope, my ex.”

The officer paused but didn’t react beyond that. “And the reason?”

She forced herself to speak. “Harassment. Threats. Emotional harm. I… I don’t feel safe.”

Her voice cracked.

The officer nodded sympathetically and continued writing.

It took nearly an hour. By the end of it, her hand was shaking so badly she could barely hold the pen to sign the last line.

“You’ll be notified once it’s officially processed,” the officer said gently. “You did the right thing.”

Did she?

She didn’t know anymore. All she knew was that she needed support. She needed someone who wasn’t trying to break her into pieces.

She stepped out into the sunlight, blinking against the brightness. Her breath hitched. She reached into her bag with trembling fingers, pulling out her phone.

She dialed.

“Maya…”

Her voice broke.

“Please. I need you to come to the house. Please.”

“I’m already leaving work,” Maya said immediately. No hesitation. “I’m coming.”

Tessa ended the call and sat in her car for a long moment, staring at her own reflection in the rearview mirror.

She barely recognized herself.