Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“You fell in love,” Adrian finishes for me.
My eyes rise to meet his. “I did.”
“He did, too. He told me he was in love with you.”
I frown. “When?”
“On the Monday after we got back for San Fran. His exact words were I’m in love with this girl.”
I put my head into my hands as the sadness takes over.
They both sit in silence as they watch me. “What happened then?” Natasha finally asks.
“I told him I had a son and he threw the biggest tantrum you have ever seen. He smashed a glass up against the wall and left before I could even tell him that the child was his.”
“Bloody hell.” Adrian sighs. “This is a mess.”
“And then he somehow found out and came around the house the next night losing his ever-living shit.”
“Margaret told him,” Natasha whispers.
My eyes snap to her. “Oh no, how did she know?” I gasp.
“Look at him.” Natasha shakes her head. “He’s the image of Cameron.”
I blow out a deflated breath and shake my head. “Last night I begged for my job back.”
“Hang on, when did you leave?”
“Cameron made me leave last week, so I did.”
Adrian frowns.
“But the reality is that I need the money. I’m supporting three people. So I went back last night and guess who was there?”
Natasha narrows her eyes. “That fucking snake.”
“My thoughts exactly. Only, I was tipsy because I was drinking and I was so mad that he was there for other women… I did something really stupid.”
“What?” They both gasp.
“I did a lap dance for him again and then he went crazy and dragged me outside. When I wouldn’t get in his car, he punched the windshield of his Aston Martin and smashed it and broke his hand.”
Adrian’s eyes nearly pop out in horror. “His hand is broken?” He gasps.
I nod. “And I have just spent the morning with him screaming and threatening me if I don’t give up my second job there will be hell to pay. He’s made all kinds of demands about Owen.”
Adrian puts his head in his hands and Natasha shakes her head in disbelief.
“I have no words,” Adrian whispers.
“I do,” Natasha replies. “Holy fucking shit.”
I put my head into my hands in despair and Adrian rubs my back. “He’s just coming to terms with it.”
“Joshua and Cameron have an issue with paternity situations,” Natasha replies, her and Adrian exchanging looks. “This is a huge trigger for them and I’m sure it will get better.”
I sip my drink sadly as I contemplate my weekend.
“He’s coming around to see Owen tomorrow.”
Adrian and Tash smile at each other and then at me. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.”
I watch the Aston Martin pull into the driveway.
He’s here.
“Owen?” I call. “You have a visitor.”
21
Cameron
I turn the engine off and look up at the house. God, this is my worst nightmare.
How do you tell a kid that you’re his father when you don’t believe it yourself?
I know it’s true, I have the proof, and yet somehow, I feel like I’m in a bad dream and any minute Ashley is going to laugh and tell me it’s all a joke. Then I can go back to having her in my arms and being happy.
I can stop resenting her so much.
I don’t want to resent her… but I can’t help it. How could she have hidden this from me?
I take out my phone and scroll through it, hoping to find an urgent message from the hospital saying I’m needed—that I have to be somewhere. I want to be anywhere but here. I grip the steering wheel in my hands as I imagine how this is going to go. How would I have felt if some stranger turned up and announced that he was my father? What would I have thought of him?
Poor kid. What a fucked up start to his life.
Right, that’s it. I need to make this right.
With renewed determination, I climb out of the car and head to the door and knock. I glance up the street as a man starts to mow his lawn and I look around. At least this is a nice neighborhood they’re living in.
The door opens in a rush and Ashley stands before me. Her hair is in a high ponytail and she has no makeup on. My heart somersaults in my chest. She’s so fucking beautiful.
“Hey,” I push out.
She smiles and it kicks me right in the gut. “Hi, Cam. Thanks for coming. Please come in.”
God, she smells good.
I follow her into the house and glance around. It seems so strange being here without her on my mind. When I was here before, I was so focused on her I don’t remember much about the house. It’s homey, nice and clean, and I know she said she moved with bare essentials and put the rest of her stuff in storage back in New York. She walks into the kitchen and I follow her, unsure what to do.