Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Zeus backs up and sits down on the stairs, like standing is just too hard for him right now. He covers his face with his hands as he takes deep breaths in and out. “I can’t believe Marcel did this. I’m gonna fucking kill him. With my bare hands. Jesus! Fuck!”
I don’t say anything. I’m trying to take this all in myself.
I hated him for leaving her, and he never even knew she existed.
My eyes close on the reality of the situation. I take a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself.
When I open my eyes, Zeus is staring up at me. Emotions are glistening in his eyes.
“She’s really mine,” he says more to himself than me. “Jesus, Cam, I have a daughter.”
“Yes.”
“Fuck.” His hands cover his face again, and he blows out a harsh breath.
“Can I get you anything? Coffee? Brandy? I hear it’s good for shock.”
He draws his hands from his face. “Coffee’s fine.”
Hands shaking, I tell Zeus to take a seat in the living room while I go make us some coffee.
There’s still some in the pot from before. I grab two cups and pour the drinks, leaving his black, just like he likes it. I put some creamer in mine and then carry the drinks through.
When I come into the living room with our coffees, I find Zeus standing at the fireplace, the framed picture I have of Gigi up there in his hands.
“Hey, your coffee,” I say, putting the cups down on the coffee table between us.
He turns to me, the picture still in his hand. “I can’t believe she’s mine.”
My spine stiffens. “She is. We can do a paternity test if you want the proof.”
He fixes me with a stare. “That’s not what I meant, Cam.”
I blow out a breath. “Sorry.”
I sit down on the sofa. Zeus walks over and sits down next to me, still holding the picture.
“She’s beautiful,” he says. “She looks just like you.”
It’s hard to have him here, so close, hearing him say that, after all these years. Especially with the hurt and resentment I’ve felt for him for so long, and in many ways, I still do feel it.
He didn’t know about Gigi. I know that now.
But he did sleep with someone else while he was still mine.
“I don’t know. I think she looks like Aunt Elle.”
“You look like Elle,” he says, making his point.
“Yeah, well, she has your eyes,” I tell him. “And your smart mouth.”
That makes him smile. “Does she know…about me? That she has a dad? I mean, everyone knows they have a dad, but does she know who her dad is?”
I shake my head.
“Can I…I want to know her. Spend time with her. Get to know my daughter, Cam.”
My heart stops. I know I should have expected this. But I wasn’t prepared for it.
“I…I don’t know, Zeus. She’s in a good place. She’s happy. I don’t want to upset her life.”
“Neither do I. But please, Cam, I want to know my daughter. I know I’ve messed up in the past…but I have to know her. She’s my flesh and blood.”
The desperation in his voice tightens my throat.
“I don’t know…” I’m scared that he’ll hurt her. That he’ll walk away from her without a backward glance.
“I’ll do anything, Cam. Take this as slow as we need to. But please don’t keep me away from my daughter.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
“Please, Dove.”
I open my eyes and look at him. “Okay.”
He visibly exhales with relief. “Thank you.”
“But you can’t screw this up, Zeus.”
“I won’t.”
“And we take this slow. Gigi doesn’t know you. You’re a stranger to her.”
He winces.
“Christ, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound so harsh.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. None of this is.”
“Maybe it is. I should have pushed harder to get Marcel to let me talk to you. Or contacted your family…”
“It’s not your fault,” he reinforces. “I cut you off. Made it so you had no way of contacting me.”
It’s my turn to wince with pain. But I keep it hidden inside me.
“I thought it would be for the best…” His voice peters out.
“It’s the past. Can’t change it.”
“No,” he says. Then, he takes a breath and looks at me. “So, how do we do this? Me getting to know my daughter.”
It’s weird to hear him call her that. But she is his daughter, and he deserves to know her.
“Well, I guess we’ll introduce you as a friend to start with, so as not to upset and confuse her, and you can spend time getting to know one another. Then, when the time is right…we’ll tell her who you really are.”
“Her dad,” he says.
“Yeah. Her dad.”
“Will you tell me about Gigi?” Zeus asks me.
“Of course. What do you want to know?”
He stands the picture on the coffee table and angles his body toward mine. “Everything.” He gives me a weak smile.