Page 118 of Sloane

“You okay, Ash?” Crash asked as he moved closer, like he was going to help her pick up the grocery items now rolling around on the floor.

I dropped my head and closed my eyes. I knew what was coming—the gasp that she wouldn’t be able to hide when she noticed the left side of my face when I turned to face her squarely, quickly disguised by a disingenuous smile as she looked at me with pity. I’d seen it countless times.

Slowly, I turned. But instead of the gasp and fake smile, she glowered at me, while telling Crash, “No, I’m not.”

“This is the new guy, Slo—”

She interrupted him with a terse, “I know who he is.”

With that, she took the baby carrier and disappeared up the stairs, leaving the grocery bags on the floor. I heard the lock turn on her door once she closed it.

What the hell?

I was glad Ryan was there when Stu and Crash both turned to me glaring, and Stu growled, “Who the fuck are you?”

****

Ashley

My hackles had gone up when I pulled into the driveway and saw a white Audi that looked exactly like Ryan’s, sitting next to the garage.

As I got Millie from the backseat and the grocery bags from the trunk, I reasoned with myself that the Universe had my back, there was no way it had that sick a sense of humor and the new guy was Sloane.

Then I saw Sloane and Ryan standing in the doorway of Scotty’s old room, and realized, oh yes it did.

He actually looked better than I’d thought he would. I’d imagined his injuries would be far more extensive. Not that they weren’t debilitating, I guess I just assumed they’d have to be more horrific to warrant not wanting anything to do with his daughter.

Like I’d said months ago, his loss.

I wasn’t about to give him even one more glimpse at the perfect being he’d helped create because, fuck him. He didn’t deserve that privilege.

I sent Tammy and my mom a text.

Me: I have a huge favor to ask. Can one of you take Millie tonight? There’s been an emergency here at the beach house.

My BFF replied immediately.

Tammy: On my way.

I was glad it was Tammy coming. I didn’t have the energy to explain to my mom what the emergency was. Tam would know the minute she saw Sloane.

Until then, I needed to stay in problem-solving mode because I knew if I stopped for even just a second to contemplate Sloane being downstairs, I’d come undone.

Chapter Forty-Four

Sloane

I took a deep breath when I looked Crash and Stu in the eye and said, “Well, I’m ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure I’m Millie’s dad.”

Crash wasn’t about to let me off the hook. “So, you just abandoned them?”

“No! I didn’t know about Millie!”

Stu continued glaring at me with pursed lips.

“I have a hard time believing Ashley would keep that from you.”

Ryan spoke up. “She might have tried to tell him, but I think maybe some wires got crossed. I can promise you though he didn’t know.”

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