Page 29 of Solid Ground

He sighs. “Let me see what I can do.”

“I know it’s last minute, but I really need to get there this afternoon. Organise a rental car while you’re at it.”

“Sure thing, boss. I’ll call you back.”

Lord knows Joel doesn’t have a lot to do, but I can trust him to step up when I need him to. Within thirty minutes, he has a plane ticket and rental car details in my inbox, and I order a taxi to get me to the airport.

When I need to be driven around, I hire someone but usually, I chauffeur myself. I’ve never been freer.

And with my retirement, this is just the start. I’ve been in the public eye since I was fifteen years old, so the idea of having no attention on me appeals more than it maybe should.

It’s not a long flight, and Joel’s managed to get me an economy seat, but I’m grateful that he got me any seat at all, so I don’t complain. But I am glad when I can get off the plane and stretch my legs.

I bring up the address Zoe sent me on Google Maps and use the GPS to get there in the rental car.

After finding a place to park, I head straight up to her apartment, and ring the doorbell.

The door opens, and my breath hitches.

Even dressed down in sweats with her hair piled up into a messy bun, Zoe is breathtakingly beautiful.

“Declan. Come in.” She turns and I follow her into the apartment, closing the door behind me.

Her apartment is spacious. The living room is big and laid out for comfort. There’s a couch and two recliners, and she has a few beanbags scattered around.

When we reach the couch, she drops down onto it with a sigh, and I take a seat beside her.

“How are you feeling?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Better than earlier. I need to get a handle on this whole morning sickness, but whoever named it is a liar. It lasted nearly all day.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Her lips twitch. “You should be. It’s your fault I’m in this situation.”

My mouth falls open, my palm to my chest. “Me? It takes two to tango, lady.”

Zoe laughs, and it’s almost musical. “You got me there. I’m still blaming you, though.”

“I’m glad we can talk like this.”

Her cheeks dimple when she smiles. “Me too.” She draws in a deep breath. “I was a little scared about telling you. But my conscience wouldn’t let me not do it. You should know if there’s a mini you out there.”

A mini me.My chest tightens.

“I … I’m glad you called me. I’m in this weird place in my life right now, and I realised that maybe this is something I need.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. I’m fumbling this all of a sudden.

“I mean, yes it’s unexpected, but I don’t know if it’s a bad thing. And clearly you want to go through with it.”

She nods. “Why are you here, Declan? What do you want?”

“I want in.”

Her eyes search mine. “What do you mean?”

“I want to be a part of my kid’s life. Whatever you’ll give me.”

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