Page 38 of Delicate Storm

For the rest of the night, I can’t stop thinking about my encounter with Paige, trying to analyze her expression. Was she pissed off? Upset? Hurt? Or was that a look of indifference?

I’m not sure which is worse, but I have to know or it will eat away at me.

Only, God knows where I’d find her. She always finds me.

CHAPTER TEN

Easton

After spending Tuesday with Isaac, I break my routine on Wednesday for the second time this week, and surprisingly, it doesn’t kill me. While I’d usually head to the stadium for a weight session after dropping Isaac at Mom’s, I shoot off a message to the group chat—giving them a bullshit excuse—and make my way to the apartment gym instead.

I’ve just grabbed the door handle when my phone buzzes with replies.

Luke: Your truck won’t start? Really? Who is she and why is she still in your bed?

Reed: Do you need help? My friend owns a dealership and they have mobile mechanics

Luke: You believe him? He has a brand-new top of the line vehicle

Reed: Why would he lie?

I groan as I toss my phone into my bag and swipe my pass to unlock the gym, impatient to see Paige.

But she’s not there.

My shoulders drop and I let out a frustrated sigh, until someone taps my shoulder and giggles erupt behind me. “Looking for me?” Paige asks, her voice rife with mischief.

“Yes.” Relief fills me as I turn. “I wanted to explain.”

“Explain what?” She leans her shoulder casually against the wall and waits for my response.

“Explain what you saw.”

Her brows furrow as she glances away, lost in thought. “What did I see?”

Rather than answering, I start with the reason I ditched my regular training to find her. “I’m not cheating, if that’s what you thought.”

“What?” Her eyes widen before confusion really takes over.

“When we ran into each other Monday night, you couldn’t get away fast enough.”

“Was I supposed to act differently?” Her lips purse before she laughs. “You seemed to be in a hurry.” I was. But…uh…What the fuck am I doing?

“I thought…” I trail off because it only just occurred to me that she probably doesn’t care.

“Thought…” She waves her hands, willing me to continue, but when I shrug, she answers for me. “You thought I’d be worried about seeing you with a kid?”

“I did. The kid’s my son.”

“I figured that.” She scrunches her nose but her expression comes across as shy. “I’m guessing you didn’t want me to know about him.”

“What?” I thought she’d be pissed off and jumping to the wrong conclusions. I didn’t even consider that. “No, it’s not that, I just don’t—” I cut myself off. I didn’t come here to talk about Isaac. “I didn’t want you to think you were the other woman. That I was using you for some reason. But I’m single. And a dad.”

Paige smirks before ducking under my arm and pulling me into the gym, closing the door behind us. “Weren’t you using me though, a little? We had sex and I didn’t even know your name. I didn’t have any expectations beyond that. Did you?”

“No, not really. But I don’t like the idea of you thinking I left you and went home to someone else.”

“Technically, I left you. But why?”

---