Page 25 of Outlaw Heartstrings
“Right. Yeah.”
And that’s where we go.
We don’t say much on the short walk over. I use the time to take small sips of my coffee and get my thoughts in order.
But the moment we step into the park, whatever I was going to tactfully say goes right out the window. I just let loose, rambling and spilling everything.
“So Raya came to me and told me she was pregnant a few weeks after you left town. I insisted that she had to track you down and tell you the truth. But she said she didn’t want to. She said she was worried about ruining your career.”
“Raya gave a damn about my career?” Easton asks disbelievingly.
I don’t blame him for doubting. My sister is notoriously selfish and sometimes downright manipulative.
I shrug. “I guess she didn’t want everyoneblamingherfor ruining your future in hockey. You were the hometown hero. Everyone was rooting for you. She didn’t want people pointing fingers at her as the reason you messed up your shot in the big leagues.”
Easton doesn’t seem to understand. “Knowing about my kid wouldn’t mess up my shot at anything.”
“Be real, Easton.”
“Be real? What’s that supposed to mean?”
I try to refrain from rolling my eyes. It’s easy for him to try and play the ‘good guy’ card now. But nine years ago, he was singing a whole different tune. I know that for a fact.
We continue to stroll beneath the tree canopy until we pop out on the pedestrian walkway running alongside the bridge.
I push forward with my story. “In any case, I agreed tokeep Raya’s secret. From everyone. Well, Jules knew, but that’s it,” my words keep spilling out.
“So, your parents didn’t know I was the father…?”
I shake my head. “My mom only pieced it together last night at the grocery store. My dad? Well, let’s just say we don’t keep in touch with him these days, and at this point, he probably doesn’t care what’s going on in our lives anyway.”
“Wait. Let’s back up.” Easton holds up a palm, his brows lowered over stormy blue eyes. “Raya asked you not to tell me about Jagger, and you just never did?Ever?” When I open my mouth, he quickly cuts me off. “And don’t say it’s because she’s your twin sister. I understand that you wanted to be loyal, but twin sister or not, there’s still right and wrong. Keeping this from me was wrong.”
At the accusing tone in his voice, guilt tries to stab me in the lung like a dagger. But I fight back.
“Why didI have to tell you anything? Raya told you herself. And you made it clear to her that you didn’t want a child to begin with.” My shoulders tighten defensively.
He squints like he’s trying to read my face through a dirty window. “What? What do you mean I made it clear I didn’t want a child?”
I huff out a breath, flinging my free arm up in frustration before letting it slap my thigh. “Really, Easton? Are you really going to play innocent here? Wow. You must think I don’t know the full story.” I’m getting angry. Angry enough to spit nails. Because Easton is playing games with me. And I don’t like it.
“Alba, stop talking in riddles. I’m on the verge of a fucking panic attack. Tell me what the hell you’re talking about.”
I dig into my purse and pull up the folded piece of paper. “I was hoping I wouldn’t need this—”but since you want to pretend you don’t know the whole story here…
I hand the email print-outs to Easton and carefully gauge his facial expression as he reads through them.
“Raya begged me to never tell you about the baby, and at first, I agreed. But by the time she was around the five-month mark of her pregnancy, my guilty conscience was eating at me. I insisted that she track you down and tell you what was going on. So she used your old high school email address to reach out to you and she spilled everything. And your response…” My throat tightens as I stare at the page in Easton’s hand.
I’ve read those emails so many times over the years that, by now, I’ve memorized the words like the lyrics to an ugly song.
This hockey opportunity means everything to me.
I’m not going to let you ruin my life.
Don’t you dare have that baby, Raya.
In the email thread, my sister agreed with Easton’s request to end the pregnancy. But ultimately, she didn’t want to do it. So, she kept Jagger. She never told Easton that part. And he never even checked in on her again after that day as far as I know.
