Page 99 of Double Daddies
He continues as though I never spoke. “She said she wants to wait until the baby is born. So that’s what we’ll do.”
I fold my arms over my chest and glower. “You’re right. And when the baby is born, you can disappear.”
He doesn’t answer, at least not in words. He folds his lips together and looks back with just as much malice as I feel toward him. The room fairly crackles with the electricity of the fury we’re both battling. We both know if the paternity test says it’s his baby, he’s not going anywhere. And neither will I—because whether he likes it or not, until she tells me otherwise, Cami is mine.
“You shouldn’t have followed me,” he says at last.
“No,” I answer curtly. “I shouldn’t have. But Cami means everything to me. If I had it all to do over again, I’d do the same thing.”
His eyes flicker over me, much like mine had earlier in turn, and I could swear I see begrudging respect lurking in his brown depths.
“How did you and Cami meet?”
Ryle weighs my question, and I’m not sure he’ll answer, but then he clears his throat. “I went into the ER. I was in a car accident and needed stitches. While I was there, one of the nurses noticed a lump on my neck. I thought it was from the accident, but she made a big deal about it, and I agreed to get it biopsied.” He cleared his throat, clearly emotional though he maintains eye contact. “I got the call a week after I was released that it was cancerous.”
I take all this in. “Sorry to hear that.”
He shrugs. “I’m alive, for the time being. They caught it early and believe they got it all. Still, the radiation treatments months later…”
I nod. “And so Cami… she only saw you that once?”
He considers me. “Yes. And then when I bumped into her at the club weeks later, I asked if I could buy her a drink. Then we danced?—”
“I get it.”
Ryle obliges and falls quiet.
I rake my hand over my hair, grateful for the peace, even though I know it can’t last.
He clears his throat. “Earlier, with Cami… what happened there? It seemed like you both are used to it, so I was just wondering…”
He trails off and I consider him and his question. Eying him up and down, I make my decision. I walk to the door, turn theknob and throw it open. “I don’t help people who blackmail me to get into my home. Have a nice day, Ryle.”
Ryle
I’m not surprised when the boyfriend demands I leave. I lift my chin, nodding in his direction, and I’ve just turned away when I freeze. This isn’t a familiar feeling for me—leaving with this pit in my stomach.Shame.Which is absurd because I don’t have a thing to apologize for. None of what has happened is my fault.
I pivot back toward Boyfriend and clear my throat. I can see at a glance that he knows I’m not leaving yet, and that it pisses him off. Well, good. I’m kinda pissed myself at this point. But if I want a shot at really making this work until Cami has the baby, it’s time to be vulnerable. That, in and of itself, I don’t enjoy. But doing it forthisguy… it takes a lot of swallowing pride. “I never thought about being a father. Not until my doctor told me radiation pretty much guaranteed me I never would be.”
Boyfriend folds his arms across his chest and gives me a narrow stare. I don’t know him well enough to have any idea what he’s thinking, and he doesn’t oblige me by letting me in on his thoughts.
I have to admire him for holding his ground. Most people can’t help asking me a question or three.
“And then it was all I could think about. I come from a, ah, well-off family.”
This at least gets a snort and an eye-brow raise.
“I’m an only child—my parents wanted more, but my mom couldn’t have any after me, as it turns out.” I shrug a shoulder.“I guess deep down I always thought I’d have a child one day, someone to carry on the family legacy. Ever since you told me Cami’s pregnant and it might be my baby?—”
“Might be.” The words shoot from his mouth, clipped and forceful.
I nod, acknowledging his concern. “Still. I want to do whatever I can to put both of you at ease.”
“Good.” The word is so soft I almost don’t hear it—but I read his lips just fine. “Thenleave.”
I sigh and dip my head, resigned. I do what he says. I can see I won’t be able to accomplish any kinship with him just now—maybe never. But I have to try. I walk to the door and reach for the knob when it hits me. I turn around and face him once more. “Just so you know, whatever happens from here on out, we’re even. I won’t report you following me.”
A muscle ticks along his jaw, but he nods. I wait a moment longer, but it’s the only acknowledgement I receive. I let myself out, softly closing the door behind me.
