Page 60 of Kiss Me Ever After
But there could be the tiniest grain of truth in it.
The dates all added up.
Candace pressed an ultrasound picture into my hand. I stared at the grainy image of the tiny foetus with her name in the corner, dated a couple of weeks ago.
I screwed up my eyes. This couldn’t be happening.
“Shall we go and talk somewhere? Discuss how this will work?” she suggested.
Her voice grated on my last nerve. I didn’t want to speak toher; I needed to explain everything to Lennon.
“I think it’s best if you leave, Candace,” I demanded. “I can’t talk to you right now.”
“What more proof do you need?” She waved the picture at me. “There’s no one else involved now, it’s just you and me.”
Anger bubbled in my chest. I needed to get far away from her before I said, or did, something that I would regret.
“I—I need time to get used to the idea,” I said as calmly as I could. “Why don’t we meet tomorrow? When I’m sober.”
Candace pursed her lips. “I suppose so. After all, discussing our child’s future in a club doesn’t exactly seem right. I’ll message you in the morning.” She leaned up and kissed my cheek before walking off and leaving me alone in the VIP area.
“Where did everyone go?” Alex appeared; a smudge of vibrant pink lipstick smeared across his cheek.
I sank down onto the sofa and picked up the nearest glass, that had the remains of a pint in it, and tipped it down my throat. “Get me a double whisky and I’ll tell you everything.”
Half an hour and three whiskies later, I was feeling no pain.
Except the massive pain in my heart.
“What does Lennon think?” Alex asked.
I spread my hands wide. “Do you see her here? Tells you everything you need to know.”
Alex leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “Who do you see a future with? Candace or Lennon?”
Lennon. It would always be Lennon.
But an innate sense of responsibility to Candace might mean that couldn’t happen.
I didn’t want to be like my own father, who walked away when things got too tough.
If—and I still wasn’t completely convinced—I was the father, I had to do the right thing.
Which would likely mean losing Lennon.
Explaining it to her would be difficult, getting her to understand why I was doing it even harder.
“I need to go home.” I stood, wobbling on my feet.
Alex leaped to his feet. “I’ll come with you.” He glanced around the now empty VIP area. “I’m sure this will be one birthday Amber won’t forget in a hurry.”
* * *
The lights wereon upstairs in Lennon’s house. I slid the key into the lock and met resistance, unable to turn it. I wrestled with it for a few moments, turning it this way and that, with no success.
“Shit, she’s locked me out!” I spun around to face Alex. “Want to help me break a window?”
“No.” Alex shook his head. “Knock on the door like any other civilised person.”
