Page 48 of Lost on Ice
“Yeah.” She sounds so nonchalant about it now. “Mommy fixed it.”
“She got hurt at the park,” I explain. “She fell down and hit her knee, that’s all.”
He furrows his brows. “That’s all? Did you take her to the hospital to make sure she didn’t fracture anything?”
“Uh, no.” I shake my head. “I checked her out and she’ll be fine. It’s just a scrape and some bruising.”
“You still should’ve taken her.” His voice gets hard and sounds almost accusatory. “What if she’s really hurt and you don’t know because you didn’t bother to have her checked out? Why didn’t you call me and tell me?”
Oh, hell no.
I jump up and move toward him, grab his arm, and drag him out of the living room and into the kitchen so Lilah can’t hear us.
“Okay, need I remind you that I am her mother and a fuckingnurse,” I snap. “I know what I’m doing, and I don’t appreciate you questioning me like that in front of my kid. Why do you even care so much, huh?”
His nostrils flare and his eyes flash as he growls, “You two are my responsibility…”
“Excuse me?” I exclaim. “How dare you! We are not your responsibility. I raised Lilah on my own for years, and I didn’t ask you to just suddenly step in and play the white knight in shining armor.”
Glaring at me, his blue eyes darkening into a thunderstorm. He takes a step toward me, and I have to fight to keep from moving back from him. I’m not going to let myself be intimidated.
“Yeah, well maybe you need someone to come in and save you,” he growls. “You’re just hell bent on doing this by yourself. Have you even considered her father? Tell me, Abbie, where is he right now?”
My rage burns hotter and I clench my hands into fists. “I don’t know why you fucking care all of the sudden! Tell me, Jake, where have you been all these years? I thought we were friends once upon a time, but now? You ghosted me for three years, so you don’t have any right to stick your nose into my life or Lilah’s. You’re not her father!”
The words are out of my mouth before I realize I’m saying them, and I wish I could snatch them back immediately. Mystomach drops and my knees feel like they’re about to give out. Fuck, why would I tell him that? Why would I lie about that?
Now I can never tell him the truth.
“Jake, I, uh…” What can I say? How could I possibly make this moment any less awful?
Jake stares at me in total silence for several moments. There’s something in his gaze… something very much like disappointment, which is gutting.
Has he been hoping that Lilah is his?
Oh, God… what have I done?
Without saying a word, he turns and walks out of the kitchen and I watch him go, along with any possible future in which Lilah has a relationship with her father.
Chapter Seventeen
JAKE
My mind is movinga thousand miles a minute.
Lilah’s not mine.
I’m not her father.
Abbie said it. Laid it out there as plain as day.
I should be happy, right?
After all, I’ve never wanted kids. Never wanted a family. I like my independence and being able to live my life however I choose. Now I know for certain, I don’t have to stick around because I feel responsible for Abbie and Lilah. Once this stalker thing is dealt with, I can just go and get back to my life.
Really, this should be a relief.
And yet, it feels like there’s a weight pressing down on my chest, making it difficult to breathe. I can’t stop thinking that another man has touched Abbie. Another man has this intimate connection with her and gets to claim Lilah as his own.
