Page 124 of Can't Get Over You
Finlay touched her friend’s shoulder. “Just go, okay? Your baby’s safe with us.”
Eloise sighed. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll try to get it done as quickly as I can.”
“Take your time.” Boone pushed the stroller to an empty table and sat down.
After her friend left, Cody tugged on Finlay’s arm. “Could we get cocoa now? I’m cold.”
“Yes, of course.” But as they got in line, she saw Matt and his little girl at a nearby table. Chloe stood on a chair, stomping her little booted feet, as she munched a chocolate muffin. Finlay couldn’t help but smile at him.
As she headed over, he stood, one hand gripping his daughter’s arm.
“She’s a firecracker.” Finlay noticed how much the little girl looked like him.
“She is.”
It was awkward for a moment. Neither knew how to greet the other. But Finlay wasn’t about to hug him. “How’s it going?”
“It’s okay. We’re living with my mom till I figure things out. She watches her while I’m at work.”
She’d never seen him so uncomfortable. Undoubtedly, he had a lot to say to her, but this wasn’t the right setting to get into it. “You’re lucky to have her.”
“I am, yeah. Eventually, I’ll get my own place, get a nanny or something. I don’t know. I’m not exactly thinking clearly at the moment.” He blew out a breath. “It turns out the only reason my ex decided to tell me about my daughter is because she’s going back to school full-time, so she needs my help. I’ve been thrown into this. I haven’t had a chance to process anything else.”
“That’s awful. I’m sorry she did that to you.”
“Yeah. It’s been an adjustment to say the least.” His gaze landed on Cody. “So it’s true, then? You’re engaged to that biker?”
A twinge of uncertainty hit her. It seemed cruel to let him believe a lie that would hurt him so deeply, but on the other hand, what choice did she have? “His name is Jude, and we’ve known each other a long time.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“What makes you think you deserve one?” She instantly regretted snapping at him in front of the children. “I’m sorry.” They lived in the same town and had to find a way to be pleasant with each other.
“Finlay, two weeks ago, we were gettingmarried.”
“I’m well aware.”
“If you could move on that fast… It pretty much invalidates our entire relationship.”
I think you managed that one all by yourself.But no matter what he’d done, she still couldn’t blame him for being upset. If the situations were reversed, she’d be, too. “We had a lot ofcracks in it already.” But she didn’t see any reason to get into it. He was the one who’d chosen to deceive her. She didn’t owe him any explanation. “At least she seems to be adjusting well.” She smiled at the little girl who was happily chomping away.
“I Cwo-ie.”
“I know you are, cutie. And that looks yummy.”
The little girl nodded in an exaggerated way. She was adorable.
“I really wish you were doing this with me,” Matt said. “You’d be a great stepmom.” He studied Cody. “Well, I guess that’s what you are. Just to someone else’s child.” Tenderly, he brushed the hair off his daughter’s cheek. “I messed up.”
“Why, though?” she asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know. I guess part of me didn’t want to believe it. I just wanted to marry you and get to the good part where we had kids and my buddies would come over to watch games. We had plans, and she wasn’t in them.” He had the decency to lower his chin and shake his head. “That didn’t come out right.”
“No, I know what you meant.” And she was so damn grateful for the way things turned out, she really couldn’t be angry with him anymore. “Do you think you and your ex will get back together? Become a family?”
“Are you kidding?” Anger and disgust twisted his features. “Sheliedto me. I’ll never trust her again. Never.”
Finlay waited, not saying a word. It only took a moment for him to get it.
