“How was I supposed to know that? I didn’t care about those facts. All I wanted was to get the hell away from you and this town after that night. When I found out I was pregnant, I was already four months along. I couldn’t even believe it. And I wanted to reach out and tell you, but the first time I called my dad to break the news, our relationship fell apart, and I no longer had any connections out here, except Julia, and when I asked about you, you were gone. I had no way to tell you.”
“You could’ve found out where I was if you’d asked my parents.”
“I didn’t think about any of that! I didn’t know how you’d take the news. I didn’t know if you knew about my crush, and I worried you’d think I was insane. I worried about what everyone was going to say and think once they found out the truth.”
“So, all that was more important to you than telling me about that night? Telling me about the pregnancy?”
“At the time, yes. It made sense in my head. I rationalized it. But over the years, that changed. Especially now.”
“You know what you are?” he asks, looking down at me with a look of utter contempt. “You’re selfish. You’re exactly what I thought you were, a fucking child. You let your own pride get in the way of me meeting my daughter.”
Pain slices through my chest. My ears are full of static. I open my mouth, stuttering out words, trying to refute the claim, but it’s true. I was being selfish when I made those decisions. “I-I…”
“You what? Is this the part where you lie, and you tell me you tried to tell me?”
I never wanted it to come to this. I never wanted it to get to such an ugly place where he’s this angry with me. I place a trembling hand over my lips, trying to hold in the sob. I hate myself at this moment because he’s right. As much as I hate to admit it, I did act like a child. Luna has lost years with her father because of me. All those times she’s asked about him, I should’ve told her the truth. I should’ve tried to reach out to Endymion earlier, and maybe…maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as it is now.
“No,” I choke, swiping the tears under my eyes. “You’re right. I was childish. I was so hurt by…” I pause, keeping the words locked inside, not even going to bother repeating them out loud. He doesn’t need to know how deep my feelings went for him. That will only make me look more like a fool than I already do. “I shouldn’t have let that happen,” I say, pushing the words past my quivering lips. “I should’ve been the bigger person. I know I can’t make up for the years you lost, but she’s here now, and I promise you, I won’t get in the way of you being a father to her.”
“You’re right, you can’t. The only reason I came here today was to look you in the face when I tell you I’m hiring a lawyer. You’re not keeping her from me any longer.”
My blood runs cold at the admission, fear wrapping around my heart with a deadly grip.
“Wait. Endymion,” I choke, clutching onto his arm as he turns away. He shakes my hold off him, and the look he pins me with me chills me to the bone. I let go of him immediately. There’s no heat in his gaze. Not like there has been the last week or so that he’s been courting me. No, instead, it’s just ice. It feels like dry ice against my skin, burning in a different, more painful way. Almost as if the glare alone is abrading my skin.
My heart withers, and pain laces through my chest as I force the words past my lips. “I wasn’t going to keep her from you. Please, let’s talk about this.”
“We both know that’s a fucking lie, Selene. Just like everything else that comes out of your mouth.” The way he says my name, with so much venom lacing his tone, it slides its way inside my blood and burns. I can’t seem to catch my breath. It’s too painful. Everything hurts.
“Are you planning to fight for custody?” The question barely makes it past the panic restricting my throat.