“And I have just spent the morning with him screaming and threatening me if I don’t give up my second job there will be hell to pay. He’s made all kinds of demands about Owen.”
Adrian puts his head in his hands and Natasha shakes her head in disbelief.
“I have no words,” Adrian whispers.
“I do,” Natasha replies. “Holy fucking shit.”
I put my head into my hands in despair and Adrian rubs my back. “He’s just coming to terms with it.”
“Joshua and Cameron have an issue with paternity situations,” Natasha replies, her and Adrian exchanging looks. “This is a huge trigger for them and I’m sure it will get better.”
I sip my drink sadly as I contemplate my weekend.
“He’s coming around to see Owen tomorrow.”
Adrian and Tash smile at each other and then at me. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.”
I watch the Aston Martin pull into the driveway.
He’s here.
“Owen?” I call. “You have a visitor.”
21
Cameron
I turn the engine off and look up at the house. God, this is my worst nightmare.
How do you tell a kid that you’re his father when you don’t believe it yourself?
I know it’s true, I have the proof, and yet somehow, I feel like I’m in a bad dream and any minute Ashley is going to laugh and tell me it’s all a joke. Then I can go back to having her in my arms and being happy.
I can stop resenting her so much.
I don’t want to resent her… but I can’t help it. How could she have hidden this from me?
I take out my phone and scroll through it, hoping to find an urgent message from the hospital saying I’m needed—that I have to be somewhere. I want to be anywhere but here. I grip the steering wheel in my hands as I imagine how this is going to go. How would I have felt if some stranger turned up and announced that he was my father? What would I have thought of him?
Poor kid. What a fucked up start to his life.
Right, that’s it. I need to make this right.
With renewed determination, I climb out of the car and head to the door and knock. I glance up the street as a man starts to mow his lawn and I look around. At least this is a nice neighborhood they’re living in.
The door opens in a rush and Ashley stands before me. Her hair is in a high ponytail and she has no makeup on. My heart somersaults in my chest. She’s so fucking beautiful.
“Hey,” I push out.
She smiles and it kicks me right in the gut. “Hi, Cam. Thanks for coming. Please come in.”
God, she smells good.
I follow her into the house and glance around. It seems so strange being here without her on my mind. When I was here before, I was so focused on her I don’t remember much about the house. It’s homey, nice and clean, and I know she said she moved with bare essentials and put the rest of her stuff in storage back in New York. She walks into the kitchen and I follow her, unsure what to do.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” she asks.
“Please.” I frown as I take a seat on a stool at the kitchen counter.
She fusses about and I sit silently, uncomfortable. I feel myself begin to perspire.
She turns and hands me my coffee. “Do you still want to tell him today?”
“Yes.” I sip my coffee. “I’m not starting our relationship with lies.”
Her eyes hold mine. “Like we did, you mean?”
I raise my eyebrow and sip my coffee. “No comment,” I murmur.
She blows out a breath. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be snarky and I know you are doing the best you can.”
I purse my lips as I watch a small spot on the kitchen counter. I need to focus on anything but looking in her eyes.
She reaches out and puts her hand on my forearm. “I’ve had five years to adjust to this situation, Cam and you haven’t. It’s a lot to process. It will get easier, I promise.”
I nod. “I hope so.”
She smiles awkwardly and shrugs. “I thought maybe we could tell him and then, if you want some privacy, I could go out for a couple of hours and leave you two here alone?”