the lumpy mattress. Stretching out on my back, I tuck my hands behind my head and stare up at the ceiling, my mind going a hundred miles a minute.
I replay everything that happened over and over in my head, looking for clues or some sort of explanation. And then it hits me. When she said our lives, it wasn’t the first time she had said something to that regard. She said something about it not being only about her anymore.
The more I dwell on it, the more confused I become. Until suddenly something hits me and I sit straight up in bed, my heart beating so hard I swear it’s seconds from pounding straight out of my chest.
The playset. The car seat. The weird way Keira reacted when I told her she had a beautiful daughter… Suddenly all of the pieces are falling into place. But then, that can’t be right either. If Oakley had a daughter, she would have told me.
Unless…
I take a wild guess at how old the girl is and do the math.
Unless she’s my daughter…
Chapter Twenty
OAKLEY
* * *
I feel exhausted. I didn’t sleep well the night before last, the conversation with Jace weighing heavily on my mind, and then I was called in to pick up an extra shift last night and it just about killed me. I didn’t want to go into work but knowing I could use the distraction, I decided to do it. Now I’m regretting that I did. I swear every step I take toward my house feels like it takes every ounce of energy I have. I would say I’m running on fumes, but at this point I don’t even think I have fumes left.
I just dropped Ellie off at Gianna’s for the day. She wasn’t happy about it this morning, and cried crocodile tears when I walked out the door. Because I’m off tonight, normally I would stay up and keep her home with me, but knowing that’s not an option today with how exhausted I am, I promised her I’d come get her early. I just need a few hours of sleep, otherwise I might end up collapsing where I stand.
I breathe out a sigh of relief as I turn left and head up the sidewalk to my front porch, but my relief is short-lived when I see Jace sitting on the top step, his elbows resting on his knees.
He looks about as exhausted as I do. His hair is sticking up in every direction and when his blue gaze sweeps to mine, I can see the dark circles under his eyes.
“Jace,” I breathe out, closing the distance between us. “I don’t know why you’re here, but now is really not a good time.”
“You said our lives.” His voice is low, his eyes searching my face, no doubt trying to gauge my reaction.
“Huh?” I question, the lack of sleep making it hard for my brain to keep up.
“The other night, before you left, you said ‘how bad I’ve wanted you to be a part of our lives’.”
“O-k-a-y.” I stretch the single word out, trying to give myself time to come up with a feasible excuse as to why I would say something like that.
It had been a slip of the tongue, my emotions getting the better of me. I had hoped he hadn’t picked up on my little hiccup, but clearly that wasn’t the case.
“What did you mean by our?”
“Nothing. I misspoke.”
“Don’t lie to me, Oakley.” He pushes to a stand, hovering over me from the top step.
Even with the night I’ve had and what he’s asking of me now, I still can’t help but think about how handsome he looks in the bright morning sun, the yellow rays shining down on him, illuminating his gorgeous face.
“I really don’t have time for this right now, Jace. I’m exhausted. I picked up a shift at work last night, and I really need to get some sleep.”
He looks to the right, in the direction I just came from.
“Where were you?” His gaze shoots to my car in the driveway and then back to me.
“What?” I play stupid.
“You said you were at work. But your car is in the driveway.”
“I had to drop something off at the neighbor’s house.” At least that’s the truth. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
“You know.” He climbs down a step, getting closer to me. “You never were a very good liar.” Another step and then another until he’s standing right in front of me, blocking