my path into the house.
“What are you talking about?” I balk, continuing to play stupid even though I know exactly what he’s talking about. My heart drums violently in my chest and try as I might to keep them still, there’s a small tremble in my hands that I can’t seem to calm.
“Who is Ellie’s mom?” He dips his face down so he can meet my eyes.
“What? Keira is. I already told you that.”
“You’re lying.” He shakes his head. “Whose daughter is she?”
“Keira’s.” I stick with the lie.
“You know, after everything we’ve been through, I never expected you, of all people, would keep something like this from me.”
“I don’t know what you’re implying, but I seriously can’t do this right now.” I push past him, quickly climbing the front porch stairs before shoving my way through the front door.
I turn, prepared to slam the door behind me when Jace walks inside, eliminating my ability to do so.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? I told you that you’re not welcome inside!” I snap, nerves and frustration eating at my gut.
“I’m not leaving until you tell me the truth.”
“Get out of my house, Jace.” I point toward the door.
“No.”
“You’re a real piece of work, you know that? I give you a place to live. I try to be your friend. And this is how you repay me? By encroaching on my personal space. By asking questions that are completely ridiculous.”
“Are they ridiculous? Because at first I thought so too. But now, after seeing your reaction, I’m not so sure they are.”
“I’m going to bed.” I turn on my heel and head toward the kitchen. “You can show yourself out.”
Only he doesn’t. Instead, he follows me.
“Oh my god, Jace!” I turn to face him. “Seriously. What the hell do you want from me?”
“I want the truth.”
“You already know the truth!”
“Do I?” He gestures around the room. “A child’s booster seat.” He points to the table. “A sippy cup.” He picks the cup up off the island and swings it in my face. “The car seat in your car. The playset out back.” He continues to tick things off, dropping the cup back down onto the counter.
“Ellie stays with me a lot. It’s easier to keep these things here than to lug them back and forth.”
“Okay then, you won’t mind if I look around then.” With that, he turns and takes off through the house.
“Jace!” I run after him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I grab his arm and tug him back when he reaches the mouth of the hall.
He spins around, his nostrils flaring.
“I’m going to find out the truth whether you want to tell me or not.” He shakes off my hold and turns, shoving open the bathroom door. He peeks inside and then moves further down the hallway.
I’m seconds away from losing the contents of my stomach. Fear and adrenaline pump through me with so much force I feel off balance on my own two feet.
“Jace, stop!” My voice shoots up when he reaches Ellie’s door. Not at all deterred by my physical attempts to stop him, he shoves open the door and steps inside.
I’m standing behind him so I can’t see his reaction but I can read his posture. The way his spine goes ramrod straight and his shoulders tense.
He stands there for a long moment before slowly turning back toward me.
At this point I’m frantic, tears pooling in my eyes. I just want him to leave. No, I need him to leave.
“You wanna explain why Keira’s daughter has a bedroom in your house?”
“I told you, she stays here a lot.”
“Bullshit,” he bites, agitation clear in his tone. “Stop fucking lying to me, Oakley!”
Something inside me snaps and the next thing I know, words that I don’t mean to say are pouring out of me.
“Fine! She’s my daughter.” My knees shake beneath my weight. “She’s my daughter,” I say a little more controlled.
“Are you fucking happy now?”
“Who is her father?”
“You don’t know him. I met him shortly after I left Parkview.”
“You’re lying again.”
“No, I’m not. I didn’t want you to know she was mine because I didn’t want to admit that I met someone so soon after leaving you.”
I can’t tell if he believes me or not but my money is on that he doesn’t.
“Do you really think I’m that stupid?”
“Please, Jace. Just leave.” I’m pleading with him at this point. I do not have the physical or emotional strength to keep this up for