by Tia Siren
“What the hell?” Landon grumbled.
“I have to take this,” I said, already moving toward the bathroom for a little privacy.
“Hello,” I answered.
“We need to talk,” Emily said, short, sweet, and directly to the point.
“Yes, we do. I want to explain.”
“Can you come by my house sometime?”
I looked at my watch. “Are you there now?”
She seemed a little surprised by my question. “Um, yes.”
“I can be there in about fifteen minutes. Does that work?”
There was a long pause. “Sure. I’ll be here.”
I hung up, quickly rushed to the table, told Landon I had to go, and walked outside while calling Alex to come pick me up.
Alex had me to Emily’s apartment building in record time. I dashed inside and ran up the two flights of stairs, taking a couple seconds to catch my breath before knocking on the door.
She opened the door, stepping out of the way and gesturing me inside. I could feel the ice coming off her in waves. I knew she was pissed, but at least she was willing to hear me out. That meant I had a chance.
“Where’s Tommy?” I asked.
“He’s down for a nap.”
“Really?”
“He’s three and he’s fighting a cold. Naps are not out of the ordinary,” she snapped.
I nodded. “I didn’t know.”
“Have a seat,” she said, gesturing at the kitchen table. “Can I get you water, coffee, apple juice?”
“I’m fine.”
I sat down at the tiny table, watching as she took the other seat. I could tell she had something on her mind and wasn’t sure it would be wise for me to try to explain before she could say her piece. This whole situation was uncharted territory for me.
“My ex, the one I told you about that first night,” she started, looking nervous as hell, “he came by my work yesterday.”
I nodded, not entirely sure what that had to do with me but instinctively knowing I needed to hear what she had to say.
“He wants a paternity test. He thinks Tommy is his and wants a DNA test to prove it,” she said, looking down at her hands that were folded on the table in front of her.
I had a feeling my questions about Tommy were about to be answered. My palms were suddenly sweaty and I could feel my pulse beating faster.
“And?” I prompted.
“Tommy isn’t Leo’s son,” she said, finally looking at me.
“Okay,” I said, not able to ask the question that was bouncing around in my head.
“He’s yours,” she said, her voice so soft I barely heard her.
I blinked, swallowed the lump in my throat, and stared at her. “What?”
I had definitely suspected and maybe in some way knew, but hearing her say the words threw me for an unexpected loop.
“Tommy is your son. I mean, technically, there is a very, very, very slim chance he could be Leo’s, but the timing isn’t right,” she said, speaking fast all of a sudden. “I mean the doctor said they can never be one-hundred percent sure, but you were the only one besides him, and, well—” She waved a hand through the air, leaving the word hanging.
I nodded my head. “Okay.”
“Okay?” She dropped her hand to the table. “Okay? That’s it? Okay?”
I knew a bit of what she was feeling. I was a bit speechless myself. I shrugged a shoulder. “I had a feeling.”
She nodded her head. “I know, but how? I mean, why did you suspect?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “His age. His looks. I don’t know. Gut feeling I guess.”
“Okay, well, I’m glad you know now. I told Leo he was yours. Leo doesn’t believe me and is getting a DNA test to try to prove he’s the father. I have no idea why he cares now,” she mumbled.
“I’ll get a DNA test as well,” I blurted out.
She looked at me, a measure of hurt in her eyes. “I understand.”
“No. Not because I doubt he’s mine. Because I want the ex to know he’s mine,” I assured her, wanting to reach out and touch her but not daring to.
“I took Tommy in yesterday. Leo is supposed to be going in tomorrow,” she said, handing me a piece of paper with a name and address on it.
“Thank you. I know you didn’t want to tell me, but I’m glad you did. We’ll talk about why you didn’t another time,” I said, half teasing.
She clearly didn’t find it funny. “Once we know for sure, Leo will back off. You and I can work out some kind of visitation, assuming you want to see him.”
“Of course I want to see him!” I said in disbelief that she would ever think otherwise.
She shrugged a shoulder. “I know you’re a busy man.”
I tilted my head to the side, looking into her eyes, trying to make her see me. Right now, she saw the man she was convinced was a player. I had been, but not now. Not with her. Not anymore.
“Can I please explain about Cora and Dana?” I asked, a plea in my voice.
“There’s nothing to explain. We hooked up. It’s over.”
“Yes, there is. You have the wrong idea,” I said. “We didn’t just hook up, and you know it.”
She stood from the table, put a hand on her hip, and glared at me. “I only needed to tell you about Tommy. I wanted to tell you in person. There’s a chance Leo could try to sell the story or use it to gain fifteen minutes of fame.”
“I don’t care,” I told her, truly not caring if the world found out I had a child.
“I do. I don’t want Tommy’s name out there, and I don’t want people making assumptions.”
I shook my head. “You can’t let what other people say bother you. They’re going to talk. It’s just rumors,” I said, hoping to calm her down.
It was clearly the wrong thing to say judging by the way she was looking at me. I could actually feel daggers poking my skin.
“Easy for you to say when you live behind a big-ass gate and have a slew of bodyguards and a man who drives you all around town,” she hissed.
“I’m sorry. That was insensitive. I only meant that you don’t have to read what’s written. Ignore the haters. Now, will you please let me explain about the rest?” I asked again, needing her to understand.
“I don’t need to hear about your personal life. What you do and who you see is your business. Quite frankly, I don’t want to hear about it. I’m purposely trying to ignore it.”
“It isn’t like that,” I said, standing and walking toward her. “They’re making a lot of the crap up. You know how those shows are, and the bloggers who are talking to so-called inside sources—it’s all bullshit.”
She held up a hand, stopping my pursuit. “Don’t. You can go now. Do the test.”
“Emily.” I said her name on a plea.
She shook her head. “No. I knew what the show was. It’s my fault. Please, just go,” she said, not looking at me.
I could feel the hurt rolling off her. I hated that I’d hurt her so badly. “I need to warn you,” I started.
Her head popped up, her eyes wide. “Warn me about what? This can’t get any worse.”
“I went out with Dana last night,” I said. “I had to. The producers are on—"
She stopped me. “I know. I’ve seen the pictures. Congratulations. You two make a lovely couple. Although, Cora is much prettier.”
I gulped down the hard knot in my stomach that was slowly rising. “The show that airs tonight is going to show a kiss,” I whispered, trying to get out as much information as I could before she kicked my ass out of her apartment.
A maniacal laugh escaped her lips, but her eyes filled with tears. “Go. I don’t want to hear the details.”
I opened my mouth but snapped it closed when she stared at me with such disgust, I actually felt dirty.
“I’ll go,” I muttered, “but I want to explain why I went out with those women.”
She smirked. “Don’t bother. I already know. It’s for the show.
You’re searching for a wife who is compatible with you and your world. I get it. I’m not that girl. Now get out.”
I shot her one last look and stomped out the door. I was mad, pissed to be exact. Pissed that I let myself get backed against the wall, and pissed Emily wouldn’t even hear me out. She was being ridiculous. It wasn’t like we had confessed our love for each other or had a commitment.
Alex was waiting for me. I got in the back of the car, slammed the door, and handed him the piece of paper with the address on it.
“I need to go there,” I said, not explaining why.
Alex drove through the city streets, never questioning me or my shitty attitude. I told him to wait, that I didn’t expect to be long. I gave my name and Tommy’s name and had my cheek swabbed. I paid to have the rapid test result. I didn’t want Leo hanging around a minute longer than he had to. I wanted to know for damn sure the kid was mine. I was going to be in his life and Emily was going to have to figure out how to deal with that.
When I got to work, my bad mood worsened. I was not in the right frame of mind to deal with anyone and let April know that when I stalked through the door to my office. Thankfully, the woman was just as much of a bulldog as Connor was and blocked anyone from entering my office. She didn’t even patch any calls through. I sat in my office, wallowing in my own misery, getting madder by the minute.
Normally, when I was in a crappy mood, I’d call Landon and go out for a drink, pick up a hot woman, and release the aggravation and frustration of the day. I wasn’t in the mood for that.
“I’m leaving for the day,” I told April, strolling out of my office door and not bothering to look back.
I had Alex drop me off at home, where I could save the rest of the population from my temper tantrum. It was my treadmill that felt the brunt of my anger and frustration.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Emily
It had been a miserable weekend. I had told myself not to, but I did it anyway. I watched the stupid show. I watched them splash my picture all over the screen with shots of me and Tommy. Then, they put my picture beside the other two women and asked viewers to vote for their choice. Compared to Cora, I looked like a plain Jane. The woman had the it factor I didn’t have. She was stunning. Hell, I’d pick her if I were Tyler.
When I had gotten the phone call that morning that the DNA test results were in, I’d been floored. I should have known Tyler would be anxious to find out for sure and pay extra to have the results expedited. I had called Sarah, freaking out a bit. She took the day off and I took Tommy to daycare so his mommy could have a little breakdown without him watching.
Leo and Tyler had both gotten phone calls as well. I had no idea who was going to get the results first.
“Relax,” Sarah told me for the tenth time at least.
“What if it turns out Leo is Tommy’s father?” I asked, the very thought making my stomach turn.
Sarah wrinkled her nose. “I see none of Leo in Tommy. I think he looks a lot like you, but he also favors Tyler. His jaw and thick hair seem very Tyler-like,” she assured me.
I nodded. “I want to believe that. What if I was pregnant for a month and didn’t even know it?”
Sarah laughed again. “Tommy was almost a week late. If that was the case, you’d have to be a damn elephant. I don’t think you were pregnant for close to a year.”
“True,” I said, finally smiling and relaxing a bit. “I mean, I’ve always known he was Tyler’s. I don’t know why I’m freaking out.”
“Because it’s what you do. So, who do you think is going to call you first?” she asked.
“I would think Tyler would be down there as soon as he knew the results were in. But, he seemed pretty confident that Tommy was his. Leo, on the other hand, thinks there is some big lottery to win. It’ll probably be him,” I guessed.
We didn’t have to wait long. Leo called me about twenty minutes later.
“This is bullshit, Emily. You didn’t tell me you were going to have your rich boyfriend take the test at the same place!” he shouted over the phone.
“Where else would he take it?” I asked, slightly sarcastic.
“I don’t believe the results. He paid someone off!” he accused.
I smiled. “Are you saying you’re not Tommy’s father?”
“Not according to this! This is bullshit!” he screamed.
“Leo, I already told you he wasn’t yours. He isn’t. The timing is off. He looks nothing like you. He isn’t yours,” I said slowly, hoping it would get through his thick skull.
I could hear him breathing hard and knew he was really mad. I had no idea why he was suddenly so set on Tommy being his. I looked at Sarah. She shrugged her shoulders and gestured for me to hang up the phone.
“Good-bye, Leo. Please, I need you to leave us alone,” I said, trying to be nice as I told him stay the hell away from us.
“That isn’t going to happen. I want another test. I’ll find another lab, and this time I don’t want your rich boyfriend involved,” he said, his voice filled with anger.
“No, Leo. It’s over. Tommy isn’t yours. You could take a hundred tests and that wouldn’t change the results.”
I heard him curse and what sounded like him hitting something. The man’s volatile temper seemed to be getting worse with age. He was definitely not a man I wanted in my son’s life.
“I’m not going anywhere, Emily. I know that boy is mine, and I have every right to be in his life.”
I jumped up from the couch, wishing the man was in front of me so I could shake some sense into him. “He. Is. Not. Your. Son.”
“Lying bitch. Don’t lie to me!” he screamed, and it was obvious he was not in his right mind.
I wasn’t sure if he had been drinking or if he was simply losing his shit and throwing a giant, man-size tantrum, but it was not something I wanted to hear.
“Good-bye, Leo. Don’t call me. Don’t come to my work. Stay away from me and my son,” I said and hung up the phone, flopping back down on the couch.
Sarah was looking at me, her brows raised. “Wow. What got into him?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea. I really think he wants Tommy to be his because he thinks I’m dating Tyler. It’s like he played out this whole thing in his mind and he believes the fantasy. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him come quite so unglued before.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “Well, now you know. Tyler is the baby daddy!” she said, grinning with her announcement.
I laughed. “Yes, he is.”
She looked at me and got serious. “Unless…” She dropped the word in the air.
“Unless what?” When I realized what she was saying, I swatted at her arm. “There is no one else! Tyler was the last man I slept with until after Tommy was born,” I said, giggling at her suggestion.
She laughed again. “All right, all right. I had to make sure. Seriously, how crazy would it be if it came back Tyler wasn’t the father?”
“Then I would do another test, because unless I was abducted by aliens, Tyler is the only possibility,” I said firmly.
Sarah was grinning. “Good. I’m glad this is finally over. I mean, over as far as the questioning and the telling him part. Now comes the part where you decide who gets what holidays and all that fun stuff.”
I groaned. “I’m hoping he is going to say he is too busy for that stuff. I want him to see Tommy and maybe go to a soccer game now and again, but I’ll take care of the rest.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Do you really think he’ll be that kind of a dad?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I have no idea. He seems pretty busy. I mean, taking a different woman out every night doesn’t exactly leave a lot of room for being a dad. Not to mention, I don’t want my son exposed to his father’s playboy ways. Not yet at least.”
My phone rang, and I burst into laughter when I saw his number on the screen. “Speak of the devil!”
“Are you going to answer it?” Sarah asked when I p
ut the phone back down.
“Do I have to?” I whined.
She gave me a look that said I definitely had to.
I took a deep breath, a little nervous after the way our last conversation had ended.
“Hello?” I answered, my voice squeaking out.
“Emily, it’s Tyler,” he said, as if I wouldn’t know.
“I know. What’s up?” I asked, looking at Sarah, who slapped her palm to her forehead.
I shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t know what else to say. The whole thing was a little weird. It wasn’t like I had a handbook to follow that outlined how to talk to the man who had fathered my child. I heard him chuckle and relaxed a little.
“I got the test results. You were right,” he said.
I nodded my head even though he couldn’t see me. “Okay,” I said for lack of anything better to say.
“Can we talk about it?” he asked in a gentle tone, as if he were afraid I would yell at him again.
I took a deep breath. “Yes. We probably should.”
“Are you free later? Tonight?”
I looked at Sarah, and she looked back at me, questioning me with her eyes.
“Hold on a second,” I said and muted the call. I looked at her. “Can you watch Tommy tonight? He wants to talk about where to go from here.”
She rolled her eyes. “Duh! Of course I can. Me and the little guy will hang out, eat pizza, and drink a gallon of soda.”
“If you let him drink a gallon of soda, I’m not coming home until it’s all out of his system,” I said dryly.
“You’re no fun,” she pouted.
“I’m the perfect amount of fun,” I retorted, unmuting the call. “Yes, I can do that. What time?”
“Six. I’ll have dinner made,” he said, his voice a little too eager.
“This isn’t a date. I’ll eat before I leave. We’re meeting to discuss our son, nothing else,” I said firmly, if not a little heavy on the bitchiness.
He sighed. “Suit yourself, but I’ll be eating. You can watch me. I’ll see you at six,” he said and hung up the phone.
My mouth dropped open in shock at his rather abrupt disconnection. “Well, that was rude,” I said, looking at the phone.