"Kellie, I'm–"
She raised her hand and said, "You're what Tristan needs. Who he loves, but my wish is that you can both find it in your hearts to love my son." She sucked in a stuttering breath. "Because I won't– I mean, I may not be around to do it."
The tragedy of losing our baby paled in comparison to now. "Kellie, we're in this with you." I gripped her hands. "Together–all of us–as a family."
Tristan
The house was dark and quiet when I walked in. I flicked on the living room light to find Elle at the kitchen table. She never looked up when the door closed. Her finger circled the top of her wine glass, as she mindlessly stared at the action.
"Spud?" The keys clanked against the metal, echoing in the quiet when they hit the coffee table. She didn't respond.
In the dining room, I plopped down in a chair across from her, leaning on my forearms. "Hey."
Elle glanced up, her glistening eyes roamed over my face.
My pulse sped. "Baby, what's wrong?"
Elle mirrored how I sat. "Kellie came by today."
Frowning, I said, "She called, too." When Elle turned away, I hooked a finger around her chin. "Everything okay?"
Her defeated expression reminded me of how she looked after we lost the baby. I'd been afraid of breaking her then, and the same feeling came over me now. When tears filled her eyes, splashing on her cheeks, I stood and pulled her to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck, resting her head on my chest.
The helplessness from all those months ago crept back in, and I held on tighter. "Fill me in on what happened."
"Okay," she said, her voice coming out strained. Pulling back, Elle held my face and smiled. If only the action coincided with the sadness in her eyes. "I need you to know that I'm not going anywhere, and I love you. So much."
"I know." If she didn't tell me something, and soon, I'd lose my mind.
"Kellie and I talked for a long while." She scraped her bottom lip between her teeth. "She's sick, cancer."
"That's terrible, but I don't understand. Why did she come here?" I cocked my head, watching Elle. "What are you not telling me."
"She has a son, Conner."
"Okay?"
Her olive complexion paled.
"Elle, what is it?"
"He's your son, Tristan."
My blood ran cold. "I–"
"She'll be here in twenty minutes." Her eyes watered more as she stood.
My arms fell to my sides, and my legs refused to work so I stayed in the chair. "No, I wore protection. Every time."
"We both know birth control isn't foolproof, Tristan."
Elle's phone rang, and we both jumped. She turned to answer the call.
My mind raced. This can't be happening!
"I understand, Kellie. Go home and we'll drive up tomorrow or something."
My head popped up when I heard the strain in Elle's voice. "Is everything okay?"
Elle nodded as she said to Kellie, "Tristan will be there." She smiled. "Go take care of your son." Hearing those words for the second time was a sucker punch straight to my chest.
The second Elle finished the phone conversation, I snapped out of it and pulled her to me. "Elle, I don't know what to say. How do we know she's not lying?"
Her body shook in my arms. "I know. It's crazy, especially after what we went through when y'all were together, but I believe her." She hiccuped. "We need to tell our parents, prepare them before anyone else finds out."
Pulling away to see her face, my heart melted. "Are you okay?" A splash of wetness hit my thumb and I swept it off her cheek. "I'm sorry you had to deal with this without me. That I wasn't here."
She huffed/laughed. "You just learned you have a son, and you're worried about me?"
"This is a lot to take in." I held her heartbroken gaze. "Are you…okay?"
Elle and I were supposed to start a family together. That plan changed, and the weight of how much Elle could take before she broke scared the shit out of me.
She paused. "You have a son. You're a dad." And they poured down her cheeks.
An hour later, we texted our parents, asking them to meet us here. Elle sat on the living room floor. Knees bent to her chest, she hugged her arms around them and rested her cheek.
"It's for the best," Elle said. Maybe she was right. "We'll get married, just not right now."
"You're sure?"
Elle nodded.
"All right."
"Besides, you'll be at camp right after anyway. Your focus should be on your career."
"You're my focus. Always, got it?"
She continued with the new plan. "The movers will be here next week. We still have a lot to get packed."
I moved next to her and kissed her forehead. "The kid–"
"Conner. His name is Conner."
"Okay, Conner." I raised a brow. "Having him in our lives doesn't change the way I love you."
"He's your son, and having him in our lives changes everything–it makes it fuller." She straightened her legs out. "After we lost the baby, the pain was so deep, and the idea of getting pregnant scared me." Her face brightened. "Conner may not be my biological child, but he's a part of you. I can't wait to love him."
"Spud–" The doorbell rang.
"I love you, too, Tristan," Elle declared, beating me to it. "Let's break the news to our parents."
We stood, and before opening the door, I glanced over my shoulder. "You sure?" Her lips lifted, the smile reaching her jewel-like eyes. Without even realizing it, I released the breath I held.
Elle
Tristan's dad raged while his mom tried to calm him. Mom quietly watched us with sadness in her eyes.
"You don't know for sure this kid is yours," Mr. Daniels repeated while pacing the length of the living room.
"We'll have a paternity test done, Dad."
"Damn right you will." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "What makes you think she isn't after money?"
"Kellie's not doing well. She has cancer." Moving to stand beside Tristan, I sighed. "There is literally nothing to gain. Learning Tristan and Kellie have a child together may not be the ideal situation, but we'll handle it." Hugging an arm around Tristan's waist, I finished. "We're telling you because we want you to be a part of this." His dad opened his mouth, and I held up my hand. "We love you guys, but if you can't get on board, then you can leave."
Mom spoke for the first time. "Of course, we're with you."
Tristan's mom rushed to me, hugging me. "Elle, God. I can't imagine what you must be feeling." She pulled back and cupped her son's cheek. "And you?"
Tristan covered her hand. "Elle's been amazing, and we want to do what's right."
"What's his name?" Mom stood beside me, looking between the two of us. Funny, we'd forgotten to mention it.
"Conner," Tristan clarified.
"Conner. Good, strong name, I suppose," Mr. Daniels said, as if testing it out loud.
Tristan's phone rang. "It's Derrick."
I nodded, and he walked to the bedroom.
"Elle, honey?" I understood what Mom was asking.
"I'm okay, Mom. Really." A piece of hair fell into my eyes, and I blew it back. "Tristan and I will drive up tomorrow morning."
"When can we meet him?" Mrs. Daniels' question went ignored when Mom spoke.
"How are Kellie's parents handling this?"
"I'm not sure; we didn't get that far." God, I hadn't thought about her parents. "Losing their daughter…" My lip trembled, and I couldn't finish. Suddenly, the empty white walls and scattered half-filled boxes stood out among the chaos. "We're still moving at the end of the month. Tristan will head to Louisiana, and I'll–"
"Derrick flies in tonight."
"He knows we're supposed to drive up to Kellie's tomorrow, right?"
Tristan tucked his phone in his pocket, nodding.
"Good," his dad and I said together.
An hour or so later, our parents headed back to their hotel. Tristan and I talk
ed while boxing up more stuff until our eyes couldn't stay open any longer.
"Let's call it a night."
My jaws hurt from constantly yawning. "Okay."
Tristan's phone buzzed on the coffee table. He opened the text message. "It's Derrick. He'll be by bright and early."
Tristan plugged his phone into the charger while I turned down the sheets on the bed. "Ready for tomorrow?"
Tristan's head popped up, but he didn't turn.
"I'm nervous." The skin on my bottom lip was shredded from gnawing on it throughout the day.
Finally, Tristan faced me. The serious expression turned my stomach upside down. "I still don't know what to think." He ran a hand through his hair before joining me on the bed. "As long as we're in it together, I'm good."
"I'm here for the long-haul, Daniels." I bumped his shoulder. "Besides, you can't get rid of me that easily."
Tristan traced the side my face. His fingers were calloused yet gentle, and my breathing increased. "With you by my side, I can handle anything."
That night when I drifted to sleep cocooned in Tristan's embrace, I did something I hadn't done enough of. I prayed. God, please give us strength and help me keep an open heart.
Tristan
Elle was still in bed, and I didn't want to wake her just yet. So much had changed in the span of a day.
Heading down the hall, I heard the doorbell ring. Perfect timing.
"Derrick, thanks for coming."
He shook my hand and stepped inside. "How are you and Elle holding up?" Derrick followed me into the kitchen.
"As well as expected." The cupboards were mostly empty aside from a few necessary dishes. "Coffee?"
"Yes, please."
Mine left as is, I offered Derrick cream and sugar. "Just milk," he said.
"So what's the plan?" I took a sip, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"We've set up a visit for you to be tested." He took a tentative drink. "Do you believe the baby is yours?"
The same question circled my mind yesterday and was the first thing I thought of when I woke up. "Considering Kellie's situation, I don't believe she's lying."
Derrick frowned as he straightened his spine. "What situation are you talking about."
"She has cancer."
Derrick took another drink. "I see." He pondered the idea before saying more. "Will you and Elle be part of this kid's life?"
"Absolutely."
The corners of his eyes crinkled. "Remember when I said picking you as a client was easy?"
I nodded, remembering when he'd brought his son with him so he could get an autograph.
"You aren't trying to pay the mom or family off means something. Taking responsibility isn't always the least cumbersome thing to do."
"Life doesn't guarantee anyone a smooth ride," Elle said, walking into the kitchen. She smiled. "We'll take the bumps as they come."
Derrick laughed. "Sounds like you got yourself a smart woman."
"Couldn't agree more."
Elle shook his hand. "Derrick, it's good to see you again."
"Likewise."
Elle poured a ton of sugar and milk into her cup before adding a dribble of coffee. "Should we be worried? How will this affect Tristan's career?"
"We should be okay. As soon as the paternity results come back, the firm will work on informing the media." Derrick unzipped his briefcase, pulling out a small stack of papers. "We've already given the coaches an update should the story be leaked before we've had a chance to tell it ourselves."
"Have you contacted Kellie yet?" Elle sounded offended. "I'd hate for her to feel blindsided."
He nodded, taking another sip of coffee. "Yes, we spoke with her yesterday while she drove back. She agreed to the test without problems. She promised to remain silent until the tests are confirmed."
"If all goes according to plan, there should be little to no media backlash."
Elle flinched at his words.
"Do you two have any questions?"
Some of the tension eased from me. "None I can think of as of now."
Elle remained silent.
"Okay, then it looks like my job here is done." He glanced at the clutter of boxes. "Movers still coming at the end of the week?"
"Yes," Elle said, moving the cup from one hand to the other.
"Good. Well,"–Derrick stood, drinking the rest of his coffee–"I better get going so you can head out."
"Thank you, for everything." Elle walked with us to the front door. "I hate that you had to fly all this way for a short trip."
"That's what I'm here for." He clasped my hand. "To make sure you're taken care of."
"We appreciate everything you've done," Elle said, the irritation gone.
Derrick nodded and waved as he trotted down the steps, heading to his car.
"Kellie called," Elle said, closing the front door. She leaned against it. "I told her we'd be up there a little after lunchtime."
"Sounds good. I'll make us breakfast while you get ready."
"Yeah, okay." She sighed. "When I woke up, I almost thought this was all a mistake. Until I answered the phone."
"Spud, you still with me?"
Elle scraped her bottom lip between her teeth, nodding.
Liar.
I pressed against her body, caging her between me and the door.
"Tristan, I–"
My lips came down on hers, demanding, and she obliged. She tasted sweet from the milk and sugar in her coffee. Desperation clawed at us until the space between our bodies narrowed to almost nothing. Elle groaned when I rolled my hips into her.
It wasn't enough.
I yanked her shorts down and pushed her legs apart with my knee, hoisting her up a little higher. She broke away from the kiss, clutching my shoulders, her nails digging into the skin. Using the temporary separation to my advantage, I shimmied my shorts and boxers down, then rammed into her.
"God, you're perfect." Elle's legs tightened around my waist, pulling me in deeper. I moaned.
Sliding out, I rocked into her again and again, as fast and demanding as the kiss started. "You're everything."
"I'm almost–"
I silenced her, parting her lips with my tongue, and bucked into her harder. Her silent cries were swallowed in my mouth as her body shook in my hold. With each tremble, I moved faster. The first shiver traveled down my spine, and within a few more thrusts, I spilled into her, clutching her thighs until I feared they may bruise.
Elle broke away from my mouth, gasping as her body continued to quake. It was heaven, living in the bliss between ecstasy and reality. Everything was better when we were joined as one. Nothing else mattered as long as I held Elle in my arms. And for those few fleeting moments, her universe righted, too.
Elle
"Ready to go in?" The closer we got to Kellie's house, the quieter Tristan became.
"No." His gaze slid to mine in the passenger seat.
"Hey, I thought we worked out all our, um, aggression this morning before we left." The sexy smirk I loved so much appeared.
"So really, you should be fine now."
"Love you." He squeezed my hand.
The smugness from moments ago transformed into a tender smile. "Always," I replied.
A quick nod later and Tristan released my hand. "Let's do this."
The number of steps leading up to the chipped beige front door? Fifty. The amount of knocks Tristan left? Three. The few seconds it took for the door to open? Ten.
Kellie smiled, cracking the door open. "You got here quicker than I expected." She brushed a hand over her thin, patchy hair. Color filled across her pale face.
"I probably sped a little," Tristan said. "You look good, Kel."
She laughed, shaking her head. "And you were never a good liar, Tristan."
The strain surrounding us dissipated, and we all laughed.
"Come in." She waved. "Just ignore the mess."
Tristan followed behind me with his hand on the small
of my back. "How are you feeling?"
Her baggy T-shirt and sweatpants swallowed her frame. Tristan applied more pressure on my back.
"Tired." Kellie's face lit, just as it had in the picture on her phone, when a small voice echoed from down the hall. "He just woke from a short nap. He should be in a good mood."
We followed her to the living room. The television played a Disney tune, and in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a mountain of toys, sat Conner.
Kellie bent to pick up her son, and no traces of sickness lined her features as she beamed down at him. My breath caught. She couldn't give up. There had to be some other treatment plan.
"Conner, these people are here to meet you." Kellie tickled his belly, then directed her attention to me. "Would you like to hold him?
"I would love to."
Kellie handed him to me.
"Hi, cutie." I bounced him, and he squealed, showing off a few front and bottom teeth. His chunky cheeks dented like his mother's, but his eyes were the same golden-brown as Tristan's. For the second time in my life, I fell in love with a Daniels boy.
"He's beautiful," Tristan said over my shoulder.
Conner's full gaze went straight to his dad. He reached his chubby little arms out for him.
"Is-is it okay?" Tristan's voice trembled.
"Of course," Kellie said.
Conner jumped from my arms to his. He grabbed Tristan's face and smiled. I glanced at Kellie; her eyes turned glossy, too. I stood closer to her. "You doing all right?"
"Hey, buddy." Tristan's voice cracked, though his mouth curved into a smile. I wished I could have captured his adoring expression as he held his son for the first time.
"I didn't think I'd get this emotional seeing them together." Kellie sniffed, rubbing her face dry.
"He's going to be a great dad."
She nodded. "You must be thirsty. I have water, or Coke, or tea?"
"Water would be great."
Kellie headed to the kitchen. When I turned to follow, Tristan stopped me.
"Spud, you can't leave me alone." Fear colored his tone.
"I'll be in the next room; you'll be all right."
His forehead creased as Conner squealed. "What is it?" Tristan bounced him again, and I snuck away.
Interception (Distraction #3) Page 20