“She’s my daughter in every way that matters, Shay. I cannot imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have her, and I don’t want to.” I swallow the lump in my throat. She’s asking me a serious question and she deserves an honest answer. “No. If I’d known she wasn’t mine, I wouldn’t have stuck around. Raising another man’s child is a heartache I wouldn’t have signed on for if I’d known.”

She nods slowly.

I wrap my arms around her because I can feel her pulling away. “Does it bother you? The idea of getting involved with a man who’s already a father? Does it bother you that Abi remains my priority despite our DNA?”

“No. That doesn’t bother me.” I see the truth in her eyes, but it doesn’t explain the stiffness in her body.

“What about Scarlett? Will it bother you that she’s around sometimes?” I blow out a breath, realizing I should address the possibility of Scarlett moving to Jackson Harbor now and not later. “Will it bother you if she decides she wants her second home to be here and not Chicago?”

She blinks at me. “She’s thinking of moving here?”

I nod slowly. “I was trying to talk her out of it, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen now.”

“Oh. I guess that could be good for Abi.”

But not for her? Is that what she’s thinking? “Scarlett can live right next door if she wants to, and it won’t change the fact that I want you.”

She curls into my chest and closes her eyes.

I stroke her back. “Hey, Short Stack. Talk to me. Are you okay?” Please don’t panic. Please don’t give up on this before we even have a chance to begin.

“Will you . . . just hold me for a while?”

“Of course. You’re talking to the guy who wants to hold you forever, remember?”

Shay

Dr. Merritt Reddy

Associate Professor of Anthropology

Office Hours, MWF 2 to 5

I hold my breath as I stand in front of Dr. Merritt Reddy’s office. I’ve questioned my decision to come here dozens of times and nearly turned my car around on the interstate. I should’ve gone to George first, told him and let him decide what to tell his wife. But can I trust him to tell her the truth? If I leave it to him and he doesn’t tell her, I’ll walk around feeling guilty forever. She deserves to know about me as much as I deserved to know about her.

I hate him for putting me in the position he did, but I refuse to hate myself. I need to do this.