I stared at the text, not believing my eyes.
It was from a woman named Mia. First of all—who the hell was Mia? And why was she holding a very tiny baby and texting Hunter that they couldn’t wait to see him?
But then my eyes landed on the final word in her text—Daddy.
Daddy?
Daddy? What the hell?
It took my brain a moment, but then I spun into action. I moved, but Hunter was faster, sitting up and trapping me in his arms.
“Stop, baby. Whatever you—”
“Don’t you ‘baby’ me,” I ground out, thrashing around as I attempted to get free. “Not when there’s a baby—a real baby—on your fucking phone.Daddy?” My voice cracked on the last word.
He tightened his hold. “Lauren, please. Let me explain.”
“Explain what? I think it’s pretty clear what’s going on here.” I turned from side to side, getting hot and frustrated. And why was my cheek wet?
No. No.No.This was not happening.
Suddenly, I wasn’t the confident thirtysomething badass who ran her own company and didn’t give a fuck about relationships and feelings. No…I was taken back to over a decade ago, to the day I found out that my father wasn’t who I thought he was. He’d been living a double life, raising a second family.
I shoved against his stomach. “Let me go.”
Hunter didn’t budge, didn’t lift his arms.
“Let me go. Let me go. Let me go,” I repeated as I used my fists to strike his chest. I couldn’t breathe, my chest was so tight. My heart felt like it was racing and might stop at any moment.
“Whatever you saw, it’s not what you think.” He tightened his grip, forcing me to him, forcing me to feel every inch of him, including the heart pumping in his chest.
I gulped in air, trying to catch my breath. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything, let alone think.
I. Needed. Out.
“Hey,hey,” he cooed, and it felt like his voice was coming from a long, long way away. “Lauren.”
“Please.” My voice cracked. “Let me go.”
Perhaps sensing my panic, he lifted his arms, and I crawled off the bed, feeling broken. I took a few deep, cleansing breaths. I hadn’t cried in years, not since my mom died.
“So…?” I asked once I was finally free.
“I slept with her—once.” He opened his mouth to continue, but I didn’t want to hear any more. I couldn’t.
I shook my head and began gathering my clothes. My stomach had soured, and I thought I was going to be sick.
“Please, will you just stop and talk to me for a second?” He stood from the bed and tried to break free of his chains. “Fuck. Where’s the key for these stupid handcuffs?”
I ignored his question and took one last glance around the room before spinning on him. I straightened, putting my armor back into place. I might cry, scream, break when I was alone, but there was no way I’d let him see me crumble. There was no way I’d let him see just how much this affected me.
“You know what?” I straightened, trying to portray strength, a confidence I didn’t feel.
All I felt was the giant, empty cavity in my chest where my heart should’ve been. “It doesn’t matter. You knew the rules. You lied. It’s over.”
I spun on my heel and headed for the door, knowing he wouldn’t give up easily but hoping he would all the same.
“Lauren, please. Wait.” He scrambled after me. “I love you!”
