“Oh my God,” Kinsley gasped. “N-no, I’m coming right now.”
As she hung up the call, Kinsley darted to her feet, her hands shaking as she threw some bills onto the table. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” Her voice shook as she dug through her pockets. “Fuck, I need my keys. Where are my keys?”
“Hey,” I said as I stood, placing my hands on her shoulders. “Take a breath, Kins. You’re okay. Tell me what’s going on.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. Not right now. I need—I need to go.” She dumped the contents of her purse onto the table, searching through the items. When she passed over her keys three times, I picked them up. She tried to take them from me, but I shook my head.
“You’re in no state to drive. Let me take you where you need to go. No questions asked, okay?”
Kinsley stared at me for a long moment and then nodded, defeat sinking her shoulders. As we walked toward her car, my arms ached to reach out and comfort her, wanting to be the person she confided in. But I wasn’t there, not yet.
As she climbed into the passenger seat, I walked around to the driver’s side, taking in one last look at her as she typed an address into the GPS. I tried not to think too much about it, instead offering silent support to the woman at my side.
But as we drove through the city, I made myself a promise. Now that Kinsley was back in my life, I wasn’t letting her go again. Not without a fight.
The address was onlya ten-minute drive from the cafe, but it seemed like hours. Kinsley didn’t say a word, instead focusing on her phone and the GPS. Every time a turn came up, she shifted in her seat, directing me before the screen couldfinish. When I tried to talk to her, she only responded with head motions, fidgeting more the closer we got.
As soon as we pulled into the parking lot of the Sunshine Academy, unease slid down my spine. Why the hell were we at Hadley’s daycare? Had something happened to her? I turned to ask Kinsley, but she had already shoved open the passenger side door, darting up the path to the double doors. Warning bells rang in my mind as I shoved the car into park and pushed open the door. Kinsley’s eyes met mine as I approached, her pupils wide in warning. She held her hand up. “Jace, go.”
“Not until I know you’re okay,” I insisted. “Is it Hadley? Is she hurt?”
“What?” Kinsley snapped, her features scrunched in confusion. “Why would she—” Her face slackened, and she shook her head. “No, Hadley’s fine. This has nothing to do with her. Or you. Not right now. Please, just go.”
Her eyes were stone, allowing no room for argument. The phone call had shattered any progress we’d made. Kinsley was keeping secrets from me, and, even though I had no right to demand answers, desperation crawled through my chest, wanting to learn everything about her. But there was still a lot more work to do to get to that place. Even if it took me the rest of my life, I’d earn back Kinsley’s trust, starting by giving her space right now.
“At least let me give you the keys,” I mumbled, stepping to her side just as Victoria pushed the door open. The sound of children playing pushed through the doorway, and twinkle lights sparkled in the entrance. Why was Kinsley here? None of it made any sense, especially if it had nothing to do with Hadley. Why else would she come to our friend’s daycare?
“Hey, everything’s okay.” Victoria stopped Kinsley before she could rush by, holding her hands. “It’s just a little bump. You didn’t need to rush over here.”
Kinsley nodded, “I-I know, but I need to see her. She’s never…” A swallow. “I need to see she’s okay for myself.”
Victoria nodded as Kinsley breezed past her, focused on getting inside the building more than anything else. I tried to follow, but Victoria stepped in my way. “Jace, I don’t know if you should go in with her.”
But her words came too late, because as soon as Kinsley entered the school, she dropped to her knees, scooping a little girl into her arms. A little girl with golden curls pulled into twin pigtails and blue eyes so dark, they rivaled the night sky. A familiar sensation crawled up my spine, and my throat closed as the world spun out around me. She cried as Kinsley stood, holding her against her chest. As she stroked the little girl’s back, Kinsley said, “It’s okay, baby. Let me look at you.” She pushed the girl’s hair back, inspecting her forehead, where a red, splotchy mark sat. “Oh, you’re going to be a-okay. Mommy’s got you.”
Mommy.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I looked down, meeting Victoria’s concerned frown. She nodded, almost imperceptibly, but it was enough that my entire world shifted with the lowering of her chin. The little girl’s eyes met mine over her mother’s shoulders, and it was like looking into a mirror. The same shade—the same shape—looked back at me.
Was that why she tried to reach out?
I staggered back, trying to remember how to breathe.How old could she be? A year?Ignoring Victoria, I moved inside the building, standing at Kinsley’s side. She said something, but I didn’t hear her, too busy staring at the baby snuggled in her arms. “Who is this?”
Kinsley swallowed, glancing from me to the little girl. “This is Anna…my daughter.”
“Daughter,” I said, my voice trembling as I studied her face. “Kinsley…is she—” I swallowed, unable to get the words out. “Did we?—”
Kinsley’s gaze swung to Victoria, who gave us space but loitered by the doorway. With a nod from her friend, Kinsley dipped her chin. “She’s yours, Jace.”
TWENTY-ONE
She’s yours.
The words pumped through my mind, blanketing every other thought in a sea of white. It might as well be static.A daughter. There was no way. We’d used a condom, and I would have known if the damn thing broke. Did I even ask about birth control? Nope. Didn’t even think twice about it. And now, I had a daughter.
Anna.
Her dark blue eyes met mine over Kinsley’s shoulder, staring at me despite the fat tears filling her eyes. Her lower lip stuck out, her chubby cheeks ruddy and red. Even upset, she was the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen.
