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Chapter Sixteen
ROWAN
It’s insane to think that Diesel has a son. He asked everyone to meet at the B&B so he could introduce the group of us to Chelsea and Dawson. I’m nothing but a ball of nerves, and I thought about not going. Seeing the woman he had a one-night stand with isn’t really on my to-do list, but it’s important to him, so I suck it up and push my feelings to the side.
“You coming?” my mother asks as she peeks into my room.
I shrug. “Do I really have to?” I’m only half-joking.
“Rowan, you better get in that car. You know Adam is a part of the family, and we have to be supportive of him.”
“Fine,” I say between gritted teeth. “But I don’t wanna go.”
She gives me a stern look, and I know better than to cross her, so I get up and follow her to the car. I hate the unknown of what it’s going to be like, seeing him with his son and Chelsea or how seeing them around each other will feel like. What if they’re flirty? Or worse, what if they look really good together? I don’t want my jealousy to get in the way, though it undoubtedly will. The five-minute drive to the B&B has my stomach in knots, but I play it off as if I’m bored as hell instead.
I get out of the car, make my way up the steps, and walk inside to see Diesel holding a toddler who looks just like him. My mouth falls open, and my heart instantly swells when I see him. He hasn’t noticed me yet because my uncles and aunts have his full attention.
Riley walks in behind me as Mom rushes forward.
“Isn’t this some crazy shit?” He nudges me.
“Uh, yeah. Can’t believe he reproduced.”
“Reproduced or that someone actually slept with him?” Riley jokes, but I’m not laughing because at that moment I see her. Chelsea. And she’s pretty. Blond with a perfect smile and bright blue eyes. There’s a softness to her, and I see what Diesel saw, even if it was a random hookup. Immediately, a pang of envy and guilt rushes through me.
I watch the way they interact, and it’s friendly, not crossing any lines beyond friendship. She says something, and he laughs as his little boy shows everyone his toy tractor. Grandma Bishop’s tickled to death over him, and it’s only going to get her started on wanting more great-grandkids. Great.
Mom waves Riley and me forward, and for the first time all day, Diesel sees me. He swallows, and it feels as if all the air in the room escapes, and I can’t breathe.
“Rowan,” he says, knowing my entire family is around and watching. So is his baby mama. “Come and meet Mr. Dawson.”
I follow and tilt my head at one of the cutest little boys I’ve ever seen. “Hi, Dawson,” I say, and he hides his face in Diesel’s shoulder.
“Pretty ladies make him shy.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes at him even though my heart’s actually bursting. Seeing him being all fatherly is actually pretty sexy, but then I turn my head and notice Chelsea staring at our interaction.
“Oh hi,” I say. “I’m Rowan.” I hold out my hand and shake hers.
“Nice to meet you.” She’s polite and grins. I can only imagine how awkward this is for her to be around so many strangers, and I really try to imagine myself in her place.
I get out of the way and let my mom and dad visit. The living room is full of Bishops. Not wanting to draw any attention to myself, I sit on the couch on the other side of the room and listen to everyone talk.
“Was your mama excited to meet him?” Grandma asks Diesel.
He laughs. “Oh, of course. She’s been on me like white on rice to give her some grandchildren. Little did any of us know, I already had.” He’s making jokes, and I hear my parents’ laughter because it’s actually not too different from their story. My mouth goes dry because my parents are still insanely in love with each other.
I try to zone out and ignore everything around me and dig deep. Is it possible for Diesel and me to actually make this work?
It literally feels like it’s one hundred degrees in here, so I get up and step outside, needing the fresh air before I suffocate. Right now, I feel like the other woman, the mistress who has to hide her relationship.
My mom told us she and Dad had to really get to know each other after finding out she was pregnant with Riley even though they knew immediately when they met in Key West that they had an undeniable connection. Is this the same? Is it only a matter of time before Diesel and Chelsea’s spark re-ignites and those old feelings are brought back to the surface? It’s not out of the realm of possibilities regardless of what Diesel says. He hasn’t spent enough time with her to know and surely hasn’t given it a chance.
