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“I’m not sure,” Sami starts, but I slide out of my chair.
“I have to finish my lesson plans for tomorrow. I’ll talk to you later.” I abruptly stand, and all eyes are on me.
“I’ll stop by your room and walk you out after,” Isla says.
“I’ll be okay. You guys have enough to do.”
I walk out of the teachers’ lounge before anyone can say anything else to me. I appreciate them all standing by my side, but this is something I should’ve done months ago.
Once I’m back in my classroom, I shut the door to keep everyone out, but it’s time I admit to myself that Damon is here, which means whether I like it or not, we’ll be part of each other’s lives for the long haul.
My forehead falls to my desk. Whose life did I hijack to be in this position? Because this sure as heck isn’t how I saw my life going.
Chapter3
Damon
The bell rings, and kids file out of the school from three different sets of doors. Buses line the one driveway while teachers direct the kids where to go, but none of them are listening. Some are laughing with their friends, and others have their heads buried in their phones.
I scour the masses for Adeline, but nothing. For the thousandth time, I glance at the picture the private investigator gave me. Her hair might be a little longer than I remember, but other than that, she looks the same—beautiful in a way that can swing from one end of the spectrum to the other. She can either appear like a Sunday morning girl next door with a “let’s go grab a coffee and a Danish” vibe or a stunningly beautiful woman going out for Sunday brunch at the hottest new place.
A few teachers wearing safety vests are sprinkled through the crowd, directing the children and parent pick-up. None of them are Adeline, which is probably good because at least this way there will be fewer witnesses when I do approach her. I don’t need this situation gossiped about until I figure out a few things—the first one being whether the baby is actually mine. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think she’s the type to try to trap me or lie about her baby’s parentage, but she did wait six months to message me about the pregnancy and then immediately went MIA.
I thought word would get around about my car being outside and maybe she’d come out, but I suspected she might play a game of chicken to see who would bail first. So I made sure to park by her car so I wouldn’t miss her.
It’s four thirty, and the after-school rush is long gone when three women come out of the building, followed by two men. One of the guy’s eyes swings to my car first. He can’t see in because of my tinted windows. I remember the guy from the rooftop on the day I met Adeline. I don’t recall his name, but I do remember his protective gaze on Adeline the whole time I chatted with her. His zeroed-in attention now confirms I’ve been the talk of the school, and the brunette sandwiched between her friends walking this way already knows I’m here.
She’s five feet from her car when I step out of mine. “Adeline?”
She freezes as if I’m taking her by surprise when we both know I’m not.
The redhead I also remember from the rooftop whispers something in Adeline’s ear while the shorter woman smiles at me. The two of them have a conversation, the redhead eventually storming off while the shorter one stays by Adeline’s side.
“Go ahead, Sami. I’m fine.” Her eyes meet mine.
I forgot how magnetic her eyes are. Their light blue is similar to mine, but hers contrast with her dark hair.
“I’m not far if you need me,” Sami says and rubs Adeline’s arm.
I round Adeline’s car to her side after Sami rushes off, looking over her shoulder with every step. “Ade—”
She’s quick to cut me off. “First off, I’m sorry.” Her attention moves to her stomach, and my eyes follow.
There’s the baby bump. If she was telling the truth, then a part of me is growing in there. My heartbeat increases with the fact that this is likely my new reality.
“Can we go somewhere and talk?” I ask, not wanting to push her. She looks like a frightened animal, ready to bolt.
She nods, appearing almost relieved that this moment has finally come. “How about Ira’s Deli on Forest? You can follow me if you’d like.”
“Nah, I’ll drive,” I say, turning and heading to my car.
“You can follow,” she says to my retreating back.
I stop and turn to face her. “I’d rather go together.” Standing at the back of my car, I notice some people peering our way.
“Why?” She frowns.
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because I’ve been trying to talk to you for days and now that I actually have you in front of me, I’m not going to let you out of my sight.” I swing my keys around my finger.
