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Fine. Just check on him. That’s all.
I head outside and down the front walk to where his car is parked on the curb. I lean down and wave, trying to get his attention.
Nope. Not gonna work. That man is focused on crying.
I round the car to the front. Wave at him through the dashboard.
Dammit, that’s not going to work either.
I finally go over to the driver’s side window and wait.
He’s crying so hard I can hear his sobs.
Damn. I can’t help but feel this is my fault.
And now I’m just standing here… watching him cry.
Better rip off the bandage.
I knock on the window and Rex shoots up, an expression of horror on his face when he realizes it’s me.
I point downward to indicate he should roll down the window and after some fumbling, he does so, wiping his cheeks free of tears as the window descends.
“Sorry, this is a rental, I –” he starts to ramble.
“It’s okay,” I interrupt.
Rex goes quiet. Green eyes twitch to look at me, then back down.
I cross my arms over my chest, pulling at my sleeves. I’d like to shrink right about now. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m –” He clears his throat to make it deeper. “I’m fine.”
I smile. “You don’t look fine.”
“Well, I am I just –” He grabs the steering wheel and lifts his head with an intense inhale. “Just needed to get that out and then I’ll be good.” His Adam’s apple trembles.
“I can see the headline now,” I say. “Rex Redford Caught Crying in Car.”
“Please, that’s hardly news,” he says drolly before smiling with one corner of his mouth.
I lean on the ledge of the window. A little too close, but I don’t care. I’m talking to the father of my child, not a stranger. “He likes you.”
Rex purses his lips together, the skin of his chin drawing tauter.
“I… I’m sorry.” I didn’t come out here to apologize, but I mean it. I’m sorry to him. To Leo. To my mother.
To myself.
“S’okay,” he says in a voice so small it’s only breath. A few tears tremble onto his cheek. “Fuck.”
I grab his hand resting on the steering wheel and stroke my thumb across his skin. The mere touch gives him permission to pick up where he left off. Tears stream down and his voice shakes. “I thought I was doing the right thing,” I say.
His hand flips up and our fingers interlace. “I know.”
“But it wasn’t, it was stupid, I mean, I kept you two apart. And the way… the way you are together… it just makes sense.”
Rex curtails his crying and he looks at me, leaning his elbow on the center console. “Isabella, I never gave you the idea I’d be a good dad. I don’t blame you.”
