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My daughter.
I blew out a breath and shook my head. To think that Abby had walked away without a word was hard enough to cope with. To realize that she never told me about Cam felt like having my ribs cracked open and my heart ripped out.
Then again, it was only supposed to be a fling. One night. We flirted, we had a few drinks, and we fell into bed together.
Happily ever after was never part of that plan.
I was just some biker Abby met at a bar. Why would she think we could raise a child together?
Logically, I knew Abby had every reason to make the decision that she did. But it didn’t stop the weight from crushing my chest. I wanted the chance to prove myself. Even if Abby turned it down in the end and still chose to raise Cam on her own. At least she would have known I was willing to support her. Maybe a wedding wasn’t in the cards for us, but I would have done whatever it took to be a father Cam knew she could rely on.
Digging an alcohol wipe from the first aid kit, I pressed it against my knuckles, relishing the fiery sting.
A light tap-tap echoed at the door. I shook my head, not in the mood for visitors.
“Open up, Red.”
Brewer’s voice. Club President. There was no denying that order unless I wanted him to break down my door.
“It’s unlocked,” I replied, begrudgingly.
Brewer pushed the door open, leaning one bulky shoulder against the frame. He crossed his arms. He was nearly twice my size, dark eyes, dark hair, with a predatory fierceness to his bearing that made men think twice about getting on his bad side.
“Diablo said you were spaced out when he showed up.”
I shrugged. “Just got a few things on my mind. That’s all.”
I wanted to say that Diablo was a nosy little snitch who needed to mind his own business, but I kept that heated thought to myself.
“Does it have anything to do with that teenage girl you were talking to?” Brewer asked.
Damn it. I should have known nothing escaped Brewer’s notice. There was a reason he’d earned the vote for President. I pressed the alcohol wipe tighter to my knuckles, gritting my teeth against the burn. It hurt like hell but I needed the pain of punishment right now.
“I let someone down,” I said, my voice a hoarse rasp in the quiet room. “Two people, actually. It was a long time ago.”
I should have looked harder for Abby. A few phone calls, a few texts wasn’t enough. I allowed her to slip through my fingers. Maybe I didn’t deserve her after all and she knew that.
“Is there a way to fix it?” Brewer asked.
I balled up the alcohol wipe and tossed it in the garbage.
“Damage is done, I think. Any chance I might have had…” I sighed and shook my head. Any chance I might have had dissipated over those sixteen years. That was made clear by the fact that Abby didn’t get out of her car when she saw me. She wanted that barrier between us.
A small voice in the back of my mind whispered,but she’s here, in Merry Field. She’s in my backyard.
Isn’t that what I’d always hoped for? A second chance with the woman I’d given my heart to that night we spent together?
“I think I have a kid,” I said.
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Brewer blew out a low breath.
“You didn’t know?”
I shook my head, studying my scraped knuckles. As I slowly flexed my hand open and closed, the tender skin stretched tight, feeling like it might split over my bones if I clenched my fist hard enough.
“Her name is Cam,” I replied. “And as far as I can tell, she didn’t mention anyone else besides her mother. Which means she didn’t have a father.”
Brewer grunted his understanding.
