Page 57 of Waiting to Love You

I smile back at him as we both head toward the front door. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but as long as Bristol is in it, I’m content.

Brady knocks hard on the door, and we wait patiently for someone to answer. It only takes a moment before Vance opens the door.

“Come on in, guys. We just started the grill.”

Brady and I walk through the door.

“Through there is the kitchen, where the ladies have congregated.” Vance points to the right and then turns in the opposite direction. “This way to the beer.”

“Lead the way, man,” Brady grumbles before turning and following Vance.

Instead of following my friends, I turn to the right and head directly into the kitchen, eager to see Bristol for the first time in almost a week. I can hear muffled voices float out of the kitchen; each voice becomes clearer as I get closer.

“How’s my girl feeling today? Any better?” Leia says. I notice her walking across the room and sitting down at what seems to be a large island in the middle of the kitchen. “I hate it when my baby is sick.”

Baby? I didn’t know Leia had a baby. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a single mother, but she never struck me as the maternal type.

As I get closer to the kitchen entrance, I catch a glimpse of Bristol. Her bright red hair shines in the light as it filters through the large windows lining the wall behind her. A bright smile covers her face as she takes a sip of her drink. Every time I look at her, she takes my breath away, and it’s like seeing her for the first time all over again.

“Yes, thankfully. My mom is watching Rebekah tonight so I can have some time alone with Seth.”

Her words make me freeze.

I must have heard her wrong.

Bristol has a daughter.

A swirl of emotion fills my body, the most prominent emotion being anger. Anger at myself for not being here for her. Anger that I couldn’t protect her from all the pain and heartache she must have felt being left alone when she brought a life into the world. Despair at the thought that she was once again made to feel like she wasn’t good enough to stick around for, that whatever life the baby’s father had planned for himself was more important than their child together. Anger at whatever asshole walked away from her when she needed him the most.

My heart aches for Bristol, knowing that she has always wanted children, but the family she yearned for doesn’t exist. Bristol has told me several times she wanted a family, a husband, someone to help her raise her children and share her life. But now she has me.

I stop just outside the kitchen entrance and out of sight of all the ladies, waiting for the perfect time to make my presence known. Bristol has been keeping this secret for weeks, and it seems to have taken its toll on her. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hurt that she couldn’t trust me with this, but in a way, I understand. We’ve only just begun getting to know each other again, and although I know my love for her will never change, she had to be sure of my feelings before letting me into her daughter’s life.

“You’re going to tell him tonight?” Selina questions as she places a plate of fruit on the island directly in front of Bristol.

My future with Bristol rests on how I react to this news. No matter what, I need to ensure that Bristol knows how much I love her and that this changes nothing. I will be there for her and Rebekah if they’ll have me. My only desire in life is to make sure that Bristol is happy, and by extension, that includes Rebekah, too.

“Yes, it’s about time he knows the truth,” Bristol says with conviction.

“Truth about what?” I ask, not wanting to let anyone in the room know I’ve been standing there eavesdropping on them.

“You’re early,” she gasps softly. Her eyes widen in horror as I step into the room. “How long have you been standing there?”

I’m sure this isn’t easy for her, finding the perfect time and way to tell me about her daughter, but I need her to know that it’s okay. That I’ll still be here for her and her daughter, no matter what.

I don’t hesitate as I stride toward her, pulling her tightly into my chest. “Long enough to know you have something to tell me.” I kiss the top of her head and notice the ladies inching toward the doorway, hovering just out of sight, but not leaving the room. “I love you, Bristol. I’ve loved you since the first day I laid eyes on you, and it has grown every day since then.”

“You don’t understand, Seth.” Bristol hiccups as she threads her fingers through mine. “Let’s go into the other room and talk.”

I allow her to pull me down the hallway toward what looks like a small office in the front of the house. The moment we step into the room, I notice it’s not an office, but a dance studio. Vance said something about building a custom dance studio for Selina in their home, but I assumed he was exaggerating.

Bristol’s eyes fill with tears as looks around the room, looking anywhere but at me. I reach up, cupping her cheek in my hand. Her eyes drift shut as a single tear trickles down her cheek. “I understand how hard this is for you to share with me, but it changes nothing. I will love you both with all my heart if you let me.”

“No, Seth. You. Don’t. Understand,” she insists, taking a step back and putting space between us.

“What is it, Bristol?” I ask as I try to sort through everything I’ve heard in the last few minutes.

“It’s not that simple,” she croaks, her entire body trembling.

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