Page 110 of Scores Of The Heart

“Uptown, some cafe called Cosmos.”

“Fuck, brother.”

“You’re telling me.”

“What the hell are you going to do?”

“Oh, it gets better. I called her after I got the message while Cindy was taking a shower. Then she tells me she’s thinking about adopting the baby out.”

His eyes bug wide, not for the first time since I sat down. “Holy shit, what?”

“Yeah. She sounded pretty confused on the phone. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”

“Did she say why she didn’t tell you sooner?”

“Some shit about not thinking I’d want anything to do with it. She thought she could do it on her own, but now she’s freaking out.”

“It doesn’t add up.”

“I know. That’s why I need to meet her and see what’s really going on.”

“It sounds completely fucked. What does Cindy think about all of this?”

My eyes flick up to him over my coffee cup.

“Fuck, Ty. She doesn’t know?”

“What the hell was I supposed to say while we were together in Miami? I didn’t even have the details, I still don’t. I don’t even know if she really is pregnant.”

“You think she’d make it up?”

“I don’t see why, but it’s really coming out of left field. We left on okay terms, I mean, she was bitter about the breakup. She wanted to move in and I just didn’t feel the connection like I did at the start. You know how she was, constantly mad at me for being away, wanting me to drop everything to be with her.”

“I know it,” he says. “But you gotta tell Cindy. You don’t want her finding out in the press, Ty. All it takes is one shot from the paparazzi to blow it up in your face, and it won’t just be Cindy finding out in the papers, it’ll be everyone.”

I know he’s right. I’ve felt it in my gut all along. Cindy and I have been getting closer and closer. Our lovemaking has been almost a daily repetition, and she’s getting more and more brave with me. We’re both falling deeper, and now I’m fucking scared to tell her in case she runs a mile. I mean, what the hell would she say to something like this?

“You’re right. I know it.”

“I’d do it sooner rather than later.”

I know I’ve got time before I see Stacey this afternoon. It’s only twelve now.

Or I could wait to see what Stacey has to say first, then see Cindy afterward and tell her everything.

“What are you gonna do if it’s true and she doesn’t want to keep the baby?” He asks.

I sigh. “Well, I have to try to find a way to keep her. It’s a girl, by the way. I don’t want her to adopt my child out to someone else,” I say. “I know it might look impossible, but what choice do I have? It takes two to tango, so I don’t expect her to raise the kid by herself with no input from me. I would never do that. But if she doesn’t want the baby, then I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure I get custody.”

I’ve decided that much, at least. No child of mine is going to be raised by strangers.

I won’t let her adopt our baby out.

“Fuck, man. This is heavy.”

“You’re telling me. I bet you’re glad you asked me to have lunch with you today.”

He chuckles. “Never a dull moment in the Ty Peterson world. How are your folks?” He asks, trying to change the subject a little, which I appreciate.

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