Page 22 of Walk Off

That was the million-dollar question. And he was about to get the answer since she was walking in the door.

Gone was the fancy make-up, hair piled high on top of her head in intricate curls, and the sexy dress. Today she was in jeans and gym shoes, with little to no make-up on, and her dark blonde hair in a low ponytail.

She was still the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

“Hey,” she said as she approached the small table he’d picked in the corner.

He stood, not really sure why, but kinda hoping she would hug him. She didn’t. Instead, she sat down in the only other chair and he took his seat again.

“Thanks for meeting me.”

“Sure. Like I said, I have a little time before my flight leaves.” He was beyond nervous and he wasn’t sure why.

Probably because they’d had the best sex of his life only hours ago and he was hoping for a repeat.

Not going to happen.

“Can I get you a coffee or tea?” he asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “Not yet. I just need to do this before I chicken out.”

Her whole body was visibly shaking and her eyes were full of the same fear he’d seen at the wedding. “What’s going on, Celia?”

She took a deep breath. “That day that I broke up with you,” she bit her lip, “I was pregnant.”

If she’d had slapped him, he couldn't have been more shocked. “What? How is that possible? You were on the pill.”

“I was, but it’s not one hundred percent.”

He was shaking his head in confusion. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me? Why’d you break up with me? I could have been there for you when you lost the baby.” He couldn't stop thinking of them having a baby. The kid would be about seven.

He could have a seven-year-old.

She covered her mouth with her hand, almost like she was going to vomit. “I didn’t lose the baby.” Her words were muffled by her hand, but he heard them clear enough.

“What? I don’t understand.” If she didn’t lose the baby then what happened?

She dropped her hand as a lone tear fell down her cheek. “You have a daughter.”

Everything in him stilled. The woman he’d loved for as long as he could remember was sitting in front of him telling him he had a child. That she’d had his child.

That she’d kept it from him.

Anger washed through him, but before he did something he’d regret, he pushed away from the table and ran out of the coffee shop.

He was on the sidewalk breathing heavily and trying to figure out what was happening when he heard her voice.

“Kyle, talk to me.”

He spun to look at her. “Talk to you. Oh, you mean like you should have done eight years ago?”

“I know what I did was wrong but I had my reasons.”

“That’s bullshit.” He took a step closer to her, rage boiling over. The fear in her eyes was now different. Like she was afraid he would hurt her. That had him stepping back again. “I need you to go. Just leave me alone while I think this through.”

“I understand.” Her voice was small and he could hear the tears in her words. “When you’re ready, come by any time and we can talk. I’ll send you my address.”

He heard her footfalls disappear, but he couldn’t bring himself to turn around and see if she was gone.

---