Page 74 of Married to the Frenemy

“Good. Love ya, Haley. And I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

She stands and slings her purse over her shoulder, then spins from me, making her way down the sidewalk.

I relax into my chair, staring into the distance.

I understand why people go to therapy, even if they don’t think they need to. Just talking to Parker about everything and clearing the air has done wonders for my soul.

Has allowed me to lift the weight that’s been burdening me for too long.

Or maybe it was the sex.

This thing with Beckham may not go anywhere, but like we agreed earlier. We’ll just take it one day at a time.

Or one orgasm at a time.

And my god, do I love the orgasms Beckham is capable of giving me.

“Is this seat taken?” a deep voice interjects, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I dart my head up, my expression falling as I peer into a pair of familiar gray eyes.

In an instant, all my happiness and relief turns into dread at the sight of Oliver’s imposing frame looming over me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

HALEY

A knot forms in the pit of my stomach, Oliver’s calculating stare piercing through me like a knife. My mind races with dozens of explanations for why he’s here, but deep down I know they all lead back to me and the daughter I’ve tried to keep from him for the past four years.

“I was just about to leave.” I attempt to stand, to escape from his unsettling gaze, but he wraps his hand around my arm, his punishing grip keeping me in place.

“If you want to keep custody of my daughter, you’ll sit and not leave until I say you can.”

Panic surges through me as I peer into his gray eyes that are nearly identical to Maggie’s. The gray eyes I once thought were so kind, so compassionate.

Until I told him I was pregnant.

The last thing I want is to give in to his demands. To let him have this kind of power over me. But it’s not just me anymore. I need to think about Maggie, too.

Keeping my head held high, I force myself to return to my seat, determined to maintain my composure, despite the nerves threatening to consume me.

“After unexpectedly seeing you yesterday, I asked around about you,” he remarks as he unbuttons his crisp suit jacket and casually lowers himself into the chair across from me. “Got to love small towns. Everyone is so friendly. Especially a group of older women I met at the diner, who were more than happy to tell me all about Haley McBride and how she came to town just a little over four years ago with a brand new baby.” He leans toward me. “Roughly nine months after our last…meeting. Based on the uncanny resemblance, I can only conclude she’s mine.”

This is why I wanted to leave as quickly as possible yesterday. Maggie may have my hair, but that’s where our similarities end. She has her father’s steel-gray eyes, slanted nose, high cheekbones, and brilliant smile.

“Does she have your DNA?” I cross my arms in front of my chest. “Yes. But she’s not yours. You gave up that right the second you told me to get rid of the problem.”

“And we decided that’s exactly what you would do.”

“We?” I shoot back, incredulous.

Is he really this delusional? Or has he just convinced himself of this version of events so he wouldn’t have to carry the guilt all these years?

“We didn’t decide anything.” I gesture between us. “You decided. You made it quite clear you didn’t want to be a part of my life. Or the baby’s. I made sure you weren’t.” I hastily collect my things and shove them into my bag. “I took care of the problem for you. Made her mine and mine alone. I’m more than happy to keep it that way. In fact, I’d prefer to keep it that way.” I shoot to my feet and pin him with a glare. “Good bye, Oliver.”

Spinning, I hurry down the street, but before I can get more than a few feet, a hand wraps around my wrist, forcing me to stop.

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