Page 126 of Sloane

“I owe you about fifty apologies but let me start with my most egregious fuck up.” I paused. “Well, it’s a tossup what my most egregious one is, so let me start with my most recent one.”

That made a small smile cross her lips.

“I was so out of line with that bullshit earlier in the kitchen. I don’t even know why I said it, other than I felt desperate and I lashed out. I’ve handled everything wrong ever since my accident.” I paused again and corrected myself, “Well, almost everything. I was right to let you go—you deserve a helluva lot better than me, but I should have gone about it much differently. And I should have opened your letter and found out about Millie. I would never have ignored that had I known. I would have sent you money, and checked on how you were feeling, and how she was developing, and…” I sighed. “I’d do it all differently if I could. But I can’t, so the only thing I can do now is try to make what I can right and apologize again for the rest.”

I didn’t know what else to say. She hadn’t replied, so I was about to ramble on when I noticed a tear streaming down her cheek.

It fucking killed me that I couldn’t immediately go to where she was standing and pull her into my arms to comfort her.

Instead, I sat on my bed like a helpless little bitch.

“Don’t cry, sweetness,” I murmured. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“You broke my heart,” she sobbed.

This time I got my ass up and shuffled to where she stood.

“I’m so sorry, Ash. I thought I was doing you a favor. I still think I did you a favor. I understand you’ve found someone—”

She stared up at me. “You rejected me, and our daughter.”

I used my thumb to wipe away her tears as I bit back a smile.

“I thought the doctor was her father.”

“Oh, shut up! You know damn well she’s yours. Just look at her!”

“Well, honey. I’d like to, but I need your permission to do that.”

With a shuddering breath, she wiped her eyes, but didn’t respond, so I continued, “I don’t want to cause any problems. I just want to meet her. And give you some money.”

“I don’t want your money, Sloane.”

“Well, too bad, because you’re getting it.”

She shook her head.

“She’s my daughter, too, Ash. Whether you like it or not. And I take care of what’s mine.”

Her smile was sad when she looked at me and replied, “That’s how I know I was never yours.”

Talk about a sucker punch.

****

Ashley

“I’ll bring her down tomorrow morning after she’s eaten and had a bath. You can meet her before your therapy.”

“Whatever you say.”

The timer on the oven started to buzz, and I put my hand on the doorknob.

“I need to take the lasagna out.”

His face was inches from mine as he stared down at me with his beautiful blue eyes.

“Okay,” he whispered, but made no attempt to move so I could open the door.

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