Page 9 of Fated Secret Baby

“That’s awesome,” he says, the two words more shocking than anything I could have heard. “You two kept up?”

Ugh. Now it’s going to be really awkward. “Yeah. A little.”

Orion shrugs. “Hey, that’s great. Amara has always been a great friend, and it’s nice that you two kept in touch. And, even though this isn’t the best place or whatever, it’s great to see you today.”

Oh. That’s so… mature. So Orion.

How could I forget about this?

Orion isn’t just eye candy. He’s also genuinely… nice.

I could shut this down right now. I could agree and grab the cereal and go.

But I’ve already done so much to hurt him. So much that I’m not proud of, and that he doesn’t deserve. Was it awful to hear that he didn’t plan on being my mate? Yes. But it’s probably not any harder than when I tell him that he has a daughter he doesn’t know about.

I need to start rebuilding that bridge somehow. At the very least, I can count on the fact that Orion won’t be mean to me about Juniper. He’s nice. Fundamentally, he’s a kind person, and even though I’m about to shatter his world as deeply as he shattered mine, I know he won’t speak to me in a disrespectful way.

He never did. Even when he told his mom that he would never be my mate, he told her. Not me.

I give him a very, very small smile. “What brings you to this particular aisle today?”

Orion’s face goes from being tight to shocked. I can see him think through the next couple of seconds, and then he gives a little nod before he continues. “Custom ordered some steaks for dinner, but I missed Tom’s window.”

I laugh. “He still takes a nap in the middle of the day? He did that back in Alaska, too. It’s a little early for him,” I say as I glance at my phone.

Shoot. My background picture is Juniper playing in the sand. Hastily, I shut it off.

Orion grins at me, apparently not noticing the quick shutdown of my phone. “Oh, it’s gotten worse. Now there are multiple naps, and none of them align to a consistent schedule.”

“Why doesn’t Sandra just find a new butcher?” I ask.

Orion gives me a look, one of his thick eyebrows raised. “You know this pack better than that, Calista.”

The way he says my name… it makes goosebumps ripple over my skin.

“Yeah. But you never know; things might change,” I say.

It’s an offhand comment, mostly made to deflect from the feelings that I’m having after he said my name. But the words take on a whole new meaning when I put them out into the world.

Orion’s blue eyes soften, and his shoulders drop slightly. “Yeah. I guess they do.”

It’s awkward between us, then.

I look away, but my eyes snap back to his when he speaks. “Listen, this isn’t the time or place. But it’s been five years. I’d like… no, I’d love to catch up. I have some things that I need to tell you. If for nothing else, then just for closure. But Calista…” He lets out a huge breath, like he’s been holding it in. “Can I take you somewhere? Just to talk? For old time’s sake?”

I hesitate. It’s the chance I’ve been looking for. I can tell him about Juniper, and we can clear the air. Part of me is dying to ask why he told his mom that I would never be his mate, but part of me doesn’t want to know.

Either way, I can take the opportunity that he’s offering me.

I give him a quick nod. “Yes. I… I’d be happy to do that.”

“Tomorrow night?”

Night makes it sound like a date. “What about tomorrow afternoon? Coffee?”

He nods. “You can come to my place.”

I bristle.

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