Page 140 of Please Hate Me

“No, they ain’t.” I forced a wry laugh, not wanting to show any interest in the topic. “They’re full of bare skin and almost sex.”

Which was funny to think of, considering how easy it was to make Mason blush. If all I knew of her were those videos, I’d think she was a sex-crazed maniac, not a cute little bug who squeaked every time she got nervous.

“Close enough… few of our sources in France were able to get her medical records. She’s due on Christmas, which means she got herself pregnant right around the time you two met.”

“Dale… that’s disgusting.” Not a particularly convincing argument, but it was all I could muster as anxiety coursed through me like a poison.

He knew. There was no way he didn’t. Guilt strangled my thoughts, making me wish Mason had stayed in safety overseas. But, considering he went directly for her medical records, Dale might’ve found her even if she never came to Hartwood.

“She’s your type, ain’t she?”

I choked at his assumption.

“Dale, I’m almost old enough to be her dad.”

“Calvin—”

“Don’tcall me that.” My voice shook at the long-forgotten name, the one my mother gave me in honor of my father.

The one Dale had no right to call me.

Swear to God, I would’ve hung up on him if I had the choice, but if I avoided him he’d just come knocking on the front door. There was no way I could let that happen. I just wanted to lead an honest life, one where I worked to make my living and got to hold my baby girl after she was born.

Why couldn’t he just let melive?

“Tell me… Did you sleep with her?”

I closed my eyes and exhaled every trace of oxygen that lingered in my lungs. If I told him no, he’d be able to tell I was lying; the man could read me like a damn book. I’d have to try and dodge the question somehow if I wanted to shake him.

“Do you think I could get someone likeherto sleep withme?” I laughed.

The line went silent.

“Dale, I’m probably three times her size. I don’t even want to think about how that would work.” I tried to make light of a situation that was very unfunny... But he wasn’t having any of it.

“Listen,boy—” I hated when he called me that— “I might not understand a damn thing about the life you’re choosin’ to lead, but Iknowwhen you’re lying to me.”

My skin prickled at his words.

“Did you sleep with Mason Albright? It’s a yes-or-no question.”

“No.”

It was a knee-jerk response. Dale always knew when I was lying… but there was no way he could confirm that the baby was mine until after she was born. Plus, from all the ultrasounds I had seen, she looked like Mason. If our daughter came out with brown eyes, I could just blame Lucian.

Silently, I prayed that Dale would just lay off.

“Fine. But just remember this: the truth always has a way of catching up to you, Calvin.”

The line cut before I could respond, leaving me to hyperventilate in peace.

It took me a couple of hours to fully compose myself, so it was well past noon when I mustered the courage to enter the living room. The house was silent, which always felt strange. It wasalmost shocking to see Mason sprawled across the couch. She was focused on her phone, but the open book draped over the arm of the couch suggested to me that she’d gotten distracted mid-read. She looked peaceful, curled up under her blanket with a nearby bowl of tortilla chips.

Would it be better for her if I left town? A sick feeling filled my stomach at the thought. I didn’t regret my daughter, nor did I regret forming this relationship with Mason. But if I could go back in time, I would’ve never slept with her.

Or at least I would’ve stayed sober enough to remember that condoms existed.

I should leave. It’s the best chance to keep everyone safe.

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