Page 103 of No Place Like Home

“Please don’t yell,” I begged, not for myself but for my daughter.

A dry chuckle escaped his lips.

“Is it too late for me to ask you not to keep me away from my daughter?” he said sarcastically.

I flinched.

I opened my mouth to try and explain, but the stupid words wouldn’t come.

“And don’t try to deny that she’s mine.”

I wasn’t going to, and anyone in this town would have known she was his. She had dark skin like his, some curls to her hair, and my small eyes with his bright green.

It was the main reason I stayed away. Because my little secret would have been known if I had stayed here.

“I wasn’t going to,” I admitted in a low voice.

He glared at me.

It was a first. Since I’d known him, he might have looked at me with pity, but never in anger. Taking a deep breath for strength, I reached for the handle on the door.

“Don’t,” Quincy bit out.

My hand fell to my side, and I looked at him to see his next move.

“I’m so fucking angry with you, Jess,” he seethed.

I broke a little. We were back to Jess. I didn’t know why I expected otherwise.

“I don’t trust the words I’ll say.” He finally pulled away from the door, standing to his full height.

He towered over me more than before. Maybe because, this time, he truly was too out of my reach. He stared at me, and it felt like he was looking down on me for the first time.

“Don’t think of going anywhere,” he said hoarsely. “I’ll fucking sue your ass.”

There was nothing I could say that would ease his mind. I watched him walk away with a thousand words I had yet to say. He didn’t look at me again, not even when he pulled out of the driveway like he couldn’t wait to get out of my sight.

I closed the door and then slid down, breaking down.

* * *

Two pink linesstared back at me.

“Jess, are you okay?” Cubbie yelled through the other side of the door.

I ignored it.

It had to be a joke,right?

It was too much. I wasn't ready. I couldn’t do it.

“Jess!” Cubbie yelled with a hint of desperation.

I tucked the test inside my pants and wiped my tears. Not like they would matter. To say I hadn’t been okay had been an understatement.

“What?” I snapped.

He didn’t deserve my anger, but he was used to it by now. I knew it was wrong, but I needed to lash out against something or someone, and he was there to take the burn off it.

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