Page 52 of Inked Craving

I stiffened, worried. “What’s wrong, Colton?”

He let out a breath, then looked at his hands. “You’re doing a great job with Emery. I’m sorry that I left you in the lurch like this. I didn’t mean to. I honestly thought that you’d be good out here with your family and your support system. I didn’t realize that you were pregnant when I left.”

I frowned. “I know you didn’t. I didn’t know I was pregnant until you were gone. I loved you, Colton,” I said after a moment, and he blanched. “I know you didn’t love me. And that’s fine.”

“Paige,” he began, and I interrupted.

“You didn’t love me enough, or maybe you didn’t love me at all. I get that. We were in two different parts of the relationship, and I wasn’t aware enough to understand that. Maybe I didn’t love you enough to see it. But you brought Emery into my world, so I can never hate you. I can never resent you. Because I love that little girl so much. And without you, I wouldn’t have her.”

“I can’t move back, Paige,” he whispered, and I nodded.

I’d been ready for him to say that and hadn’t expected anything else, honestly. “I know. It’s okay. You don’t need to move back here. It’s fine. We’ll make it work. You were able to come out here this weekend, after all. And you’re right. I do have a support system. But Emery will always know that you are her father and that you love her.”

Only he hadn’t said those words. He hadn’t said he loved me. Cold washed over me as he gave me a look, his eyes filled with remorse, and I wanted to scream. Only I didn’t. I couldn’t do anything in that moment.

He met my gaze fully, and I went cold. “I thought I was starting over, Paige. I love my wife. I love my life. And Tarryn and I? Kids aren’t in our plans. I thought you understood that.”

“Understood what?” I bit out, fisting my hands in front of me.

“I mean, we always used condoms, Paige. You were on birth control.”

I wouldnothit him. It wouldn’t help anyone. “Clearly, that didn’t work. And we didn’t always use a condom, Colton. Because I was on birth control, and both of us were clean.”

“I realize that. And you are doing great with Emery. But…I never wanted to be a dad, Paige. I’m not good at it. My dad wasn’t good at it. And, honestly, you’re doing such a great job out here. And I think you should continue doing that.”

I felt like he had slapped me and tried not to scream or react. “You want to sign over rights.” He hadn’t said the words, but I knew what he was getting at. At least one of us should be brave enough to say them.

He nodded, and I broke. Not for me, but for the little girl he’d never know. “I’m sorry. But you’re so good at being a mom. And you have Lee.” My eyes must have widened, and he shook his head. “I’ve seen the pictures. The ones that you send. I know Lee’s hands. I know how you smile whenever you talk about him. He has been there for you and Emery. I get that. And I’m not that guy. I wish I was. But I’m not.”

“You’re going to walk out of her life.” It wasn’t a question. It didn’t need to be. “You’re going to walk away from your daughter and never look back. You could do that?”

I felt as if he’d just ripped something from me. Not a part of myself, but that connection. The part that I had thought I knew, the one where he would always take care of what was his. That his love for Emery would surpass anything. Did he not love her? How could he not?

I moved so I stood in front of the bassinet, blocking his view of Emery. I couldn’t believe that she was in the room for this, and I was grateful that she was too young to understand any of it.

“I’m sorry. I’m just not that guy.”

“Leave,” I said, rolling my shoulders back. I didn’t know where the strength came from, how the steel emerged. But I had to do this. Not for myself, but for Emery. I did not have another choice. “Go. I will have my lawyer send you the papers shortly. Thank you for saying it to my face. Now, leave.”

“I’m sorry, Paige.”

“I’m sure you will be.” There wasn’t anything to say after that. Colton left, and the car sped away with Tarryn behind the wheel.

I couldn’t focus, couldn’t breathe. Instead, I picked up Emery and held her close, trying not to break down.

When the door opened behind me, I sagged slightly. Whoever it was had a key, and I hoped to hell it was Lee. I turned and let out a relieved breath as he stood there, but he wasn’t alone. Archer, Benjamin, and Beckett all stood with him, scowls on their faces.

“What happened?” Lee asked as he came forward. He wrapped his arms around me, kissed me softly, and took Emery from my hold. And just like that, I knew. I knew that no matter what happened, he was Emery’s father. Even if Lee and I didn’t work out, even if he broke my heart and we never spoke to each other again, he wouldn’t leave Emery, because Lee wasn’t that guy. A man who left and broke a little girl’s heart. Yes, he could break mine. It could still happen. He could figure out that I was too much work or only want to be my friend, and I would take that. I would breathe through the pain because he wouldn’t leave Emery. And that was the one thing I knew. The one thing that gave me hope.

“He left,” I whispered as the tears threatened. I told them what had happened.

Beckett cursed under his breath and hugged me tightly. Benjamin took Emery from Lee’s hold and walked her, waving her little fist in the air as she made noises in his arms. I was okay. I had to be okay.

Archer took Emery from Benjamin as my brother scowled at him, and Archer began to rock her, and then Beckett let go of me and took Emery, and Lee was holding me.

Suddenly, Emery was in my arms, and my brothers and Lee were holding me tightly, the four of them surrounding me.

“I don’t want to hurt Emery’s little ears by saying what I truly feel,” Beckett began. “However, good riddance.”

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