Page 22 of The Keeper

A hysterical laugh bubbled up in my chest. What wasn’t wrong?My entire world had been turned upside down the moment I saw those two pink lines on the pregnancy test. And now here he was, standing in front of me like no time had passed at all, asking what was wrong as if he had any right to know.

“Nothing’s wrong,” I lied again, my voice trembling. “I just... I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

His jaw tightened, a flicker of hurt flashing across his face before he schooled his features into a neutral expression. “Yeah, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make it this year, but GQ convinced me to come at the last minute. It’s good to see you.”

Good to see me?

“Well, we better go before we lose our place in line. Bye, Dane.” I turned and walked back inside, focusing on the click of my heeled boots against the pavement—anything to keep from looking back.

My mind replayed our brief encounter on a loop. The concern in his eyes and the way his voice softened when he asked if I was all right was almost enough to make me believe he cared.

Almost.

EIGHT

PIPER

Ivy & Piper’s Guide to Life Rule Number Seven:

Block, delete, and move on.

AKA- Alcohol and exes do not mix.

Ivy’s gaze burned into the side of my head as we made our way back to the line, urging me to go back and tell him the truth.

“What the hell was that?” she hissed, gripping my arm and pulling me into a secluded hallway near the bathrooms. “You had the perfect opportunity to tell him, and you walked away!”

“Why do you care? You’re the one who told me not to meet him that night.”

“Yeah, Piper. I did,” she said dryly. “And you did it anyway. The toothpaste is out of the tube, so to speak.”

I bristled, anger flaring hot in my chest. “You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t agonized over my decision every single damn day?”

“Then why didn’t you tell him?” she pressed, her voice rising. “He was right there, Piper. You could have put yourself out of your misery with a handful of words.”

“Because I froze, okay?” I snapped, my eyes stinging with tears. “Because seeing him again after all this time... It was too much. I couldn’t think straight, let alone tell him the truth.”

“So you ran away like a scared little girl? That’s not like you.”

“Mm, you’re right. I should have just told him because that worked out so well for my mom,” I gritted out, angrily swiping at the tears on my cheeks.

Her expression softened, and she sighed. “Not all men are your father, Piper. Come on. He’s here, you’re here. It’s like the universe is practically screaming at you to come clean. He deserves to know.”

I sliced my hand through the air with a groan. “Stop. This isn’t about him. It’s about what’s best for Avery?—”

“And you think keeping her father in the dark is what’s best for her?” Ivy challenged, arching an eyebrow. “I know you. The guilt will eat you alive. You can’t avoid it forever.”

“Watch me,” I grumbled, digging through my bottomless pit of a purse for my phone. I’d managed to locate it when a large hand wrapped around my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks. I didn’t need to look up to know who it belonged to—my body’s reaction told me everything. Proving it had a sick and twisted sense of humor, the universe had decided to bring the conversation to me.

“We need to talk,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“I’ll, uh, see you inside,” Ivy murmured, squeezing my hand as she passed. The silent message was clear—tell him.

Take me with you,you traitor.

I took a deep breath before reluctantly turning to face him. “If you’re trying to clear your conscience or whatever, you can save your breath,” I said, sounding small and uncertain instead of strong and confident. “I’m fine. It was a casual thing?—”

Dane tightened his grip on my shoulder, preventing me from fleeing. In one swift motion, he pushed me up against the wall, caging me in with his body. His eyes pierced mine, a storm of emotions swirling within their blackened depths.

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