Page 70 of Sticking Out

“You knew Tyler was his all along. You didn’t question that he could be mine?”

“No, the dates. But I wanted this just for confirmation.” She takes a sip of water. “You and I…we hadn’t been hooking up much.”

“Yeah, that’s because you were hooking up with Alec,” I blurt out much harsher than intended. Jesus, it’s just a lot to wrap my brain around.

She pushes off the island and walks into the living room. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs quietly as she takes a seat on her sofa.

I follow her in, my DNA results still in the envelope. I had the results sent to her place, not wanting them to go to mine and risking Dani asking questions. It’s awful to keep this from her, it’s giving me a damn ulcer, but I don’t want to hurt her.

“I’m not looking for apologies,” I tell her. “I’m looking for answers.” I drop into her wingback chair, Tyler’s playful sounds from his bedroom filling the apartment. It’s easy to tell she loves her child, and he’s well taken care of. Why she thought we’d try to take him away is beyond me. She must not think much of our family. Jesus, my parents would love to know Tyler. They’d be amazing grandparents, despite the circumstances. Having a piece of Alec would do wonders for them.

I peel open the envelope with shaky hands, even though I’m sure the results are going to be the same as Summer’s. I open the paper and read it carefully, before I hand it over, and sink back into my chair. How the hell do I tell Dani? I honestly don’t know if I can. If Tyler is going to be a part of our lives, and I definitely want that, she has to know something.

“What are you going to do?” Summer asks quietly.

“I want to know him. I want my parents to know him.”

“And Dani, what will you tell her?”

“Jesus, Summer. This is so fucked up.” I sink deeper into the and cover my face with my hands. My stomach is so tight, I’m sure I’m going to vomit.

“If you told her he was yours…”

I drop my arm and sit up. “I can’t let her think Tyler is mine.”

“If you’re going to be a big part of his life, like you say, what does it matter?”

“It matters.” Jesus, there have been enough lies to last a lifetime.

She grips the hem of her shirt and twists it in her fingers. “If you tell her it’s Alec’s, it’s going to be bad, Conner. She’s going to hate you for keeping Alec’s secret all these years, and she’s naturally going to hate me.”

Fuck, she’s right. She’s definitely going to hate me, and what we have will be gone in a heartbeat. “Fuck me.” An almost hysterical laugh bubbles out of my throat. This is it. Right here, this is it. The third ball dropping. I thought that had already happened when I found out what my brother had done to Dani and me, but nope. That’s nothing compared to what’s going to happen when she realizes I’ve been holding my brother’s dark secrets.

I push to my feet. “I need to go.”

“Where are you going?” She stands and Tyler comes running into the room.

“I don’t know. I need to go figure things out. Figure out how I’m going to handle all this.” I sink to my knees in front of Tyler and put my hands on his shoulders. I take in his big blue, vulnerable eyes, and nearly fucking sob. Alec has a son. I have a nephew. This is wonderful news, and so very hurtful to so very many at the same time.

“Tyler, I’m your Uncle Conner.” Tyler just stares at me. “I’m going to come back and see you.” I realize he can’t understand what I’m saying. Heck, he’s only fifteen months. “I’m going to take you to see your grandmother and grandfather soon too.” I look over at Summer and she nods.

“Do you want me to be with you when you tell them?” she asks quietly.

“I appreciate the offer, Summer. I think it’s something I have to do on my own. Let them get used to the idea.”

She starts crying and puts her hands over her eyes and Tyler runs to her and wraps his arms around her legs. “They’re going to hate me. I was just so scared, Conner.” She drops to her knees and hugs her son. “I love him so much. I don’t have a lot of support and I would die if he was taken away from me.”

I drop in front of them and take them both into my arms, the fight draining out of me. “You’re never going to lose him, and think of it this way, your small family will be expanding and you’re going to have all the support you’d ever need.”

She sniffs. “Dani…she’s going to hate me and I don’t blame her.” She drops her hands and blinks at me. “I’m not that same person, Conner. I was young, and foolish, and you always seemed distracted around me, and whenever I saw you around Dani, it was so obvious that you were in love with her and not me. I was jealous and foolish and wanted to get back at you both. Having a child changed who I was. I’ve grown up. I’m a different person now. I’m a good person.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to hurt any more people.”

I stand and pull her up with me as she holds Tyler on her hip. “Come on. I think you both could use some ice cream and I need to figure out what I’m going to tell Dani.” She sets Tyler down, and we head down the hall to take the elevator to the main floor. When we reach it, I push open the door, and as Summer continues to quietly cry, I put my arm around her and take Tyler’s hand in mine, not wanting him to dart onto the street. I don’t know him well enough to know if he’d do that, but from the stories Mom told me, boys can be handfuls.

As the sun shines down on us, a car starts from across the street and my gaze goes to the noise. My heart stalls in my chest when my gaze lands on Dani’s, who’s watching us from her driver’s seat. “What the hell?” How did she know where I was? But that’s not the question I should be asking right now. Not when she’s driving off after seeing me with my arm around Summer and Tyler’s hand in mine.

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