Page 74 of Sticking Out

“The boy…” Rylee begins.

My entire body goes weak, and I clutch the table. “He’s…he’s…Alec’s.” A sob spills from my lips and I bend forward, putting my hands over my face, as tears fall hard, and I’m not sure if I’m crying from Alec’s deceit, or the fact that the baby isn’t Conner’s and he was simply trying to protect me from the true extent of Alec’s betrayal.

“He loves you, Dani. He loves you so much, he couldn’t let you think you meant nothing to Alec.” I lift my head. “I’m not sure what was going on when you saw him with his arm around Summer, and holding her son’s hand, but I don’t think it’s what you think.” I nod in agreement. “Maybe he knew Alec had been with Summer, maybe he didn’t. But my guess is that he just found out about the boy and I think you need to go find him.”

I hiccup a sob. “I told him I never wanted to see him again.” Oh God, how could I have messed this up so badly? Is there any chance of fixing it now? “I…I didn’t listen to him, Rylee.”

“He wasn’t going to tell you anyway, Dani.”

She’s right. He was protecting me, but I’m no longer that high school girl, the quiet new kid on the block who needed his protection. No, I’m a grown woman who knows what she wants, and what I want is him, dammit. I grab my phone and call him, but it instantly goes to voicemail. In a panic, I leave my sister’s and drive to Conner’s place, but he’s nowhere to be found. Where the heck would he be?

I head to the rink, but his car isn’t there. I shoot him off another text and when he doesn’t answer, I start driving aimlessly. Okay, maybe not so aimlessly because I find myself sitting in my car across the street from Summer’s place—Conner’s car parked in the driveway. My heart pounds so fast, the world closes in on me.

My God, was I completely wrong?

28

Conner

I glance at Knox as he sits next to Summer. She asked me to come by today because she wanted to be open and honest with Knox about our past and what happened with my brother. The whole situation is messed up, and she wanted me here just to help her get the truth out. She’s in love with Knox and is terrified the truth will send him running.

After she tells him everything and has given him time to absorb and digest, Knox glances at me, his face tight, but his eyes are full of understanding.

“We okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, man, of course. We’re okay.”

From the bedroom I hear my sweet nephew playing and it makes me happy and sad. I’m looking forward to getting to know him better, and so are my parents. But the little boy also reminds me of Dani and our failed attempts at getting pregnant. When she told me she never wanted to see me again, it broke my heart into a million pieces, and I stepped back, wanting to give her the space she desired. I needed time to figure out what it was I had to do, too.

I know I haven’t been honest with her, and I still don’t know what to do about the whole situation. After I opened up to my parents and told them everything, they assured me that my brother’s death was not my fault, and that no one, including Dani, would hold me responsible. I’m really hoping that is true, because while I respected her wishes to stay away, I have no intention of staying away forever. No, I have a plan in place, and today, right after I get the call I’ve been waiting for, I plan to put it into motion.

“Are we okay?” Summer asks Knox tentatively as she twists a long, stuffed snake—one of Tyler’s toys—in her hands.

He nods. “The past is the past, Summer. You made mistakes. Hell, we all have. But you’re trying to right them now, and that’s all that matters.”

She throws her arms around him and tears fill her eyes as he hugs her back. I push to my feet. “Okay, I have to run, and I’m sure you two have more talking to do.”

Summer jumps up. “You need to go find Dani.”

I pull my phone from my pocket. “I plan to. There’s a call I’ve been waiting for before I do, though.” The second I see that I have a text and a call from Dani, my throat tightens, and there’s not a damn thing I can do to pinch back the tears in my eyes. “She called,” I say quietly, my voice shaky as hope fills my heart. The love I feel for this woman washes over me and makes standing a chore.

“That’s a good sign, Conner.” Summer puts her arms around me. “You two belong together. You always have.” She glances back at Knox. “I want us all to be friends.”

Tyler comes running into the room and I bend and smile at him. “Not friends,” I clarify. “Family.” I ruffle Tyler’s hair. She nods in agreement and chokes back tears.

“Go do what you need to do, Wood,” Knox pipes in, giving me a slap on the back. “The past is the past and it’s time to go get the future you deserve.”

I nod, even though I still don’t know how to tell Dani about Tyler. But it’s the lies that got us into this mess, and I’m sick of deceit, sick of my brother’s hate, and goddammit, he’s taken enough from us as it is, and I refuse to let him continue taking, especially when he’s no longer with us. Summer was right. Dani and I belong together. We always have.

Just then the call I’ve been waiting on comes in and my heart jumps into my throat. “Okay, I have to go.”

I see myself out, and hurry to my car. I drive out to the country and hours later, with a very special package on the seat beside me, I head straight to Dani’s house. I hope she’ll talk to me. I guess the fact that she called means she’s open to having a conversation. She’s no doubt wondering why I haven’t called or texted back, but what I’m about to do needs to be done in person.

Relief rushes through me when I see her car and bus in her driveway. I pick up the bundle beside me, and get everything in place before I exit the car. Hurrying up her driveway, being careful with the precious package in my hands, I reach her door, and set the little bundle on the stoop beside me.

I ring the bell and glance down, shifting restlessly as the door unlocks and swings open. My entire being fills with love as I take in the woman who holds my heart in her palm. Though I also note the dark circles under her eyes. Dani doesn’t look like she’s been sleeping too well either.

“Conner,” she whispers, sounding breathless. Her gaze drops to the ground, to the fluffy Newfoundland pup with a specially made barrel tied around his neck. In the past, Newfoundland dogs were used for rescue missions, and even though this is a rescue mission—of our relationship—the barrel is not filled with whiskey. “Conner, what…what have you done?” She shakes her head, tears in her eyes. “Ohmigod, he’s beautiful.” She bends to pet him. “What is going on?”

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