Page 85 of Before You Go

“Umm.” I audibly hear Billy swallow from where I’m seated. “That’s…” pause. “That’s great news, congratulations.” I turn my attention back to him, his neck, and the tips of his ears have turned a bright shade of red. Dragging his eyes off of Jamie, he looks at me. “Congrats, Dayton.” Oh, hell fucking no. “Alright, this meeting is over, and we’ll all catch up again later this week.” He gathers a stack of folders from the head of the table, then quickly hurries to leave, not looking at anyone as he goes.

With my jaw clenched, I stay seated, afraid if I move, I’ll follow after him, and with the amount of rage sitting in the pit of my stomach, that conversation would not go well. I need a minute to cool down. As people get up to leave, not one person offers their congratulations; every single one of them is looking at me in disbelief. Then again, they have seen Jamie and I interact, and anyone who has seen the two of us together would be hard-pressed to believe that she and I are a couple.

“I’ll see you when Alice’s sisters get here.” Mary pats my hand before she gets up out of her chair and leaves, closing the conference room door behind herself.

“I’m sorry,” Jamie says softly from behind me, and I slowly turn my chair around to face her. “I’ve tried to see him numerous times over the last few weeks, but he’s been avoiding me. He even changed his number, so I can’t call or text.” I watch tears fill her eyes. “I didn’t think that he would imply that this is your child.”

“Did you think that he’d say it was his and that you two would share a moment in the middle of a meeting?” I fist my hands on my thighs. I don’t want to take my anger out on her, but I’m fucking angry. Even if Jamie and I have never had a relationship, the fact that it’s been implied again pisses me off. And the news that she’s pregnant, that just adds a cherry to the top of our fucked up cake. If Franny’s dad catches wind of this drama fest, he’ll hang me up by my balls before I have a chance to explain the situation to him. And even if I’m able to explain things, I doubt he’s going to believe me. I wouldn’t fucking believe me.

“I don’t know what I thought he’d do.” She looks away. “I’m really sorry, Dayton I…”

“You know Franny is pregnant, Jamie, and although I feel some empathy for you and your situation, you have to know that this puts me in a fucked-up position.”

“I never asked you to tell people that we’re together.”

She’s right, she didn’t ask. Billy did because he’s a piece of shit.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m looking for a new job. I can’t work here anymore.” Thank fuck, at least there’s that, though if I’m honest, since she had her epiphany about Billy, she’s been a great secretary. She shows up on time, is always professional, and has never hesitated to help out when she’s needed. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do about Billy. He isn’t exactly talking to me. I guess at some point, I’ll have to get a lawyer. Or maybe I’ll just move home to Florida close to my parents and forget that I ever had anything to do with him. That would probably be better for me and this baby.”

“Is the kid his?”

“I want to be offended by that question, but since I was sleeping with a married man, I guess I can’t be.” She wipes the wet from under her eyes and straightens her spine. “I know that you think I’m the bad guy, but he’s the only guy I’ve been with in a very long time, he told me that he was getting divorced, he met my family, spent time with my parents and told me that I would meet his kids.” More tears start to fill her eyes, and I reach over for the tissue box that is in the middle of the table and hand it to her. “I made a lot of mistakes when it comes to him, more than I can count, but my biggest mistake was believing him when he told me that he loved me.”

“I’m sorry.” And I mean that. If she’s telling the truth, which I do believe she is, he played her and preyed on her vulnerabilities. Franny was, or is, right.

“Of course you are, you’re one of the few good ones left.” She rubs her hands down the front of her skirt. “Do you need anything from me right now?”

“I can’t think of anything,” I tell her, and she nods, pushing up to stand.

“I think I’m going to go out for a walk. I need a few minutes. Do you want something while I’m out?”

“I’m good, but thanks.” I mutter and she leaves the conference room with her chin down and her eyes on her feet.

After scrubbing my hands down my face, I get up and leave the room. I don’t go to my office. I instead head to Billy’s. He might be able to avoid Jamie, but he can’t avoid me. Walking past his secretary, who smiles and waves me on, I don't even bother knocking before I open his door.

Hearing me come in, he turns around with his phone to his ear, and his eyes widen when he sees me. “Steven, I’m going to call you back.” He says as I close the door. “Yes, I’ll call you back.” He hangs up, tucking his cell phone into his pocket. “Dayton, I’m getting ready to leave for court.”

“That’s okay. This won't take long.” I lean back against the door and cross my arms over my chest. “I just wanted to let you know that you’re going to have to find someone else to blackmail.”

“Dayton.” He sighs.

“I’m done, Billy. Barrett knows about the baby, he knows Franny and I are together, and Franny knows about you and Jamie. I’m not keeping your secret.”

“You told Franny about Jamie and me?”

“I did, you might not have an issue hiding shit from your woman, but I got a problem doing that with mine.”

“Is she going to tell Shelly?”

“I doubt Franny wants to be the person to share that kind of news with your wife.” His shoulders sag. “But given what just happened, I would say you’re not going to have much of a choice but to be honest real fucking soon.”

“That kid is not mine.” He waves me off.

“If you say so.”

“It’s not.”

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