Page 107 of Somewhere We Belong

“Sol?” Andrés whispered. “Her name is Sol?”

My stomach swooped again, and I hated the hope I had that he might actually want to see his daughter.

“Were you ever going to tell me?” Lauryn walked up to him.

“How old is she?” Andrés asked? “Can I see a picture of her?”

“Six years too late on that, especially after leaving me in the middle of nowhere telling me to get rid of it,” I snarled. “So, no, you can't fucking see a picture and you can shove your kindness right up your ass.”

Their little girl looked at me in shock.

“Sorry, Sweetie,” I said, before walking away from them.

“Andrés?” Lauryn clipped.

I turned around before I really lost control of my anger.

“And you.” I pointed at Lauryn. “Did you bring me here for a sick game? I knew you always liked him, and you always flirted with him. So, what? Was this to shove it in my face that he was yours?” I laughed as her scowl deepened. “Well, he’s all yours, Sweetie. Soak up my sloppy leftovers.”

“He loves me more than he ever loved you, Nova,” she laughed. “He didn’t even tell me to get rid of her and we were together six months before you left?—”

“Ya callate, Lauryn,” Andrés snapped, telling her to shut up.

This news shouldn’t have affected me, but now it all made sense as to why he reacted the way he had. Did he tell me to get rid of it so he could be with her and their baby? I didn’t need to stick around for this; they were made for each other, and I wanted no part in whatever they had going on. I had stayed away for a reason.

“Nova, wait!” Andrés yelled after me as I took one glance back to see Lauryn yelling for Andrés.

She looked heartbroken as he followed me and while I felt a little guilty, what goes around comes around. Karma was a bitch, and this is why you didn’t fuck with her. I sped walked out of the building needing to go home and be with Sol, grateful she hadn’t grown up with that man.

“Nova,” Andrés yelled out again.

“Leave me alone,” I yelled over my shoulder, as I left the building.

“Nova, please, just let me talk, and if you don’t like what I have to say?—”

“I won’t. I don’t give a shit if you tell me you’re sorry or you regret it, it won’t make a difference,” I shouted. “You left me in my most vulnerable moment and I will hate you for the rest of my fucking life.”

His eyes grew wide like he was seeing me for the first time. I wasn’t the same starry-eyed girl who loved him so much that she would do anything for him.

“So, why don't you shove whatever you were about to say far up your ass and forget about ever seeing me,” I snarled. “I do not want you, Andrés, and I would rather risk my life sitting next to a bear than ever be with you again. Goodbye, and I hope to never, ever see you again.”

I didn’t wait for him to tell me anything; I turned around and walked away. It was time to get out of this city and go back home to Sol and my men.

31

atlas

My hands shookas I drove back home. I was sleep deprived and emotionally raw. With each mile I drove, I felt sicker and sicker. I almost wanted to lie and say I had to stay another night to stay away from the house, but I was a fucking adult, for christ’s sake. While I didn’t know what the fuck I wanted to do, I needed to go home.

I slowed down, putting my blinker on to turn down the road to our home, when I noticed Nova turning right. She didn’t notice my car and I turned right after her. I was confused for a moment until I realized she shouldn’t be home till tomorrow or the earliest, later tonight, if she wanted to come home early. I looked over at the clock and it was only one in the afternoon.

Something was wrong and as soon as I parked, I jumped out of my car. I opened her door, and she flew out to hug me. She didn't say anything as I held her, expecting her to say something.

“What's wrong, Love?” I asked, picking her up and closing the door to the car.

“I’m an idiot,” she whispered, as I walked to the house, opening the door that was, thankfully, left unlocked.

“What happened?” I sat on the sofa keeping her close to me; she straddled my legs.

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