Page 98 of Choices

“Your dad took a liking to me, and Bear and I hadn’t put labels on what we were.” Her mom hesitates, looking to Bear for reassurance.

“So, you were with them both?” Rogue crinkles her nose.

“No,” Bear shakes his head. “I was away on a run for a while, and things with your mom and dad got serious fast.”

“So, she cheated on you with my dad,” she snaps on a harsh breath.

“There weren’t labels on what we were. It wasn’t cheating,” her mom defends.

“I don’t get why this is something I need to know about.” Rogue frowns, looking at me before turning back to them. A gentle breeze stirs, swaying the trees. Leaves fall around us, swirling at our feet like dancing mice. Rogue’s hair gets caught in the current, tossing auburn strands across her cheeks.

“I found out I was pregnant with you a month into that relationship, Princess.”

“So, you stayed with dad because you were pregnant with his kid?” She fingers her hair back into place, her gaze narrowed on her mom.

“No, I was eight weeks pregnant.”

And there it is.

“What?” Rogue wrenches her hand from mine and darts to her feet, heat rising in her cheeks.

“I carried small, and he never questioned the paternity,” her mom utters on a whisper.

“Oh my fucking god. Are you telling me the man I grew up with and idolized wasn’t my dad?”

Tears leak from her mom’s eyes, but I don’t feel sorrow for her. She kept an awful secret from Rogue and the man she loved as her dad.

“He was your dad, but Bear is your biological father.”

Rogue’s mouth drops open, her eyes glassy, staring at the man who has always loved her like a daughter because she is.

“Did you know?” she chokes out, her voice breaking.

Rubbing a giant paw down his face, he says, “Not until you were ten. Someone joked that you looked like me at a party, and it got me thinking. It was too late by then. You loved your old man, and so did I. You know our life, Rogue. No good would have come from me trying to claim you as my kid.”

Silence stretches across the divide of the table so loud it pounds in my eardrums.

“What about Harley?” Rogue finally speaks, her throat raw with emotion.

“I was faithful to your dad,” her mom says with conviction. “I’m so sorry. I’ve wanted to tell you, but what good would it have done?”

“I don’t know what to do with this information.” Rogue backs away, and before I can get to my feet, she takes off running back the way we came.

“Rogue,” Bear calls out, getting to his feet.

Holding a hand out, I say, “Let her go. She needs time.”

“I don’t want her alone out here.” His mouth thins.

“She’s not alone. I’ll take care of her. Just don’t leave the country.” I raise an eyebrow and take off jogging after her, almost dying by the time I get back to the car. My ribs are on fire. My back throbs in agony.

She’s propped on the hood, her head in her hands. “Rogue, talk to me,” I urge. Placing my hands on the hood, I take a deep inhale.

“I need to get my mind straight.” She lifts her head, pain leaking from her eyes. “I fucking worshipped my dad. He was my dad.”

“And nothing will ever change that. Family isn’t made of blood. Look at us,” I remind her. “That man loved you and was a great dad, and Bear has always been there in the background loving you too. Do you know how lucky you are to get two dads?”

“Take me home?” She clears her throat, her features stilling.

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