Page 77 of Mountain Daddy

"You could have mailed it."

"I could have."

"But you didn't."

"No."

"Why not?"

Because I'm an idiot. Because seeing you half-naked just short-circuited my brain. Because I can't stop thinking about last night.

"I was in the area," I lie.

His mouth curves into that smile. The one that promises he doesn’t believe me. "Were you?"

He knows I'm lying. Can probably smell the want rolling off me in waves. I gulp and nod.

“That’s one more lie to your hat, Lilly,” he whispers, his voice lapping across my skin like waves.

Oh. So we’re doing this.

I cross my arms. “That’s not fair.”

It comes out of nowhere. The defensiveness. In the car, I had played with the idea of telling him the truth. But now? Seeing him like this? My brain’s all jumbled and it doesn’t seem like the right time.

“You ran,” he warns.

“Ileft,” I protest. “Didn’t owe you nothing.”

He steps closer, until I feel his chest graze against mine. When I look up, I see fire in his eyes. My pulse begins to feel like it’s being electrocuted.

“You owed me a choice,” he shakes his head.

“What choice?”

“My kid. My right to be in his life,” he furrows his brows. Looks right through me.

“It wasn’t your right,” I look away.

Another step closer. Close enough that the heat from his skin makes mine tingle.

"Lilly."

"What?"

"Look at me."

I do. Mistake.

His hand comes up. Cups my cheek. His thumb traces my lower lip. "When's his birthday, Lilly?"

The question comes out of nowhere. Hits like a slap.

"What?"

"Chleo's birthday. When is it?"

My heart stutters. My stomach drops. He already knows—but hearing the date will make it real. But there’s no way I can lie about this. He’ll find out if he wants. Then, he’ll know for certain.

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