Page 25 of Keg's Revelation

“We aren’t going to have too many more nice days.” He looked me up and down before he continued, “Grab a jacket and let’s go for a ride. What do you say?”

Reed was looking at me and when I looked back at him, I didn’t want to misread anything wrong out of his softened expression. Instead, I turned and opened the door. “I’ll only be a minute.”

I hurried to my room and grabbed my jacket, my key to the house and my phone. I put the phone in one of the jacket’s pockets and shoved some cash in the front pocket of my jeans. In the kitchen, I left a note in case Gran and the kids were back before I was. Then on the way out of the kitchen I snagged a couple bottles of water.

When I stepped back outside, locking the door and pulling it shut behind me, Reed was standing beside his bike. As I approached, he held out a helmet to me and took the water bottles from me and placed them in the open saddlebag he must have pulled the helmet from.

“You care if we hit a drive-thru while we’re out? I missed breakfast and lunch.”

“I don’t mind.”

“You remember how to ride?” He grinned as he snapped his helmet in place.

“I think I can handle it.” I smiled back as I snapped my own clasp.

“Well, we are about to see.” He patted the top of my helmet, then straddled the bike and turned it over. Holding it up with both feet planted on the ground, he looked over his shoulder. “I think you’ve forgotten.” His lips twitched. “You actually have to get on to ride, Rav.”

“Smartass.” Once I was on the back with my arms wrapped around his waist, he pulled out slowly. When we hit the main road and kicked up the speed, I tightened my hold and leaned into him.

God, I’d forgotten how good it felt.

Idon’t know how longwe’d been riding before we’d pulled into a fast food drive-thru, and Reed ordered several burgers before pulling to the side in the parking lot, long enough to stash them in one of the saddlebags before taking off again. Frankly, I didn’t care. I just knew I didn’t want the relaxing, freeing feeling to go away. On the back of his bike, I didn’t have to think about the talk to come, I could let the memories flow and take me temporarily back to another time. We’d been young, carefree, and the future held promise. It may not have been healthy for me to reflect on our past, but it was better than facing what laid ahead.

The bike slowed, and the jarring of going from pavement to gravel had me taking in my surroundings. Reed parked and waited for me to get off the bike first.

“I always loved this park. I haven’t had the chance to bring the kids here.” I set my helmet on the seat once Reed had dismounted.

“We used to come here and just hang out and talk. Figured maybe it would work today, too.”

“Sure,” I agreed, though not certain if I’d be able to come back to this spot after today.

Collecting the burgers and the bottles of water, we walked side by side into the park, choosing one of the picnic tables that was off to the side and away from the other family taking advantage of the warm weather for a picnic.

The park wasn’t anything elaborate—several tables surrounding a small playground for young children. It was perfect if you wanted a stress-free place to share a picnic and let your kids blow off a little steam.

Setting one of the burgers and a bottle of water in front of me, Reed then took a seat across the table and folded back the paper wrapping on his own burger. I unwrapped mine and pulled a small piece off, and popped it in my mouth. More for something to do than because I was hungry.

Reed demolished the first burger and balled up the wrapper, then pick up another burger.

“Sorry. Hungrier than I thought.” He glanced down at my burger as I continued to pick at it. “I know you’re nervous, Raven. Don’t be. I need the reason, that’s it. It will help me understand where your head was. I know we can’t go back, but understanding may make going forward easier. Regardless of the snide remarks I threw at you earlier, I don’t want to keep doing that. I want to lay this to rest, move on and get to know Ry. I definitely don’t want to waste time with what ifs.”

He was right. I pushed the burger aside and reached for the water bottle. After twisting off the top and taking a drink, I looked Reed in the eye and stepped off the ledge.

“I didn’t know I was pregnant when I left here. Even though we split up, I’m not sure I would have left if I’d known. Not even to help my mom. That day when you rode up, I was sad about having to tell you I was leaving, then you said there wasn’t any sense in staying in touch, and a long distance relationship wasn’t in the cards—it crushed me. I’ve had a lot of time to think about that day. Anyway...”

Reed never said a word as I recounted everything from the moment I found out I was pregnant, to my decision not to tell him for fear of his rejection of Ry, which would have crushed me all over again.

He sat quietly while I talked about meeting Derek and his acceptance of Ry. Even the day Derek was added as the father on Ry’s birth certificate. Every detail laid out for his judgment.

I’m not sure when I moved my focus off him to the bottle in my hand. But at some point, I had because as I reached the ending and brought us to Haven the day he found out, there was a small puddle under the bottle from the condensation I unknowingly helped slide down the bottle with my finger.

“That’s it. You were present for the rest.” When I looked back at him, his face was unreadable. Seconds ticked by as I waited for a response from him. I wouldn’t rush him. I’d sit there as long as it took.

“It sounds like you thought often about getting in touch with me. Yet continued to choose to keep Ry a secret.”

I wasn’t sure he was expecting me to respond or processing all that I shared. So I remained quiet. Since he hadn’t instantly raged, I willingly grasped that as a positive.

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