Page 56 of Her Hat Trick Daddies
“That would explain it,” I say, trying to keep the peace. “But no matter what happened, we messed up somewhere.”
Shane’s jaws clench. “You meanIdid. She’s got my eyes. If that’s not a dead giveaway, I don’t know what is.”
“We don’t know that,” David counters, a hand on Shane’s shoulder. “It could be any one of us. Just calm down.”
But Shane’s already up and pacing, rubbing his temples like they’re going to crack open from pressure. After a few tight circles, he rounds on Leighton.
“So, is this why you really came here?” he asks, his tone rigid, like he’s bracing for impact. “Did you track us down to tell us we’re dads? That I’m a dad? And it was never really about the job?”
“No,” she answers quickly. “When I took this job, I had no idea who any of you were. I only started piecing things together here and there after the first scrimmage.”
“What the fuck? It’s been over a month. Why are we just now finding out?” Shane blurts, eyes narrowing. “And on top of that, you chose to fuck us again?” He scoffs. “Andy and David more than once.”
Fuck. This is spiraling. Fast. “Shane,” I warn, my voice piercing. But he barrels on.
He steps closer to her, his voice dropping into something rougher, darker. “What? Needed to confirm how my cock felt inside you again? Make sure it was me?” Then he steps back, though his gaze stays pinned to hers like a threat.
“That’s not fair,” Leighton fires back, her voice rising. “I was trying to find the right way to tell you.”
“Please. Smells like a damn setup, if you ask me. Get pregnant again. Secure the bag,” he snaps, jaw clenched, eyes wild. “Shit, for all we know, you could’ve recorded us that night and sold our footage to that site.Pfft.You think you’re the first woman trying to play me? Play us? How do I know you’re not just like them?”
“How dare you! I didn’t plan any of this! And I sure as hell didn’t use you. Any of you!” she shouts.
“Pfft. And here I was, thinking this could possibly go somewhere, turn into something,” he throws back, sarcastically.
“Oh yeah? And how would you have handled it, huh? Since you’re so much better than me, what would you have done differently?” she challenges, anger bubbling up. “I’m just dying to know.”
I step in fast, before Shane can torch the whole thing. “Look, darlin’. There’s no perfect way to handle this. It’s a whole lot to take in, that’s for sure. For all of us. Especially after the night we just had.” I soften my tone. “But tell me something. Why didn’t you say anything sooner? Even if you just suspected at first?”
She hesitates. Her throat bobs as she fights something back, and when she speaks, her voice is quieter, shakier. “Because I was scared. Because this is huge.I didn’t want to blow up your lives if I was wrong. I had to be sure. And yeah, how else was I supposed to know for sure? I’ve only ever known you intimately.”
Shane exhales harshly, dragging a hand down his face. His shoulders are rigid, his expression twisted in confusion, and hell,maybe even hurt. “God. I don’t know what the hell to believe right now.”
“I didn’t come here with a plan,” Leighton says, more certain now despite the tears shimmering in her eyes. “I didn’t expect anything. I just know I never stopped thinking about you. About all of you. And yes, I have a daughter. But even before I knew that, I never really let you go. So, when I found you again, all the passion and heat from our first night came rushing back, and I knew one thing for sure. I still wanted you after all these years.”
The look on Shane’s face changes. He opens his mouth to say something, but David steps in before he could fuck shit up even more. His voice is loud and full of disappointment. “Shane. Get a fucking grip. Why would she lie about this? You think she’s here for a fucking check? For child support? She would have found us years ago if that was the case. Come on, man.”
Shane doesn’t answer. He just looks at the phone again, still gripped tightly in David’s hand.
“You saw her,” David continues. “You saw that little girl. She’s not some pawn in a scheme. This isn’t a setup. Get your head out of your ass, man. Go sit down.” David looks at me and nods to the living room.
I stand and drag Shane there, gripping his shoulder hard. “Take a damn minute. You crossed a line,” I say, voice cold.
Shane plops down on the couch heavily, staring at the floor.
David crosses to Leighton, his voice gentler than I’ve ever heard it. “You okay, sweetheart?”
She gives a tiny nod, but I know that’s a lie. Her eyes are brimming, her voice cracking with the effort to hold it all in. “I just… I didn’t know how to say it. I still don’t.”
“You said enough,” David says softly. “Shane didn’t mean half of what he said. And he would never hurt you. I know him. And I need you to know that.”
Her breath shudders. She shakes her head like she’s trying to dislodge the pain in her throat. “I should go,” she whispers. Her fingers close around the phone still in David’s hand, and she turns away, walking quickly, too quickly, down the hallway.
But I can’t let her go.
I move after her, catching her wrist before she reaches the door. She goes still, her back to me. I can hear her quiet sniffles. Her shoulders are trembling.
“Please,” I murmur, my voice catching in my throat. “Stay, darlin’. Don’t leave like this. Not when everything’s laid out like this. Not when I just got you back.”
