Page 66 of Connected By Love
“When she was home from one of her trips, I went through her bag when she wasn’t looking to see if I could find drugs and found bottles of pills. I recognized some of the names and knew they were bad news. I planned on confronting her as soon as she came home, but she hit me with the news of being pregnant.”
“Oh God,” I softly say. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was such a shock that I stood there, unable to say anything. When I finally found my voice, I asked her if the baby was mine. I could tell by the look on her face all I needed to know. She had no fucking clue.”
“Travis, I can’t even imagine how much that hurt.”
“It wasn’t the best feeling in the world,” he laughs softly. “I immediately made a doctor’s appointment to determine if the baby was mine. Once I knew he was, I was sick with worry that the drugs she had been taking would affect the baby. I got rid of the pills and made her swear she wouldn’t use while she was pregnant.
“Her agent advised her to get an abortion, but I begged her to have the baby. I told her I would take care of him and provide for everything if she would just have our baby. Once Iheard the heartbeat, it all became real, and he became mine. Someone I was going to die fighting to protect. She got her agent on board with some bullshit story of how she was working out of the country for a year and lined up jobs for her after she had Max so the press wouldn’t get wind of it.
“I still thought that once she held Max, she would change her mind and want to be a part of his life, but it was like a switch was flipped. She barely looked at him, and I took care of him with the help of my parents and brothers.” His hand continues to run through my hair as he tells his story. I hug him tighter wanting him to feel my love. I can’t imagine being betrayed like that by someone I love.
“I moved out of the apartment we shared and went back home so my family could help. I was just starting the tattoo business with Jake. My family helped me more than you know so I could get my business up and going. I wouldn’t be where I am right now without them,” he says softly.
“The day she left, Max was just four weeks old. She brought papers with her and signed over all rights to me, and then she just walked out the door like a piece of her wasn’t lying in my arms sleeping peacefully.”
I hear him take in a jagged breath, and I wrap my arms tighter around him. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I can’t imagine being left with a newborn and knowing the person I once loved had turned into someone I didn’t even recognize. Did she change her mind about Max? Is that why she was here today?”
He lets out a half laugh and runs his hand through his hair. “You would think that. She found out I was making good money with my art and came to ask me for money. She’s probably already on a flight back to LA.”
I sit up and look at him, shocked. “You’ve got to bekidding me.”
“I wish I was. After I dropped you off, I put Max to bed, and she showed up on my doorstep a few minutes later. She owes some people money and needed my help to get back on her feet. I’ll bet my life on it that it’s just not pills she’s into anymore. Her agent told her this was her last chance to get clean and salvage her career. She swore she would use the money to pay off the people she owed and stop using.”
“Did you do it?”
“I did it for Max, not for any other reason. Even though I wouldn’t call her Max’s mother, she still gave birth to him, and I wouldn’t want her out on the streets when I knew I could have helped.”
“Where were you when she answered the door? She told me you were in the shower and that you two had been talking about working it out. All I could think about was how I couldn’t stand in the way of Max having his family back together. She knew I was a teacher.”
“I was in the office getting my checkbook when you came. I thought I heard voices, but she told me she was listening to a voicemail, and I believed her. I didn’t put two and two together until you didn’t show up.
“She lied to you, Sophia, and I’m so fucking angry at her for putting you through that. That I put you through it. She tried to come on to me, and when I told her that I loved you, she must have done it out of jealousy or just to be spiteful because I had pissed her off.” He fists his hands, and I feel his anger simmering beneath the surface.
I reach out and uncurl his fist, holding it in mine. “I believe you. I should have known she was lying to me and that you would never have done that to me. I was in such a state of shock that I couldn’t form a single thought. I should have busted through that door and confronted her, but I kept thinking about Max. I’m sorry for not trusting in you.”
“Don’t,” he says. “You did nothing wrong. I’m sorry you were dragged into all of this. I had this whole night planned with candles and flowers and was going to tell you how much I loved you, and she once again tried to fuck up my life.”
“Don’t give her that power, Travis. She can’t take away what we have unless we let her.” I scoot over and straddle him so I can look into those eyes that I love so much. “I love you, Travis. I need you to trust me that I’m not going anywhere. I love Max and want to be there for him…for you.”
“I do trust you. I’m sorry it took me so long, but I trust you. I trust us and what we have. I love you, wildcat. You and Max are my everything.” A sad look briefly flashes across his face, and he breaks eye contact with me.
“Hey,” I place my hand on his cheek and turn him back toward me. He closes his eyes like he’s in pain. “What is it?”
“She never even asked about him. Not once. Who even does that? He’s the best person I know, and it breaks my heart that his own mother wants nothing to do with him. How do I even explain that to him when he’s older? I’ve been telling him his mom has an important job and can’t be with us like other kids’ moms, but it’s a lie. I’m fucking lying to my son, and it’s killing me to know that one day he will know the truth…that his own mother doesn’t want him.” His voice cracks on the last word, and my heart breaks for him and Max.
“You can’t control how other people live their lives, but you can control how you live yours. Max is the luckiest boy in the world because he has you. You take it day by day and continue to love him. When he is older and starts to ask questions, you be honest with him and let him know that he was the greatest gift you’ve ever been given, and if his mom never saw that, then it’s her loss, not his.”
He brushes a strand of my hair back and gives me a small smile. “As much as it hurt, the way it happened, I would do itall over again if it meant it was leading me to you. Going to the bar that night was the best decision I ever made. I couldn’t believe my luck when you landed in my arms. As much as I was afraid to run toward you, I was more terrified of walking away and never seeing you again.”
I blink back the tears and bring his lips to mine. He moans when my tongue finds his, and the kiss becomes more intense.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Travis
Her lips becomeurgent against mine and I let her take what she needs. She knows everything now, and she still wants to stay. The terror I felt earlier when I couldn’t find her was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Losing her would destroy me, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she’s safe and taken care of. The drawer I gave her in the bathroom is nothing compared to what I want to give her. She’s going to have to get used to me spoiling her because I intend to do it for the rest of my life.
