Page 119 of Your Second Chance
My breath caught in my throat. My ex-mother-in-law.
The person next to her was there like a familiar wall of muscle—Ledger. His hand rested casually on the back of the seat in front of him.
My stomach turned.
What were they doing here?
“Luna,” I spoke slowly. “Where is Dirks living?”
She blinked, caught off guard. “He’s in the city. I swear it.”
“And you’re sure?”
She nodded quickly. “Yes.”
“Have you heard anything about Austin?”
Luna’s face shifted, guarded now. “I made Dirks promise not to tell me anything about him. I didn’t want to know.”
I looked back at Auburn, as panic bubbled. My hands were trembling so badly I couldn’t even unlock my phone, let alone send Ollie a text.
If Ledger was close with Auburn... and Auburn was tied to Austin... then maybe—no.God.Was he nearby? Was this just a coincidence or something more?
I needed Ollie. Oh my god, I needed him so badly.
“Now that I think of it,” Luna said, her voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts, “Dirks did say he knew where my house was because he comes up here often.”
My head snapped toward her. “You didn’t think tomentionthat?”
She blinked. “How was I supposed to connect the dots? He said he liked this farmer’s market better. I swear I didn’t tell him you were living here.”
“Oh, so driving almost an hour outside the city didn’t strike you as theslightestbit suspicious?” I hissed, my voice barely under control.
“No,” Luna snapped, clearly flustered. “I thought it was for Ledger. I don’t remember the neighborhood names—fuck. I tried to keep him separate from my life with you. I never told him anything about you moving here. I’ve kept it a secret this whole time, even though?—”
“Shut up,” I bit out.
I’d moved here forher. Trusted her to help keep Scarlette safe. I was furious, overwhelmed, scared out of my damn mind.
Luna opened her mouth to respond, but the principal’s voice crackled over the microphone, announcing that parents could now collect their children.
I reached for Luna’s hand and yanked her up so fast she nearly stumbled. “I can’t deal with this right now. I need to get Scarlette and get thefuckout of here.”
As we pushed through the crowd, Luna’s voice came again, hesitant, but laced with curiosity. “Wouldn’t Auburn’s baby and Scarlette be the same age? That would make sense...”
I whipped around to glare at her, my voice low and venomous. “I am going tofuckingkill you.”
The words tumbled out before I could stop them, my rage boiling over. Logically, I knew it wasn’t Luna’s fault, but this—this was myworst nightmare.
And then I saw him.
“No,” I whispered, the word getting lodged in my throat.
There, standing in front of my daughter, washim.
Her biological father.
“Oh my god,” I breathed, my entire body trembling as I clutched Luna’s arm.
