Page 38 of Truce: Declan
While we've only hooked up once, there's chemistry between us. Plus, we keep running into each other, being in the same social circle and all.
Which is reason enough not to tangle in the sheets with her again, but my cock thinks otherwise, and I happen to agree with him. He should get to make all the decisions. I'd be a hell of a lot happier right now.
"You haven't opened the paternity test results yet, have you?" Kyler jumps straight to the point.
I cringe, grab his arm, and pull him into the house, shutting the door behind us. No one needs to hear this conversation.
"How do you know it's for a paternity test?" I ask. "I mean, it could be checking to see if I have the cancer gene."
"Thecancer gene?" He laughs and runs a hand through his hair. "There's more than one gene that relates to cancer, and besides, the clinic you went to specializes in paternity tests. Trust me, I know." Kyler doesn't elaborate.
He has a daughter who is six, and while I never thought there was a question regarding his paternity, maybe he had doubts.
"What did the results say?" Kyler gets right to the point.
I shuffle my feet and turn my back, opening the fridge to grab another beer. Honestly, I want something a bit harder. But while I might want to get wasted, I won't be doing the team any favors tomorrow.
I grab a beer and pop the cap off. "I haven't opened it," I say, avoiding his heated stare.
He huffs under his breath. "I never took you for a coward."
"Excuse me?" I spin around on my feet, staring at him.
"You heard me," Kyler says, challenging me. "If you're too chicken shit to open up the test results, give it to me. I'll read it for you."
"I'm not chicken shit or afraid of anything." I yank the folded and battered white envelope from my back pocket.
I don't back down from a dare. Not now. Not ever.
Tearing open the envelope, I pull out the crinkled paper and inhale sharply.
"So?" Kyler says, waiting for my answer.
"It says there's a 99.8% probability that I'm that kid's father."
Fuck.
SEVEN
Charlotte
The air outside is chilly, and I stand by the fire with my arms wrapped around myself. I nod toward Amber, giving herthe lookto silently shout at her to get off her boyfriend's lap and come chat with me.
She invited me to the bonfire to hang out, and all she's been doing since I arrived is suck face with her boyfriend.
Not that I'm upset. But I need a friend to confide in about the wholeI lied to my father, and he thinks I have a boyfriendfiasco.
Noah and I haven't had that talk yet. The one that defines what we are or aren't. We slept together once.
He made it eternally clear that he puts his career first, always. I don't fault him for that. He made his intentions crystal from day one.
I, on the other hand, thought I was okay with that, but my insides are twisted, and I hate when I’m waiting for him to text me back, and he doesn’t. I feel like a crazy mess, and I wouldn't be surprised if he never wanted to see me again. Which is why I’ve made sure not to jump into bed with him, again.
I’m protecting my heart. It’s weird, it’s not something I’ve ever had to do before, but I’ve never been this head over heels for a guy, either.
And what we have, this more than friends but not quite with benefits thing between us, seems to be working, mostly. This past week, he’s been a bit harder to reach.
I’ve tried chalking it up to his schedule with the Ice Dragons has been busy. He probably doesn’t have time for friends, but then seeing him tonight at the party, he could have texted me once this week.
