Page 73 of L.O.V.E

I excused myself when Natalie’s parents stormed into the room, giving them privacy to fawn over Lacey and the dark-haired angel.

A haggard Ellis found me in the cafeteria, getting my caffeine fix. He fell into the chair next to me, eyes heavy with fatigue, smile wide and proud.

“He’s perfect.” I shoved my cup of Joe his way. “Just perfect.”

“I can’t believe this is my life.” The exhausted pallor of his skin blended with the dull peach walls. His hair stood straight up on one side. But that grin on his face? Priceless.

“Believe it, buddy. You’ve got a beautiful baby boy. An amazing wife. You deserve this. All of it.”

Ellis stared into the dark liquid, then pinned me with a hard glare. “You deserve the same, Cole.”

I deserved exactly what had transpired. I’d been unfaithful. For that, I lost everything.

I’d refused to discuss Victoria and Martin’s affair with anyone, unable to acknowledge a deception I’d yet to wrap my head around.

“I miss Martin,” Ellis said to his coffee.

“Me, too.” I forced the lie through clenched teeth. Truth was, the hatred had taken root and spread. A rampant plague. But that was my burden to bear. My disease to carry.

I refused to tarnish Ellis’s memories of our best friend.

“I’d like you to be Leon’s godfather. We’re baptizing him in two weeks. But if you’re not feeling up to it, I understand.”

“I’d be honored,” I said, autopilot engaged. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Natalie will be his godmother, of course,” he added, clueless to the tempest he’d conjured with the mention of her name.

Natalie. Of course.Fuck. I nodded, unable to look Ellis in the eye, instead focusing my attention on an elderly couple two tables away.

I became hyper aware of the Barry Manilow Muzak playing in the background. The man sitting behind me started to sing along.

Every nerve in my body zinged, itching for a fight, an outlet, a damn receptacle to vomit my inexhaustible anger.

“Mind if I join you boys?” When the deep voice came over my shoulder, the mounting pressure eased. “Thought I’d give the ladies some alone time.”

Ellis pushed to stand, but the man patted his shoulder and offered his hand to me. “Charles King.”

Natalie’s father. Tall. Well built. Silver hair. Blue, wise eyes, framed in well-earned wrinkles. I liked him. I didn’t want to like him.

“Cole Adams.”

His grin faded, but that grip strengthened, a show of support. “Cole. I’m so sorry about your wife.”

“Thank you, sir.” I managed to hold his knowing gaze, despite wanting to bow under the weight of undeserved compassion. The man wouldn’t be friendly if he knew what I’d done to his daughter.

Settled in his chair, he clapped Ellis’s shoulder again. “Congratulations, son. He’s a beautiful boy. Beautiful.”

“Any advice for a new dad?” Ellis asked, beaming.

“Take care of that lady of yours,” he advised, crossing strong arms over a thick chest. “That’s number one. You take care of Lacey, set a good example for your son, the rest will fall into place.”

“That I can do.”

We BS’d about the weather, the Seahawks, the stock market. Ellis couldn’t stand another second away from his new family and practically danced out of the cafeteria, leaving me alone with Charles, a lukewarm coffee, and ice cold agitation poisoning my veins.

I stared at the man whose daughter had spun my world out of orbit.

“Must be rough, being here after losing your wife and child.”

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