Page 42 of Broken Boss Daddy

I laughed. That was so classically Jess and for a second, it felt like everything was back to normal again.

“Then,” Dawn continued. “She whispered she was scared, and I wrapped her in my arms again. We just sat like that for the longest time, and I let her feel everything she needed to feel. When she was ready, Jess sat up and said she had to phone you because you deserved to know.”

“But she didn’t.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Grant. She did.Three times. The first time was a couple of days after you met and there was no answer. The second time was that very day, and a female picked up claiming not to know you.”

“That doesn't make sense.” There was no recollection of Jessica ever trying to contact me.

Dawn shrugged. “The past is in the past. Anyway, she even tried to get the hotel to give her your details, but they wouldn’t. Eventually, she thought about looking you up and seeing if she could contact you through social media. The entire time she was cool and collected, searching for her baby’s father like it was nothing. I think for a second, Jess was excited at the possibilities you two had opening up for you. Then she found your face plastered over the internet amid drama with some girl and how you were blowing your father’s money.”

I remembered that. Somehow, I got wrapped up in a scandal with my ex from before I met Jessica and the tabloids were after me because of my wealthy father.

“None of that was true,” I said determinedly.

“Jessica didn’t know that. All she knew at that moment was that she was pregnant, the wealthy father wanted nothing to do with her, and he was wrapped up in another girl. She tried your number once more and when there was no answer, that’s when she finally broke down into tears.”

As Dawn finished, we had circled back around to my car. Knowing this part of the story made me feel like an even bigger dick for my words and actions earlier.

I still wasn’t sure why Jess never reached me, but I understood how that all affected her and brought us to where we were currently.

“I hope everything works out as it’s meant to, Grant.” Dawn touched my shoulder before saying goodbye and walked into the school.

Facing the building, in my head, I was right back where I had left Jessica. All the bullshit aside, I knew what I wanted and what I needed to do.

I wanted to be in their lives, and I needed to make up for the time that had passed if there was any hope of me being in their future.

Chapter 19: Jessica

“Hey,” I breathed out, anxious and nervous all at once.

“Jess. Hi.” Grant quickly stood up and faced me, running his hands down the dies of his jeans.

Whenever I saw Grant, whether or not I was frustrated with him, he never failed to get my blood pumping.Gosh, I missed him.

He texted me last night asking if we could meet up at the park after his shift at the hospital. I wasn’t sure if he knew this park was just around the corner from my place or not, but I wasn’t about to turn down the chance to fix this rift between us.

I felt like complete shit after our argument. Actually, I’d felt that way ever since I told him about Abby. I’ve spent more time than I cared to admit if I should’ve done more to get into contact with him while I was pregnant. But every part of me believed what I did was best for all of us at that time.

Now though, things were different.

Grant opened his mouth to say something, then promptly shut it. I didn’t blame him. There were no words coming to me, either.

Awkward silence encased us, and I took the reprieve to take him in. Well, and to gather my bearings a bit more because who knew how that conversation was going to go?

Grant’s mouth lifted into a hesitant smile. Instantly, the awkwardness disappeared, and I settled back into myself.

“I’m hoping we can talk,” he said, gesturing to the bench he was just on.

Nodding my head enthusiastically, I said, “Of course.”

“Listen, Jess,” Grant started after we got comfortable. “I am so sorry for what I said and coming at you like that while you were at work. I should never have said those things—”

“I should be the one apologizing, not you.”

“Please,” Grant insisted. “We both said some things that we obviously didn’t mean. Especially me. You have to know that the last thing I want to do is to take Abby away from you. She doesn't need to be dragged through the same things I was subjected to as a child.”

There was a feeling inside of me that almost related to what he was talking about, like I had gone through it with him. But I hadn’t. “Grant—”

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