Page 60 of The Archer and his Rosebud

Ty’s gaze darts around the shop. “I panicked. I’m freaking twenty-one. I—”

“Don’t you dare.” My palm smacks the table, and I don’t even care about the attention the strike draws, but I lower my voice. “Iwas panicked, Ty. I was nineteen, twelve hours from any family, and expecting a child with aboywho couldn’t seem to understand that sex without protection could cause an unplanned pregnancy. You don’t get to make this about you.”

His hand resting on the table tightens into a fist, then releases. “I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Do you know her birthday?”

His eye twitches.

“Her favorite lullaby?”

His jaw clenches.

“What about her damn name?”

“No.” Ty surges forward, leaning over the table and gritting his teeth. “God, Willa, no. I know nothing. I get it. Keep rubbing it in my face. You’re angry, and you have that right. I’m just asking for a chance.”

I rear back. “A chance at what?”

He stares at his untouched coffee. I breathe through the freight train of fear threatening to run me over.

“I honestly don’t know what this should look like going forward,” he says to his cup before lifting his chin. “I’d like to meet her. That’s the start.”

“The start?” Tears prick my eyes. “The only reason you know she’s a girl is that our mutualfriends, who threw me a baby shower, and then abandoned me for their own fun summer plans, told you. I have no doubt Georgina came straight to you after she saw me.”

“You’re really not going to make this easy, are you?”

“Why the hell should I? You. Haven’t. Been. Here. You don’t have an ounce of a clue what I’ve been through, what I’ve done and sacrificed for her.”

“You wouldn’t have had to sacrifice anything if you didn’t follow through with the pregnancy, so don’t throw your struggles in my face. You chose to keep her.”

“You bet your ass I did, and I’d make the same decision over and over. Just because I chose her doesn’t mean my sacrifices aren’t hard. And it certainly doesn’t mean I should make it easy on you.” I sit on my hand to keep from slapping him across his arrogant face. “If you really want to see her, you’re making a poor case for yourself.”

Ty blows out a heavy breath and splays both hands on the table. “Look. Willa. I’m sorry. Okay? Is that what you need to hear? I am.” Remorse seeps into his stare. “I should’ve been there for you two. But I’m trying now. I called you. I don’t want to miss out on knowing her.”

“Stop acting like she’s yours.”

His head cocks as he runs his tongue along the top row of his teeth. “You can deny it all you want, but she is half mine. And I deserve a chance. I was scared before, but I’m trying now. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

“You don’tdeserveanything. Seeing and knowing her is a privilege, and being a part of her life will need to be earned.”

“Can I at least know her name?”

“I’m not ready to share that with you yet.”

“So, what can I know?”

“I went through fourteen hours of labor and have lost countless hours of sleep. I’ve sacrificed school and dance and hours away from her I can never get back because I have to work to provide for us.” I stand and pick up my coffee. “So, you can know more when I decide you can know more. I have to get to work.”

“I’m never going to stop, Willa. She will know me.”

“We’ll see.”

* * *

It takesevery brain cell to stay focused and present in my ballet classes. I had no idea what to expect when I agreed to meet with Ty, but seeing him at The Bean Stop rattled me more than I expected.

I’ve had my share of momma bear moments in Clem’s little lifetime, but this one tops them all.

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