Page 52 of Just Another Chance

“When Addie ran away, she was pregnant. I have a son named Owen.”

“Holy fucking shit! I-I don’t…I-”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nash at a loss for words, much less stuttering. He’s always so well-spoken and presents extremely well. I laugh, really damn hard. So much has happened recently and I figure it’s best to just take it all in stride, let it wash over me and keep my sense of humor.

“I’m speechless,” he finally manages to utter.

“Yeah, so was I. He’s a great, little kid, Nash. After Addie left, I never thought I’d be a father. And, let’s be honest, we hardly had a good example. But it feels good and so right. There’s no one else I’d want to do this with than Addie.”

“Am I the last one to find this out?” He picks up the diamond ring and studies it.

I shake my head. “Crew doesn’t know. Unless Sierra told him.”

“Sierra knew before me? Shit. Don’t even tell me Sawyer knows.”

“He knows about Owen, but not that he’s mine. We were trying to figure that out a couple of nights ago.”

“Good. I should know before him. Nice choice, by the way,” he says and hands me the engagement ring back.

“I’ve been holding onto it for two fucking years. You know, I was going to propose the night everything fell apart.”

“Seriously? Damn, Tan. I really want to see you get your happy ending with Addie. You guys have been through so damn much. No one deserves it more.”

“Thanks. I’d like that, too.”

“You’ll get it,” Nash assures me. “I know it.”

I sure as hell hope so. I let out a breath and scarf down a nacho. We didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms after I stormed out, but I was in shock and needed to get my head on straight and figure things out.

I’m ready now, though, and I hope she is, too. Because I’m about to go over to Addie’s apartment and beg for her forgiveness. Then I’m going to get down on one knee and ask her to be my wife, my partner and my best friend, from this moment until forever.

Because I never want to be without her again.

19

ADDIE

Kayla offers to spend the night here with me because I’m still a little jumpy, but I tell her that we’ll be fine, and she can leave. At least I hope so.

“The guy said I have a week before he returns for the money. I don’t think he’ll be back before that,” I say.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind sleeping on the couch.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it. But it’s okay.”

I walk her to the door, and we hug.

“Thank you,” she says softly.

I pull back and study her. “For what?”

“For being the best sister and forgiving me for being the worst sister. I want you to know how sorry I am and how much I love you and Owen. If I could go back in time, I would’ve done things differently. I really need you to know that. You and Owen…” She blinks back tears. “You both mean the world to me.”

Kayla is so sincere, and I give her a small smile and we hug again. “Love you, too, sis,” I say.

After she leaves, I go check on Owen who sleeps soundly.I’m lucky my little man is such a good sleeper;I think for the thousandth time. It amazes me how much he reminds me of Tanner. Even the way he lays on his back, hand tucked behind his head. My heart catches. Tanner sleeps the exact same way when he isn’t snuggling me against his chest.

Pure love consumes me, and I pray that I will be able to provide Owen with the best life possible. No matter what happens between me and Tanner, I know that he will help provide for his son. He’s going to want to be a part of his life and now I understand that’s the reason he got so upset earlier.

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