Page 34 of Just Another Chance

I still have to talk to Kayla and ask why she told me Tanner wanted to break things off with me. But I’m not in the mood for a wicked, dramatic fight right now. And we’ve been getting along really well so I’m reluctant to do anything to hurt our newfound relationship. Besides, if she gets mad then who is going to babysit Owen? I decide to hold off confronting her for a little while. At least for now, anyway. But I do want answers.

Right now, I’m focused on trying to figure out how to tell Tanner about Owen. I need to introduce them soon and I’m hoping we can all spend some quality time together. As a family.

I just want to make sure I can trust Tanner and that I introduce Owen at the right time. It’s a fine line and makes me nervous as hell. The one thing is– we haven’t said I love you to each other. I think we’re both scared. At least, I know I am. I’m downright terrified. I used to declare my love for him all the time and look what happened.

But I truly believe that our love story is being given a second chance and I want everything to turn out perfectly. It’s hard to ignore the fears eating me up inside, though, because they are very real.

One Saturday afternoon I drive to the South Grove house with Owen because I need to get a few things ready before an open house that the realtor scheduled the next day. Owen is playing on a blanket and I’m deciding where to start when I hear the front door click open. Assuming it’s Kayla, I look up, on the verge of saying hello, when my heart thuds to a stop.

It’s Randy and I instantly feel nauseous. He looks worse than I remember. More unkempt and rough around the edges. He also has a mean look in his eyes that makes me turn, lean down and scoop Owen up into my arms.

“Well, look who it is. Miss High and mighty back from Jersey.”

“What’re you doing here?” I ask.

“I live here.”

“No, not anymore. Besides, you took off months ago. In case you didn’t know, your wife died.” I shouldn’t be so cruel, but I can’t help it. After the way he treated my mom so poorly, I hate the bastard.

“So, I hear.”

He takes a step forward and I force myself to hold my ground. But my arms tighten protectively around Owen.

“You don’t come home for two years and the second your mama passes, you’re back in a flash and selling my home. You always were a cold one.”

“This isn’t your house. It’s in my mother’s name and now that she’s gone, you’re not welcome here anymore.”

His gaze drops to Owen, and he smiles, but it’s oily and sinister. My skin crawls.

“I heard you got yourself knocked up. This here must be the bast-”

“Don’t you dare call him that,” I snap fiercely.

His eyes narrow and he lifts his hands as though to show me he has no ill intentions. But I know my stepfather far too well. He thrives on hurting others.

“Who’s the baby’s daddy?” he asks. “Your mom never did tell me.”

“None of your business,” I say, far too fast.

Randy cocks his head and a slow, unsettling look crosses his face as though the answer just dawned on him. “It’s that Beckett billionaire, isn’t it? The one you used to date before you ran off like your ass was on fire.”

“No!” I bark.

But it’s clear he doesn’t believe me. Randy crosses his arms, and I can see the rickety gears turning in his pea-sized brain. “Does he know?”

My heart begins to thump harder, and I ignore his question. “You need to leave.”

“What was his name?” He scratches the top of his greasy head, pretending to think. “Thomas? Teddy? No, wait. It was Tanner…wasn’t it?”

I swallow hard.

“Tanner Beckett. I can picture all those zeros behind his name, too.”

I heave out a sigh. It’s clear Randy is here for a reason and that can mean only one thing– he wants something. “What do you want, Randy?” I ask, exasperated and weary of his games.

“Just what I’m due.”

“Why are you ‘due’ anything?”

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