Page 17 of Unsure in Love

Ruby snorted. “Her baby, our baby. What’s the difference?”

Laughing, Tessa sprang from her chair and raced toward Lucy, who was already being smothered with a hug by April. I remained seated and watched my sisters giggle and offer congratulations. Lucy glowed more than ever. I was conscious of wearing a smile because I was happy for my sister and I loved that everyone else was so overjoyed.

However, my mood was hampered by the weight of my secret. There was no way I could utter a word about it to my sisters now. Lucy deserved a happy, stress-free pregnancy. That thought reminded me that I was in the same condition as she was, but I didn’t feel comfortable sharing it with the people closest to me.

Well, we weren’t in the same condition entirely. My sister was happily married to the love of her life and was having a baby in a secure family. I, on the other hand, got knocked up by a man I barely knew during a one-night stand. I felt my smile slip a little. Sharing my pregnancy would not happen until I had no choice.

“Cass, are you okay?”

Coming out of my haze of despair, I glanced at the phone. It was set at an angle where Ruby could see everyone. She peered at me with furrowed eyebrows.

I swallowed hard. “Sure. I’m fine.”

Her eyes narrowed. Ruby was the youngest, but she was annoyingly intuitive. Before she could call me out on my lie, I got up. “I’ll be back, ladies.”

I felt ill—nauseous and mentally and physically drained all at once. Hurrying to the bathroom on the first floor of Lucy and Nic’s house, I closed the door and leaned against it with a long sigh. Being around everyone and keeping up appearances was exhausting.

While I wrestled with being honest with my sisters about everything, my phone went off in my pocket. Heart jumping, I whipped it out. Lately, every time I got a call, message, or e-mail, I was on high alert, anxiously awaiting news from the private investigator I’d hired.

“It’s him.”

Feeling foolish for just staring at my phone screen, rather than answering it. I rolled my eyes and accepted the call. “H-hello?” Already I was a stuttering mess, and I didn’t even know the reason for the call yet.

“Ms. Bennet?”

“Yes. How are you, Mr. Hudson?”

“Great.” There was cheer in the man’s voice, as always. I’d never seen him in person, but he always sounded so jovial. “I’m sorry for calling you this late, but I figured since it's good news…”

“It’s fine.” Good news? “Does that mean… did you…?”

“I found him, Ms. Bennet. I located your father.”

I froze, not sure how to react. Mr. Hudson seemed to understand my need to process because he remained silent. He found my father. Should I be happy or pissed that he was out there the entire time and just forgot about us? A part of me had hoped he wasn’t alive.

That would mean he wasn’t willfully ignoring his children. “Uh…” Blowing out a breath, I tried again. “That’s good.” I mean, it should be. I’d spent a fortune hunting him down. After an entire year of searching and a lot of money wasted, there were finally results.

“He’s living in New Jersey,” the PI shared.

My heart skipped another beat. It felt surreal having an actual location. “And you’re in New York…” Nibbling my lower lips, I consider how close the two states were. I could kill two birds with one stone. Meet Mr. Keneti Hudson, get all the details face-to-face, and see my old man. “I’d like to meet you to discuss things in person if you don’t mind. I could come to New York.”

“No problem.”

He said something about his office address, but I barely heard. My heart was pounding too loudly. Now that I knew for sure that our father was alive, I wondered if I should break the news to my sisters. They’d be upset, but surely they would get over it.

“Ms. Bennet?”

Blinking out of my stupor, I shook my head. “I have your address.” Allied Private Security. It was supposedly one of the best private security and investigation firms in the country. It must be true because it wasn’t until I found Keneti Hudson that I got a breakthrough in my search. “Thanks again, Mr. Hudson. I’ll let you know when I’m on your side of the country.”

When I hung up the phone, my hands shook. I couldn’t believe it. Our father was alive. I hadn’t uttered a word to my sister when I started my search, and it got harder to tell them with each passing day. Maybe I should see him before I say anything to anyone.

“Yeah. That’s probably for the best,” I told my reflection.

Although, deep down, I knew my reluctance wasn’t only about protecting their feelings, but it was also about me being a coward. Then a realization hit. Keneti Hudson’s office was in the same city Damian lived. For a moment, panic seized me but then it vanished. What were the chances of running into him?

* * *

“A tattoo convention? Are you serious?”

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