Page 72 of Unsure in Love

Damian stepping around his desk snapped me out of my stupor. It must have had the same effect on Henry too because he blinked and finally offered a greeting.

“Cassandra,” he said. He then glanced at Damian. “Mr. Alvarez.”

“Damian is fine.”

Henry nodded. “Thanks for accommodating my visit, Damian. You too, Cassandra.”

He seemed uncomfortable, so I stepped closer. “Thanks for coming.”

He was the one who reached out this time, as Damian had suggested. So that meant he wanted to speak with me. That was somewhat comforting. “It’s good to see you again.”

He gazed at me, his eyebrows furrowed. Rubbing my arm, I shifted from one foot to the other, wishing he’d say something. I didn’t know what else to say.

“I’ll give you two some privacy,” Damian said, breaking the awkward silence. He glanced at me and I nodded. Before he left, he held Henry in a stare. His scowl spoke volumes and even I saw the threat he issued to my father.

Henry swallowed hard, and it was all I could do not to smile. It was incredible how scary Damian looked when I knew from experience how gentle he was… with me anyway. Stepping through the door, Damian gave me one more concerned look before closing it.

Henry rocked back on his heels. “He’s pretty intense, huh? So, he’s your…” His gaze lowered to my stomach, which was emphasized by a fitted black t-shirt. I had given the oversized tops a break.

I mulled over Henry’s words. I had no idea what Damian’s and my relationship should be titled, but I wasn’t about to try explaining things to my estranged father.

“My partner.” Essentially, that was what we’d be while working together to raise our child.

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his gray slacks, he looked around. “Nice place he has here. Fancy.”

I lifted an eyebrow.

He pulled in a deep breath. “I’m glad you found someone…” He pulled a hand from his pocket to rub his nape.

I had to stifle my sigh. His nervous energy combined with mine was going to make this meeting agonizing.

“Have a seat.” I pointed to one of the sofas. When he sat, I walked over to the mini-refrigerator to grab two bottles of water. “Would you like one?”

“Thanks.”

I approached with a smile to put him at ease and started a light conversation. “I hope you don’t mind meeting in an office. Damian thought I’d be more comfortable here, so he was kind enough to let me use it for our meeting.”

“Meeting.” Henry chuckled. The nervous sound carried around the room. “That sounds like we’re about to discuss business.”

Sitting on the opposite end of the sofa, I gazed at him as I gnawed at my lower lip. A serious meeting was exactly what I thought our awkward reunion was. It wasn’t a happy father and daughter get-together. This was a painful question-and-answer session with a kid whose father tore her heart out when she was only four years old.

“I want answers, Henry,” I blurted.

His smile faded.

“Because I deserve them. I’m not looking for anything more than an explanation from you. I understand you have a new family and I don’t want to cause trouble, but you owe me.” He also owed my mother and my sisters—the family he abandoned.

His throat bobbed up and down, and his gaze skated away from mine.

As if seeing him broke the dam, I continued, “This isn’t even just about finding out why you left us anymore. I need to heal because I’ve met someone and I…” Glancing at the door, I swallowed the lump of rising emotion. “I want to be…” A pesky tear rolled down my cheek, and I dashed it away. Holy fuck, this was hard. I didn’t expect to break down in front of Henry so soon into our meeting.

“Cassandra,” he began, his face twisted into a grimace. “I…”

I sniffed. “I’d like to finish.”

“Okay.”

“I’m twenty-six, and I’ve never had a meaningful romantic relationship. I’ve never trusted a man to not do to me what you did to Mom. I guess I’ve always thought that if I knew why you left, then I'd be better at connecting with someone who wants to be with me.”

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