Page 56 of Until Posey

“You know,” he said, stopping me in my tracks. “It’s kind of ironic you hit me for thinking I left Waverly while you had Destiny and didn’t tell any of us.”

“That’s why I’m here today. I made poor choices that night, Jackson, but there’s more.”

“Yeah, there always is with you.” He snorted. “Come on in. Just know the place is tiny.”

There was small, then there was a tin can. The apartment was a tin can. I could do a full circuit of the living room by turning in a circle. There were two doors. I suspected one was a closet while the other was a bedroom, which meant the bathroom was there as well. The kitchen had been more like a kitchenette than anything suitable for an apartment.

“Wow,” I said. “What the fuck, Jackson?”

“Yep. Imagine my surprise when I walked in here. Alandria doesn’t even have a crib. She uses a pack ‘n’ play because the bedroom is closet-shaped. I’m figuring it out, though. As quickly as I can, I’m getting us the hell out of here.”

I scrubbed my face as I placed Destiny beside Alandria inside the pack and play before sitting on the couch. Even that had seen better days. “I need to tell you the truth.” The words popped out of my mouth. If I could say everything with one go, the weight of the situation would lift. Plus, it was practice for when I told Posey the truth.

Jackson joined me, handing me a bottle of water. “All right, sounds deep. What’s going on?”

“I told Ireland and Landon already, but you were in and out of the hospital with Waverly, so I didn’t want to impose.” I exhaled, placing the bottle of water on the chipped coffee table in front of us. “Destiny isn’t my daughter.”

Jackson’s face went blank as he sagged against the couch. “You wanna say that one more time? I could have sworn you said Destiny isn’t your daughter.”

“I did, and she isn’t.” I knew I was doing the right thing, yet even as I recalled everything about the undercover operation, Pedro, and Hope, then Destiny and Posey, guilt ate away at my gut. I had sex with Posey yesterday and before she left this morning, while continuing the lie. That made me worse than a piece of shit person.

“This is so fucked up,” Jackson mumbled, running his palms over his jean covered thighs. “Has your PI found anything?”

I shook my head. “The second I saw Destiny, I knew who she belonged to, and I couldn’t say no. There was a reason Hope named me her father.”

“But you could deny family, somewhere, the chance to meet Destiny?” I’d thought about that too, but would having Destiny in that lifestyle be what was best for her? I didn’t think so.

“You’re right. I haven’t stopped the search,” I stated. “I’m not going to either until all avenues have been exhausted. Then if they found no one, well, I guess Destiny is mine.”

“What about the social worker, Posey?” Jackson quirked a brow.

“Whole other kettle of fish, little bro.” I shook my head. “I’m messing everything up. The truth is on the tip of my tongue every day, but I’m worried if I tell her what’s going on, Posey will take Destiny, and she’ll end up in the system.”

“Lying by omission is still lying, bro. Even for the greater good,” Jackson replied. “Look at Waverly and me. Everyone thought I was the bad guy.”

“I’m sorry, little bro,” I murmured. “That wasn’t my finest moment.”

“Hey, I deserved some of it, because I was a wreck and freaking out. The rest, not so much.” He glanced at the playpen where both girls were napping. “Best feeling ever, right?”

“Yep. I’m not giving up on Destiny or Posey. I’ll wait for the full report from the PI to tell Posey. I am on the birth certificate, after all. That should give me a bit of leeway.”

“Maybe,” Jackson said, “but don’t wait too long. Shit has a tendency to get worse before it ever gets better.”

I grunted. He had a point. We didn’t stick around long after that. Waverly was due back at any moment and from what Jackson was saying, the appointment she was at would determine when she could go back to school and work, something Waverly apparently missed, even after being tossed around like a rag doll.

When I got home, I texted Posey again. She had a busy week ahead, especially with court coming up for another case. But she always needed to eat, and I could help her there. Plus, the more I spent time with her, I knew I could never give her up.

Which made my next moves even more crucial if I was going to save my relationship with Posey.

Chapter 14

Hunter

Standing outside the courthouse, I waited for Cobi and the DA. I had to give my testimony, then I was done being silent about everything and could go back to living my life. Yesterday, I spent a few hours with Cobi and the DA going over what I’d say. They weren’t coaching me. More like preparing me for what was to come.

I had pre-arranged with Ireland to watch Destiny this morning. Could’ve asked Posey, but I’d have to give her an explanation. I wasn’t in the mood to lie yet again, especially since most days, Posey saw me in coveralls and jeans. This morning, I’d pulled out my suit that I’d had dry-cleaned and pressed earlier in the week. If Posey had stayed the night, I couldn’t tell her what I was up to.

Which already weighed heavily on me.

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