Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-eight

RILEY

I was pacing in my hotel room, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

Anger and fury were at the forefront. I wanted to throttle Tristan, but the words of my grandmother and Lucy echoed in my mind.

Abby needed her dad, and he had a right to know about her, no matter how much of a jerk he was.

This was my only shot.

Seeing him at school today had shattered me all over again. It felt like all my years of trying to forget him had been in vain.

He was still infuriatingly good-looking, even more so than before.

~God, I can’t stand him.~

Why did I have to bump into him? Of all places, he just ~had~ to be working at our high school.

~You’ve got to be kidding me.~

I flopped onto my bed and grabbed my phone. I scrolled through my contacts, and there was his number, glaring back at me.

~Jerk.~

I’d never been able to bring myself to delete his number, even after all these years. I was a hopeless romantic, still holding out for some kind of miracle.

My dad was right. Your first love sticks with you forever, and it messes you up.

I hadn’t dated anyone, or even considered another relationship, in all these years.

I’d tried to convince myself and others that my daughter was my priority and I didn’t have time for dating, but deep down, I knew the truth.

I was still hung up on Tristan.

~I’m still in love with that jerk.~

My fingers trembled as I typed out a text to him.

Riley

Let’s have dinner at my hotel at seven tonight.

Riley

Need to discuss a few things.

I squeezed my eyes shut and hit send. This was all for Abby, and I knew I was doing the right thing for her.

Asshole

Perfect.

Asshole

Text me the address.

His response came immediately, and my heart did a somersault. I had no idea why I was still reacting to him like a lovesick teenager.

~He broke your heart, Riley,~ I reminded myself.

After texting Tristan the address, I hopped into the shower to steady my nerves.

Once I was clean, I rummaged through my suitcase for a decent dress, but then decided against it and pulled on my worn-out jeans and a black top instead.

I wasn’t going to dress up for him and give him the wrong impression. After combing my hair and applying some lip gloss, I was ready.

It was six forty-five. I still had fifteen minutes to spare, so I poured myself a drink and took a few deep breaths.

Everything was going to be okay. I was strong enough to handle him now.

~If only I’d known how wrong I was back in high school.~

***

“Hi, you look good,” Tristan rose from the couch in the lobby as soon as he saw me approaching.

“Hi.” I forced a smile, tucking my hair behind my ears.

He looked ridiculously attractive in his navy-blue button-down shirt and black pants. He was fit and looked incredibly sexy.

His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms. I quickly averted my gaze before he could catch me checking him out.

“Shall we?” he gestured toward the dining lounge. I gave him a curt nod and followed him.

We settled at a table for two. I immediately picked up the menu to avoid the awkward silence.

I could feel his eyes on me, making me squirm in my seat. I glanced up to meet his intense gaze and let out a soft sigh.

“Order something. I’m not that hungry,” I said, setting the menu down on the table.

“Are you guys ready to order?” the waiter asked us.

Tristan finally tore his gaze from me. “I’ll have the steak and the shrimp pasta with white wine sauce for her. Also, a bottle of red wine, please.”

Then he turned his attention back to me.

“I said I wasn’t hungry,” I muttered, annoyed.

“And I know you better than that.” He gave me a warm smile, and I shook my head. He continued to stare at me, making me feel hot and flustered.

“Stop looking at me like that,” I blurted out, squeezing my thighs together under the table.

“I can’t help it, babycakes. I can’t believe you agreed to meet me. Thank you so much.”

“You can’t call me that anymore. The only reason I agreed to meet you is because I have something to tell you, so don’t get any ideas,” I clarified.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Well, we have all night. You can tell me anything you want, but first, tell me this: how are you?” he asked sincerely.

I was taken aback by his question. I blinked rapidly, trying to figure him out. He was being so nice, and I couldn’t understand why.

It wasn’t like he was still hung up on me. He must have a girlfriend or someone else in his life. Why was he so interested in me after all these years?

~God, he’s so confusing.~

“I’m good. I just started a new job at a publishing company in Phoenix. What about you?”

“I’m the football coach for our school, as the principal mentioned earlier today, and I live just down the street. I moved out of my childhood home two years ago.”

I nodded and gave him a polite smile. I was nervously fiddling with the hem of my top.

I had no idea how to tell him about Abby. This was harder than I’d thought.

“Umm…how’s your sister, Susan?”

“She’s great. She’s studying, and I’m taking care of her. My dad is still the same irresponsible adult. Nothing’s changed there.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, giving him an apologetic look. He simply shrugged in response.

“Do you like it in Phoenix?” he asked after a moment. I looked at him.

“Yeah, it’s nice. I have my dad and Grandma, and—um…”

“You live with them?” he interrupted me.

I couldn’t meet his gaze. I licked my dry lips and swallowed hard.

~I need to tell him now.~

I eased my phone out of my pocket and showed him the wallpaper.

It was a snapshot of Abby and me.

His face paled, and he nearly dropped my phone onto the table.

He was about to say something, but the waiter arrived with our food, and he held his tongue.

He raked his fingers through his hair, and I could see his anger. As soon as the waiter left, he spoke.

“You have a kid?” His voice was barely above a whisper. I nodded, my eyes on my plate.

“Damn—I mean, wow! That’s incredible. I—I’m happy for you,” he managed to say.

I looked up to see his face; his eyes were wet, and he looked like he was hurting.

My heart ached at the sight, but I couldn’t figure out why he was so upset. I hadn’t told him he was the father yet, but his reaction was strange.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“No, I’m not okay, Riley. You have a kid! I know I hurt you, and you hate me for it. I know I should be happy for you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted but this…”

He sighed. “I can’t help but feel jealous. Is that why you wanted to meet? To show me how perfect your life is after I screwed up?”

His voice got louder, and I could feel the stares from the other tables.

He put my phone on the table and stood up. My jaw dropped.

I hadn’t expected this reaction from him at all, and I hadn’t even told him the whole truth. He thought I’d had a kid with someone else, and he was jealous?

~Holy shit!~

“I need some air.” Tristan walked away from our table toward the nearest balcony, and I got up to follow him.

“Can you at least hear me out?” I approached him. He was leaning against the balcony railing, his back to me.

“What else is there to say?” he snapped.

I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Enough, Tristan. I can’t believe you. Stop this act.”

He turned to face me, his eyebrows raised.

“Jealous? Calling me ‘babycakes’? What are you trying to do? Get me to sleep with you again? I’m not that naive girl anymore.”

My voice was getting louder. “You made it clear that we meant nothing to you, that it was all part of your plan to screw me over. So stop pretending like you care, or that I hurt you. You ruined my life, Tristan!”

I wiped away my tears angrily.

~God, why do I always cry when I’m angry?~

“You don’t know anything, Adams,” he scoffed, rubbing his jaw.

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter. I hope you’re happy with your kid and your boyfriend. I’m sorry for my outburst. Let’s just finish our dinner.” He walked past me without waiting for my response.

~Boyfriend?~

“I’m not someone who just sleeps around, jerk!” I yelled.

Tristan stopped and slowly turned around.

“What do you mean?” he stuttered.

I looked at him, knowing what he was thinking.

“Exactly what you’re thinking,” I whispered, confirming his suspicion.

His eyes widened in shock and confusion. He was silent and stunned for a few seconds.

“This can’t be. What kind of sick game are you playing, Adams?” he asked. He grabbed my shoulders, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

~How dare he?~

“Game? I’m not like you, Tristan. Why would I lie? She’s your kid.” I pulled away from him, and he stumbled back, holding his head in his hands.

“This can’t be.”

“She’s four years old. Do the math, genius. You still suck at it,” I spat.

Tristan crouched down, his face pale.

“I’m not telling you this to trap you or anything. I can take care of my child. I just thought you deserved to know, no matter how much I hate you. My daughter needs to know about her father.”

He stayed frozen, so I crouched down to his level.

“Look, you can relax. I know this is shocking, but I don’t expect anything from you,” I reassured him.

Finally, he looked at me with his bloodshot eyes. His next words took me by surprise.

“But I can’t have kids, Riley. How is this possible?”

“What do you mean, you can’t have kids?” I asked him, laughing nervously.

“I’m infertile. That’s why I broke up with you! That’s why I never used protection the first time,” he whispered.

The world seemed to stop for a moment.

~What the hell is he talking about?~

“You’re joking, right?” I chuckled nervously and stood up.

He was messing with me again.

How could he be infertile? Abby looked just like him.

“I’m serious. My mom and I were in a car accident when I was fifteen. She died at the scene, and I was badly hurt.”

~No, no, no!~

~This can’t be.~

~Please God, let him be lying.~

“I was told that I would never be able to have children, and that’s why I never had a real relationship, until you. I was selfish with you, Riley, and I couldn’t take it anymore.”

He shook his head. “You deserved a happy life and a beautiful family. That’s why I had to let you go. I could never give you that.”

He started to cry. I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle my sobs.

“Even though I loved you with all my heart,” he added.

I shook my head, disbelief clouding my thoughts. “Wait. So, you weren’t playing games? You really did love me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He simply nodded. “I still do, Adams. I roped Amanda into my plan, fabricated the whole story just so you’d believe me and move on.”

“You should’ve told me. I couldn’t care less about your fertility, Tristan!” I cried, my hands covering my face.

“That’s the point. I knew you wouldn’t leave me if I told you the truth.”

“Why on earth would you think I’d choose a child over you? Why did you make that choice for me? You had no right, Tristan. Are you out of your mind?”

I was in shock. He had pushed me away because of this?

I wasn’t sure if I could trust him, but the sight of him crying in front of me seemed genuine. He couldn’t possibly fake this.

“I didn’t want you to give up anything for me,” he said, his voice choked with emotion.

He reached out, cradling my face in his hands. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, but I pulled away instantly.

“Don’t. Don’t come any closer. You have no idea what I’ve been through all these years,” I sobbed, wiping my nose with the back of my hand.

This was too much to take in. My head was spinning.

~I knew I shouldn’t have had that drink.~

“I... I need some time alone. I need to think.” I walked out, needing to escape before I completely broke down in front of him.

He didn’t follow me. I guess he was as taken aback by my reaction as I was by his confession. He looked just as shaken up.

~God, everything’s a mess.~