"Is he coming back?"
God, that question. The hope and fear wrapped up in four words.
"I don't know, baby."
"But he promised!" Casey's voice rose, shrill with panic. "He promised he'd take me skating on Saturday!"
"I know. But he might need a few days to cool off first. Sometimes when grown-ups argue, they need space."
"How many days?"
"I don't know."
"Are you crying?"
"A little."
"Don't be sad, Mommy." Casey's voice got closer to the window. "Uncle Easton will come back. He loves us."
I closed my eyes, those words shattering me completely.
He loves us.
She thought I'd leave. After everything, after all the time we'd spent together, Casey thought I'd walk away because I was mad at her mother.
I couldn't let her think that. No matter how furious I was at Sadie, I couldn't let Casey believe I'd abandoned her.
But I also couldn't face either of them right now. Not when I was barely holding it together.
I stepped off the porch and walked to my truck. Made it to the driver's seat before my legs gave out completely. I sat there, head against the steering wheel, and let the grief I'd been holding back crash over me.
I had a daughter.
A daughter who didn't know I was her father.
A daughter I'd fallen in love with before I knew she was mine.
And the woman I'd been falling for had kept her from me for six years.
My phone buzzed. Text from Holly.
Holly:Please don't do anything you'll regret.
Too late for that.
I was already regretting everything.
I started the truck and drove.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Easton
Iwoke up on my couch to someone pounding on my front door.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, too bright, making my head pound. I'd driven around for hours last night before finally coming home and collapsing on the couch still fully dressed. My mouth tasted like ash, and every muscle in my body ached like I'd played three periods without a break.
The pounding came again.
