Chapter 20
TATE
Nervous as fuckdidn’t even begin to describe how I felt as I stood outside Blair’s hotel room.
Not only was I petrified of someone catching me with her, I had no idea what I could say that would properly sum up the tornado of emotions inside me. I’d made it through the reception by the skin of my teeth. Leah suspected something was up with me, but I had no idea how to explain it. I’d hardly believe it myself if I wasn’t living it. From the moment I’d spotted Blair in that receiving line, my head and my body had been operating on two separate planes.
I looked around again to make sure the hallway was empty.
Then I knocked. I swear I could hear my heart beating.
When Blair opened, I nearly fell back from the sheer impact of seeing her. She had wet hair and wore a T-shirt, like not a moment had passed since our amazing time together at the resort four years ago.
“Come in.” She waved, quickly ushering me past the door.
The moment it closed behind us, my nerves settled a notch, because at least no one could see us together now. We were finally alone. That was half the battle tonight.
I took a moment to just look at her as she took a seat on the bed. Earlier I’d thought she looked a bit older than I remembered, but the fresh-faced woman in front of me looked exactly like the Blair I’d known and loved four years ago. So instantly taken by her, I almost forgot what I’d come here for. But when she cleared her throat, I snapped out of it.
“I’m not sure where to begin,” I told her, feeling frozen in place, just inside her hotel room.
“I know.” She looked down at her feet.
“I’ve imagined reuniting with you so many ways, but none of them was like this.”
Blair looked up at me. “How did this happen, Tate?” Her voice shook. “Or should I sayTheodore…”
My stomach sank.Does she think I did this on purpose?
Her gaze returned to the floor again.
“Blair, look at me.” I waited until her eyes met mine. “I wasnotdeceiving you. I had no idea you knew my son. Tateismy name. When I was in the military, all of my buddies called me Tate, and it stuck after I left. I prefer it to Theodore, which I’ve never liked. My mother can attest to that. Taylor doesn’t know me as Tate because my family calls me Teddy. But Tate is the name I use for myself. It’s what I share when I meet someone new.”
She shook her head. “I’ve talked to Taylor about you as Tate, and he never flinched.”
My eyes widened. “You’ve spoken to Taylor about me?”
She nodded.
Blood drained from my face. Not sure why that seemed so shocking. If they were close and she’d had no idea who I was, that made sense.
“He never seemed suspicious,” she said.
I exhaled. “That doesn’t surprise me. He called me Theodore out of spite for several years…” I swallowed. “But now he calls me Dad.” I got a little choked up, thinking about how far Taylor and I had come, only to have our relationship potentially destroyed now.But maybe it doesn’t have to be.
As if she’d read my mind, Blair shook her head. “He can’t know about this.”
Relief washed over me. “I agree. I don’t plan to tell him, if you don’t. There’s no reason he has to know.”
She hugged her arms, seeming conflicted, which worried me. Could I trust her with this? She had to understand that nothing good could come from him knowing about us.
“I want to make something clear, Blair.”
“Okay…”
“Not telling Taylor has nothing to do with feeling ashamed of our time together. It doesn’t change what we experienced. It’s only because I don’t know ifhecan handle it. Taylor’s very fragile. He’s—”
“You don’t have to tell me that,” she said, almost defensively. “He’s my best friend. And I completely agree that he wouldn’t understand.” Her eyes watered.
