Greg put his hands up in defense. “I know that, Chandler…I just want to help.”
“I don’t need your help,” I snapped. “I don’twantyour help.”
“I can see you’re scared,” he said, taking a careful step toward me. I wanted to hurl my beer at his face. I hated that he could see through me when I had spent so long convincing myself that this man didn’t know the first thing about me.
“But you can’t run from this,” he said firmly. “It would be shameful if you did.”
“What the hell does it matter to you?” I asked.
Greg let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his thinning hair as he looked over at the table where my mother and Nathan satawkwardly eyeing us. Did Nathan know too? Did this family just like to keep secrets all the damn time?
“Being a father is all about the choices you make,” said Greg softly. I rolled my eyes over the fact he was attempting a heart-to-heart conversation. “I don’t want to see you make the same choices your father did.”
“You didn’t know my father,” I muttered.
“No, but I do know your mother and how much his actions affected her. I know how they affectedyou. You forget I’ve known you a long time, Chandler.”
“IwishI could forget.”
“Your father was selfish and he made choices that hurt a lot of people, including those who should have mattered most,” he continued, unrelenting. “I don’t want you to make the same choices.”
“I’m nothing like him,” I snapped, taking a step toward him. I should have laid him out right there.
“You will be if you abandon your baby and Gabriella.”
“How dare you,” I said through clenched teeth, taking another step toward him. He winced slightly, but stood his ground.
I felt a hand on my chest as Nathan stepped between us and pushed me back.
“Hey, hey, hey…” he said softly. “Not the time or place for this.”
“Do you know too?” I asked, pushing his hand from my chest, ready to lash out at anyone in that moment.
He took a deep breath before looking at me warily. “Mom just told me.”
“Fucking great,” I muttered, gripping my beer tightly before turning and walking back to the table where my mother sat nervously.
I sat down without a word, taking a sip of beer and avoiding her eyes.
“Chandler…” she said, worry coating her voice.
I put my hand up and shook my head.
“Please,” she said pleadingly, reaching for me across the table. I jerked my hand away and looked up suddenly, glaring at her. She bristled slightly.
“Why the hell did you butt in?” I asked.
“I just had a feeling…”
“Afeeling?” I nearly spat.
“Yes, and I had to know. Because you didn’t seem to know.”
“So, you just straight-up asked Gabriella?” I asked, wide-eyed.
“I had to. I did it because I care about you. I didn’t mean to scare her off. She seems like a lovely person, just a little lost.”
“You had no right.” I shook my head.
