Fuck. Antonio swallowed roughly. His eyes broke away from Jackie’s. As soon as he did, he felt a looming presence near him and smelled a familiar funk.
“Try to keep eye contact, Antonio,” said Shane, stooping near Jackie and Antonio. “Intentional connection is key to this exercise.” He patted Antonio’s shoulder before moving on.
“I feel that dude doesn’t know what Right Guard is,” Antonio muttered.
Jackie snorted, a smile forming at the corner of her lips. God, he loved her smile so much. Antonio closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to remain focused. He wanted trust, but at the root of it, Jackie needed honesty, particularly about what happened ten years ago. She’d just said so herself. Now was his chance to lay it all out there.
“I feel you deserve the truth: my truth. I have been hiding something. So, you’re right about that.”
Jackie’s posture stiffened. Antonio could feel her hand beginning to slip out of his, but he held on tight. He needed her there with him, or else he’d lose the courage to say what he needed to say.Don’t run. Please be here with me. He pleaded with her silently. She didn’t move.
“I have a child. I’m a father.”
Jackie’s eyes widened.
Antonio fell silent for a few beats. His tongue felt heavy, as if there was peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth. He willed himself to continue. “I’ve known about him for ten years. The day I found out was the morning after we—”
Jackie’s app interrupted him. “So that morning on the phone? That’s when you found out your girlfriend—or wife?—was pregnant?”
Antonio leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. “I was talking to my son’s mother, yes. But not my girlfriend. Certainly not a wife. The boy was twelve years old at that point. I had no idea I had a kid until that phone call.”
Jackie took this in, holding eye contact before she went back to her phone. A small smile formed at the edges of her lips as she typed. “Honestly, I’d be a little surprised if you didn’t have a kid or two. You were in the league, you know.”
“Okay, Jack, that’s rude.” Antonio was offended that Jackie was stereotyping him, even though she wasn’t lying. The guys in the league had earned their reputation. And he’d been wild as hell in his twenties. It was a miracle he’d only fathered one child. “For the most part, I was responsible, but this was the result of a one-night stand on a road trip…”
“You sure do love a one-night stand, huh?” Jackie’s app said a little too loudly.
Antonio stared at her. “I’m being serious, Jack.”
“Sorry. I hear you,” she typed, falling back into their exercise. “I appreciate you sharing.”
“I love my son, and our relationship is fragile, which is why I had to tell you. I couldn’t—we couldn’t—move forward, and you couldn’t trust me without the truth. Especially now.”
Jackie looked confused. Antonio reminded himself to keep breathing while she typed on her phone. “What do you mean especially now? Look, I appreciate the honesty, but if anything, I’m embarrassed. I jumped to conclusions and made up a story about you ten years ago. I was certain I’d caught you on the phone with your wife. I was angry.”
She paused to look him in the eye, then kept typing.
“But today? You having an adult son doesn’t affect me, Antonio. Why would it? It’s not like we’re together.”
That last sentence stung, and Antonio felt a rock land in his stomach. He closed his eyes, because there was no way he’d be able to look at her. “It matters because my son is a client.”
“A client of AMW-Elite?”
“Yes. Specifically, he’syourclient.”
“Myclient? Who?” Her fingers stilled as she realized the answer, and she dropped her phone. She snatched her free hand out of his grip, her nails scratching his palms as she pulled away. Her fingers caressed her throat and she opened her mouth, as if willing her voice to return. She might not have been speaking, but the look Antonio saw on Jackie’s face said outrage.Betrayal.
“Everything okay?” Locust jogged over to them. “Your app got a little loud, Ms. Miles. Is there a technical issue that we can resolve… mindfully?”
Jackie hadn’t realized she’d accidently increased the volume. Locust didn’t have to be so passive aggressive with her remark. The look she quickly gave the woman said,Well, two can play that game.
Jackie picked up her phone, typed furiously, and turned up the volume full blast before she pressed SPEAK. “Duck off, Bohemian Barbie!” She snatched her shoes off the mat and stood to leave.
“Lucky, please, let’s talk about this.” Antonio reached for her, hoping she would sit back down.
Before he knew it, he felt the sting of a backhand against his face. A collective gasp was heard in the garden. Jackie’s hands were small, and she hadn’t put her weight into the slap, but he’d felt it plenty. She snatched her wrist away.
“Jackie!” Antonio called out, but she had already made her way down the steps, toward the beach. He was still rubbing his face when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
