I’m not sure why it took now for that beanstalk of jealousy in my stomach to grow from a seed to a vine.This woman was with Easton.Intimately.Just as I’ve been.I always knew the score with Easton, and it never bothered me.So why do I want to scratch out Lila’s eyes or dismember her memory of her time with Easton?Not a good sign since that makes my jealousy less about Tanner and more about Easton.
Lila stops at the edge of the table, the man at her back.“Hi, Easton.”
He shifts in his seat, standing.“Lila?”
I bury my head in the laptop while peeking up to see.
“Yeah, this is my husband, Mike.”
Easton’s gaze falls to the baby carrier.Mine does too.He holds his hand out to Mike.“Nice to meet you.”
The husband shakes his hand but says nothing, turning to his wife.“I’ll get you your tea.”
He walks away, and she looks around before sitting.The carrier faces me, so I inch up on the seat to get a glimpse.My eyes widen, and I lower my head, giving my attention to Tanner when I really want to sayholy shit, were you a twin?
“Thanks for meeting me,” Easton says.
“You were pretty persistent.”
“I wanted to ask if you were… I mean…” He leans forward.“We hooked up, right?”
She blows out a breath.“I tried to strip it from my memory, but yes.”
Easton’s shoulders lose their tension.“I just had to ask because you look a little different than I remember.”
She tilts her head.“Well, that’s what happens when you have a baby.”
Easton’s eyes widen as if he assumes she’s the one, but I want to jump in and say she has another baby.And unless she’s doing aParent Trapthing, the baby isn’t yours.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to be insulting.You’re still beautiful, I mean…”
“Spare me the meaningless compliments.Why am I here?”
Easton sips his coffee again as if he’s buying himself time.
“Do you have some STI or something that you have to disclose to all your partners?”She touches the baby carrier.
Mike returns with two cups, placing one in front of her with a packet of sugar and milk, then sitting next to the baby with his own drink.
It looks as awkward as the conversation sounds.
“No, I don’t have anything.I’m sure you’ve seen the internet stuff.”
“I try to stay out of your world now.”
Man, she’s bitter.What did Easton do to her?
Easton sighs.“Well, someone left a six-month-old baby at the bar under my condo.”
“I don’t even know where you live, Easton.”Her voice has a frosty edge.
He runs his hand through his hair, and I think there’s a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.I wish I could be next to him right now, seeing him through this like he did me at my mom’s house.“It’s kind of… well… a lot of women know where I live.”
“The Dugout,” Mike says.Lila whips her head toward him in disbelief.“What?”He raises his hands.“You know I watch baseball.”He glances at Easton.“Big fan…” Lila’s eyes widen and her jaw sets.“Of Hayes Carlisle.”
Nice save, Mike.
“Listen.”Easton sits up and puts his forearms on the table.“I’m not here because I have an STI or anything, I’m just trying to track down who the mother of my son is.And the timeline for us matched up.”
