Elle grinned widely. “My name is Elle Star St. Patrick, and I’m seven years old. My mother calls me Evening Star. I’m just Elle to everyone else, and I hope you’ll be my coach so I can win a medal, too.”
“Then call me Coach Grey.” His full lips curved into a smile, and the crinkles around his hazel eyes only made him seem warm and kind. Elle hugged his neck impulsively, and Grey held her to him and closed his eyes. I had to turn away. The moment was too beautiful for me not to ugly cry.
Grey pulled back first and winked. “Want to race? You have to show your Mama you were faster than her, too.”
Elle bragged, “I know I am. She’s old now.”
Laughing, I stepped back and, with clasped hands, watched my best friend instruct his daughter in proper running form before they readied to race. My throat hurt so much from all my yelling, cheering Elle on as she squeaked past her father atthe last second. Of course, he let her win, but Elle didn’t know that. Her face shone brightly as he picked her up and swung her around while she raised her arms in victory. The other runners clapped and cheered, too.
I moved to the bleachers and watched Elle proudly practice with Grey and the other two young ladies, who probably and accurately thought Elle was his daughter. Even if they commented, Elle was too young to make any connection. I doubt he would acknowledge or deny it if asked.
After about twenty minutes, Elle jogged to the other side of the field with his students. Grey flopped down next to me, reminding me of my years watching him run. “She’s amazing, and she’s mine.” He looked at me with a proud smile. “I’ve been a mess all day, wondering how she would react to me and if she would even like me. This way couldn’t be more perfect, and she really has the makings of a runner. She’s fast, and more importantly, she loves it, like I did back then.”
“Crazy, how strong genes are.”
He nodded and rested back on his elbows. “I’m surprised Carter let her come. She’s definitely a Daddy’s girl. She talks about him a lot.”
I touched his hand, which rested next to me. “I’m sorry.”
Grey shrugged. “Still making peace with everything. Can’t say I will ever completely forgive or accept how you handled things, but I can’t live in the past. It isn’t how I operate anymore. At least he treated her like his own when he didn’t have to do that.” We both watched Elle laughing and running sprints with the two women. “Did he tell you about Chelsea?”
“The only thing he admitted was fucking Chelsea the day before my birthday and said it was before me.”
Grey shook his head. “Well, I can’t say I regret it. We wouldn’t have happened, and that little angel wouldn’t be here.”
I grinned and nudged him. “This is why I need you in my life. You reminded me why I should at least let that part go.”
“He refused to tell you anything else?”
“Told me that her son wasn’t his and that if I knew everything, it would change how I see him, and he can’t lose me.”
“That was enough for you to stay with him?” He snorted. “You’re so weak when it comes to him.”
I hugged my knees. “Not weak, playing his game for now. It’s how I brought Elle here without his anger or a fight. Basically, he agreed to step back and let you know, Elle, and he doesn’t have to tell me anything else about Chelsea.”
“You agreed to that?” He incredulously asked.
“Carter was scared to tell me, and I don’t know what would be worse than having a child with Chelsea. I already told him what I thought. I don’t get why he didn’t want to talk. He just evaded it altogether. I even asked him if he held on to Chelsea because he doubted my love for him, which I could understand on some level.”
“So, do you want me to tell you what happened between Carter and me?” He looked at me. The sun changed his eyes to blue.
“No. I want Chelsea to tell me. She tried to tell me about Carter in a letter, and I ripped it before I read it. Do you have her number?”
“It’s been a minute, so I’m not sure if it’s a good number. I can check her IG and message her.” He stood up and pulled his cell out of his pocket. “What made you decide to ask her directly? You trust she’ll tell you the truth?”
“I thought about what you said. I did drop both my friends once I got with Carter. I gave him a second chance and was never angry with you. Yet, I wouldn’t even give her a chance to explain why she never told me she had been with Carter. I know whenmy husband is lying, and a part of me believes he’s telling the truth that he doesn’t have a child with Chelsea.”
“Fucking unbelievable.” He exclaimed as he passed me his phone. “Chelsea is in L.A.”
I picked it up. Chelsea smiled while standing in front of the Beverly Hills Wilshire Hotel. The hotel from the moviePretty Woman. Chelsea was even more beautiful and stylish than when I’d last seen her. She was with another woman whose face was half-hidden as she did the fish lips pose. “Think I need to take a trip to this hotel.”
“It’s only a few minutes away, and it looks like she just took this pic not long ago.”
We both looked across the field at a focused Elle.
Grey waved me on. “Just go. I’ll practice more with her and convince her and my other runners to grab a smoothie on campus or something if you’re not done.”
“You still have my mother’s number?”
“If it’s the same, then yes.”
“You know my Mama hates change. Either call her to pick up Elle or bring Elle to her if I take too long.” I scrambled up and yelled to Elle. “I have to run an errand. Coach Grey and the ladies will take care of you. Is that cool?”
Elle nodded happily and resumed watching the women race.
I kissed Grey’s cheek as I hurried away on a mission to get to the bottom of all this. Fate was on my side. As big as L.A. is, Chelsea stays at a hotel a few minutes from my current location.
Fifteen minutes later, I entered the lobby and went to the counter. As I was about to ask to be connected to Chelsea’s room, I heard her melodic, raspy voice. I turned around and looked in the direction of her voice. She was sitting in the nearby bar, with her back facing me, flirting with a man. I locked eyes with my husband when she tilted her head to check her phone.
