“You’re in a better mood than you’ve been in days,” he remarks.
“Had a lot on my mind,” I tell himas I watch Lyra continue to pile sand on Dane.
Maddox and Ryder walk up with their boards, placing them against the bungalow.
“Yeah, judging by that text you got earlier, you’ve more than a lot on your mind.You know I saw it, so don’t bother denying it.”
I lay my head back with a sigh. Reality comes crashing down.“Not going to deny it. Just haven’t wanted to talk about it.”
“Youdon’t have to talk about it. Get your number changed, so you don’t keep getting the messages,” he tells me simply.
Except it isn’t simple. It never is. “I can’t do that.”
“You better not be thinking of saying yes,” he growls. His face grows hard and dark.
“I’m not but….”
“But nothing. No. It’s a very simple word. Use it.”
“Angel, you know I can’t just say no.”
“Like fuck you can’t,” he yells.
I glance toward the bungalow door, watching for Cara. I don’t want her hearing this.Not like this anyway.
To be honest, it shouldn’t affect anything between her and me.But the drama that’s could possibly be coming my way, I’m worried, will be too much.
“What’s going on?” Maddox walks to us with concern etched on his face.
“Jake, so help me. She has no fucking rights to that little girl. You had them terminated.” I flinch. “You had them terminated, right?” When I don’t answer,Angelthrows his hands in the air in frustration.
“Anyone want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Not right now,I don’t,” I grit. “This is my problem. Let me handle it.”
“There shouldn’t be anything to fucking handle, Jake. I told you two years ago to get her rights terminated. Why didn’t you?”
“Because it didn’t seem right,” I yell. “Peyton is Lyra’s mom, whether I like it or not.”
“No. She isn’t her mom. Cara has been more of a mom to that little girl in six weeks thanPeyton has been her entire life.”
“I know. I wish I’d done what you said. I don’t want her anywhere near Lyra, but I couldn’t go through with it.” My phone that’s been sitting on the bungalowtable since we arrived buzzes. I almostleave it because I know who it is.
Peyton: You can’t avoid me forever. She’s my baby, remember?
I grit my teeth. When Cara walks out, she immediately notices my tension. In reaction, herbody tenses as well. It’s like whatever I feel, she feels.
I need to talk to her about this. Peyton is a complication I didn’t thinkI would have. She left Lyra. She left her in the hospital without a word to anyone.The last time I saw her, I was placing Lyra in her arms. The next day she was gone, and I haven’t heard from her since.
When Lyra turned a year old, Angel said I should file abandonment charges and terminate her rights. It didn’t feel right. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Then another year passed without a word.I didn’t think it was necessary.Guess I was fooling myself.
I should’ve known better. I should’ve done what Angel said.Even in high school, Peyton was drama and trouble.
Case in point? The way she showed up at my door,claiming I got her pregnant. Maybe going along with it when I had irrefutable proof she was lying was stupid, but I was in love. Not with Peyton but with the baby inside of her. I knew from the beginning that Peyton wasn’t cut out to be a mom. If she wastrying to pin it on me, I knew it was because she had no idea who Lyra’s real father was.She needed someone to take care of her and the baby. Idecided to be that someone.
It cost me a lot of time with Cara, but I got Lyra.Imade that conscious choice to let Peyton continue with her lie.
I still remember the shock on her face when I told her the paternity testvalidated her claim. The wheels started turning quickly. Shewas trying to figure out if maybe what she claimed did happen. Then she just went with it,and so did I. Because that baby was going to need someone to take care of her and love her. I knew I could do that. I loved herfrom that first heartbeat.
