The moment had grown tense and awkward. Sheepishly, Paige checked the time and stood. “Well, we should probably get going. I've got a lot to do at home and you can just imagine how busy Lance's schedule is. Thanks again for watching Irie.”
“Anytime, sweetheart,” Dad said.
After everyone had given goodbye hugs, Paige strapped Irie into her car seat. Lance watched quietly, apparently deep in thought.
With the sun starting to set in the west, the three drove off.
Chapter 18
Lance
“I figured we could go back to my place,” Paige said.
The Civic's exhaust system was a loud, droning hum that drowned out Lance's thoughts. Then again, at that very moment, he wasn't sure he hadanythoughts.
“… Unless you'd rather me drop you off somewhere? Back at your hotel?” Paige asked.
It'd been an hour since he learned he had a daughter, and he still wasn't quite sure what to think. His mind was rocked. All this time, he had a living, breathing daughter that he helped bring into the world,and he'd never even known it.
It made him wonder if that was why he sought out Paige for so long. Did heknowabout Irie all along—not consciously, but maybe something else, like in his heart or his soul? Was that possible?
And now that he knew, what was he supposed to do next? Was he evenreadyto be a Dad …? A few hours ago, he wasn't sure that heeverwanted to be a Dad.
And what about him and Paige? Was he supposed to do 'the honorable thing' and ask Paige to marry him? He liked her a lot, but it still seemed awfully soon. But they had adaughtertogether, and man, that really threw a wrench in things …
“Lance? Did you hear me?”
“Huh?” Lance snapped out of his trance. “Oh, sorry. Yeah, your place is fine.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. Not at all.” Lance turned around and took a peek at Irie in her car seat. “I'm still just … processing it. It's a lot. I'm a Dad now. Whoa. I mean, Ihavebeen a Dad, but I didn't even know it. It's crazy.”
Paige nodded. “Believe me, I know. I had nine months and eventhatwasn't enough time to process it.”
“It's the craziest birthday present ever.”
Paige's jaw dropped. “Is today your birthday?!”
“No. Tomorrow is.”
“Oh! Well! I'll have to get you something.”
“You already did …” Lance shook his head, still stunned. “Can I ask you something, Paige?”
“Of course.”
“And I don't mean any offense by asking you this—because hell, if you could take one look at my baby pictures, you'd fall over. But I still have to ask: how do you know forsureshe's my daughter?”
“Don't worry. I'm not offended, and I'd ask the same thing in your position. Here's your answer: I got my period the weekend after Adam and I broke up. I slept with you a month after that—and nobody before, or after, or even since. In fact, you are only the second person I've slept with in my life. So … using a little common sense and the process of elimination …”
Lance nodded. “That leaves me.”
Paige waved her hand in the air. “But maybe you'd like to take a paternity test so you can be sure I'm not lying, or trying to gold-dig you, or trap you with a baby that's not yours—”
“Oh, come on. I believe you.”
“I just don't want you to have any doubts.”
