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“I had a one-night stand with this guy,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. “I never got his contact info, so Kira became just mine. Do you understand?”
“What the hell is happening here?”
My heart drops to my stomach as we both turn towards Brandon. A chill runs through my veins. I wonder what he overheard. It wouldn't be difficult for him to piece it together and realize that Kira is also his daughter, if he did hear me.
“It's nothing,” Spencer says. “I came to confirm if Kira is my daughter, but now I'm starting to doubt it.”
Brandon’s expression is stern and unreadable, but his eyes, they're burning with anger. I can't tell if it's directed at me or his brother.
“Come down here,” he commands in a voice as deep as thunder. “Now!”
I'm still trying to make sense of everything when I realize who he's addressing as Spencer starts descending from the porch. He doesn't argue or resist, he just obeys.
When he reaches Brandon, he says, “Let's continue this conversation next time.”
“There will be no later,” Brandon says firmly. “Don’t ever come back here unless Anya tells you to, and don’t put on a show for everyone to gossip about.”
Spencer’s brow lifts as he stares at his brother. “What’s it to you anyway?”
Brandon’s gaze meets mine. I can’t explain the look he’s giving me. It looks like he’s sad and pities me at the same time. I can’t fathom why. Spencer’s behavior is upsetting, but not enough to have him giving me a look like that.
My stomach flips. What I said didn’t give away that he is Kira’s father. Shit, I need to come clean about this already. I’m so nervous that everything I had for dinner is climbing up my throat.
“Are you okay?” Brandon finally asks after a moment’s staring contest between us.
I nod. “I’m okay, just exhausted.”
“And Kira?”
My jaw falls open. I wasn’t expecting him to ask about her. “She’s asleep.”
“I’m sorry about my brother. He’s really not the brightest person in the universe.”
Spencer glares at me, then at Brandon, and starts to walk away.
I smile to lessen the tension building in my veins. “He is my ex for a reason.”
A flicker of disappointment flashes on Brandon’s face. He bites his lips as if he’s holding himself back from saying anything more. “I’ll see you tomorrow. There’s something we need to discuss.”
I can’t help the way my heart thrashes against my ribcage as I watch him leave. Spencer is already a hulking shadow in the distance.
Does it have to do with Kira? Has he figured it out already?
There are so many questions, but I guess I won’t get any answers until tomorrow. I slip back inside and close the door quietly behind me before making my way to the bedroom. The soft light from the lantern on the nightstand across from Kira’s crib illuminates her peaceful face, her arms sprawled out and her tiny hands curled into fists.
I brush her soft, plump cheeks lightly with a finger. She turns her head and leans into my touch. Her small lips pout. She’s cute. I could stand here all night and watch her sleep, and I already have a feeling I won’t be getting any sleep tonight anyway.
It’s about time I told Brandon about her. I don’t care how he’ll react to Kira being his daughter, but he deserves to know, and Kira deserves to have her father in her life.
Regardless of what happened between us, I hope more than anything that he won’t abandon her. I’ll be grateful to him if he steps up and does right by her, because even with all the trauma he seems to be carrying, the Brandon I know isn’t a man who’ll run from his responsibilities.
If anything, he’ll love her just as much as I do.
CHAPTER 14
Brandon
The pieces of this puzzle seems to fit together too perfectly, the chances of it all being mere coincidence are slim.
