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“No idea, Ev. My limited knowledge of paternity tests comes from daytime TV. Not exactly a reliable source of intel.”
“True.” She bit down on her lip, chewing at the corner. “We could figure it out though. Just Google it.”
I sighed. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What? Of course it matters. If Liam’s not the dad, problem solved.”
My stomach clenched, Liam’s words from this morning echoing in my head:I’ll support it. I’ll figure out what’s fair and equitable.
He initially had no intention of being a father to that baby.
Just like my own father.
How could I have fallen in love with someone like that? Guess it was true that you always fell for a guy like your dad. Which, in my case, was an epic fucking fail.
How could I have been so stupid? So blind?I’d only seen the good things, when clearly there must’ve been at least a few red flags.
“Mace? That would solve the problem, right?” Everly asked, her voice interrupting my self-flagellation.
A white-hot surge of anger burst through me, lighting me up like a scoreboard. I shook my head, turning to face her. “You know what? No, it won’t.”
Everly scrunched up her nose, confused. “Why not?”
Clenching my fists, I gritted my teeth, hot tears pricking at my eyes again.Damn, I really wanted to stop crying.
“Because, Ev, okay? Can we just leave it?”
“No. No way. Obviously, there’s more to this story; something else went down between you two. Tell me. Please. I’m not going to let up and you know it.”
I huffed out a breath, trying to get a hold on my swirling emotions. Finally, in a shaky voice, I told Everly the horrible truth. “He said he’d support the baby, do what’s fair and equitable.”
“So?” Everly shrugged, peering over at me. “Sounds like he’s taking responsibility. What more do you want from the guy?”
“Ohmygod, Ev!” I cried, throwing my hands up in the air. “He wasn’t going to be involved in his kid’s life! In his mind, he could send the kid some money and that was it. Total absolution for his sins.”
“Mace,” Everly said, her tone soft and gentle. “This isn’t like your father.”
That did it. Everly sent me over the freaking edge, the tears pricking my eyes spilling over and rolling down my cheeks.
“Yes, itislike that,” I blubbered. “Well, except my own shithead father didn’t even send money. Liam would do better than that. But it’s not only about the money. He owes that child a relationship. He needs to be there for that baby, raise that baby, love that baby. Not just throw money around.”
I rubbed my tears in my sleeve, wiping my nose. All this emotional shit was for the birds.
“I’m no therapist, Mace, but I feel like you’re projecting at the moment. And I’m not taking Liam’s side, so don’t go getting all pissy with me, but maybe he needs a hot minute to figure this out.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I shook my head. “Uh-uh. No. I saw his gut reaction to an unplanned pregnancy. And bottom line? He failed.”
“So game over? Just like that? You’re done?” She snapped her fingers over the steering wheel.
I nodded, a firm resolve settling over me. “Yes.”
“He could be the love of your life—The One—and you’re going to write him off over this?”
I bit my bottom lip, mulling that over. “I guess so.”
“You’re crazy. You know that, right?”
“So you’ve told me.”
