Page 16 of A Bossy Surprise

“Mommy, who is that?”

Adam turns and I look around him to see Brady standing at the mouth of the hallway, rubbing sleep from his eyes. His black curls are a little messy from the few hours he’s already been asleep.

I look from Brady’s alarmed face to Adams surprised one and back again, then I kick into gear.

I rush over to my son and squat in front of him. “Honey, I’m sorry. Did we wake you?”

Brady nods, the whole time looking over my shoulder at Adam.

I turn my head to look too. Adam has gone white and his mouth hangs open as he stares at us.

“Come, let me get you back in bed.” I heave my son up onto my hip with some effort, and carry him to his room.

I tuck him into bed and consider reading him one, or two, or three more bedtime stories as a ploy to hide out in here for a little longer, but ultimately decide against it.

I can’t hide from this anymore.

I’m lucky that I even made it this long.

“Good night, honey.” I kiss his forehead and I’m about to leave when he stops me.

“Who is that man?”

I take a deep breath. “He’s just an old friend.”

“Okay, Mommy.” He accepts my answer. I almost envy the innocence. He has not to be able to detect that I’m lying through my teeth.

“Now, get to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

He nods then closes his eyes.

I switch off the light and return to the living room where I find Adam in the exact same spot and with the exact same look on his face that I left him with.

I take a few tentative steps toward him. “Adam, are you all right?”

He whispers something but I don’t hear what he says.

“What was that?”

He clears his throat and says louder, “So it’s true?”

“What do you mean?”

“You got pregnant and had my son?”

I look away from him.

I pause for a long moment, relishing in the last few seconds of holding onto the biggest secret of my life.

Then, I finally speak.

“How did you know?”

“I called Lucas to tell him about running into you at GNN today. He told me about your six-year-old son, and I put two and two together. I had hoped I was being melodramatic, but seeing that boy, I know he’s my son. He looks exactly like me.”

I shake my head. “I wish Lucas hadn’t said anything to you.”

“What the actual fuck, Kayla? What does that even mean? Actually, you’re right. He shouldn’t have told me anything. You should have!”