Page 28 of Ruin

“Can I get you anything? Coffee? Brandy? I hear it’s good for shock.”

He draws his hands from his face. “Coffee’s fine.”

Hands shaking, I tell Zeus to take a seat in the living room while I go make us some coffee.

There’s still some in the pot from before. I grab two cups and pour the drinks, leaving his black, just like he likes it. I put some creamer in mine and then carry the drinks through.

When I come into the living room with our coffees, I find Zeus standing at the fireplace, the framed picture I have of Gigi up there in his hands.

“Hey, your coffee,” I say, putting the cups down on the coffee table between us.

He turns to me, the picture still in his hand. “I can’t believe she’s mine.”

My spine stiffens. “She is. We can do a paternity test if you want the proof.”

He fixes me with a stare. “That’s not what I meant, Cam.”

I blow out a breath. “Sorry.”

I sit down on the sofa. Zeus walks over and sits down next to me, still holding the picture.

“She’s beautiful,” he says. “She looks just like you.”

It’s hard to have him here, so close, hearing him say that, after all these years. Especially with the hurt and resentment I’ve felt for him for so long, and in many ways, I still do feel it.

He didn’t know about Gigi. I know that now.

But he did sleep with someone else while he was still mine.

“I don’t know. I think she looks like Aunt Elle.”

“You look like Elle,” he says, making his point.

“Yeah, well, she has your eyes,” I tell him. “And your smart mouth.”

That makes him smile. “Does she know…about me? That she has a dad? I mean, everyone knows they have a dad, but does she know who her dad is?”

I shake my head.

“Can I…I want to know her. Spend time with her. Get to know my daughter, Cam.”

My heart stops. I know I should have expected this. But I wasn’t prepared for it.

“I…I don’t know, Zeus. She’s in a good place. She’s happy. I don’t want to upset her life.”

“Neither do I. But please, Cam, I want to know my daughter. I know I’ve messed up in the past…but I have to know her. She’s my flesh and blood.”

The desperation in his voice tightens my throat.

“I don’t know…” I’m scared that he’ll hurt her. That he’ll walk away from her without a backward glance.

“I’ll do anything, Cam. Take this as slow as we need to. But please don’t keep me away from my daughter.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

“Please, Dove.”

I open my eyes and look at him. “Okay.”