Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
The older lady says something, but Audrina only shakes her head. She then takes the girl, gathering her in her arms. Without a backward glance or even a word to me, she walks away from me. The little girl looks over her shoulder at me, her brown eyes, the same color I see when I look in a mirror, burning into mine as if she knows me.
That can’t be, though.
But then she raises her little hand, wiggling her fingers at me, and my legs lock underneath me. I collapse into the booth, leaning on it as I watch Audrina carry the child up the side stairs, leaving the older lady behind. My chest aches from how hard my heart is beating. I feel eyes on me. I know Owen and Telly are speaking, but all I can see is Audrina going up the stairs. Surely I’m dreaming. This can’t be real. But I can still feel Audrina in my arms; I can feel her skin against my lips. Most of all, I know that little girl was looking into my eyes like she knew me.
Holy shit.
Once she’s gone, I look up to find the older lady watching me, her eyes sharper than a tack, before taking Audrina’s place, getting customers what they need.
“Um, Orlov…you good?” Telly asks, but I can’t answer him. I’m too busy willing my legs to work so I can chase after them.
“Dude, what the hell just happened?” Owen asks, but all I can do is shake my head. “Are you sure that’s Audrina?”
“Is that your kid?” Telly asks, but still, words elude me. All I can hear is the roar of my blood, and I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience. This can’t be. Audrina didn’t just run away from me…she hid my kid? How could she do this? I get that I hurt her, but to hide a child from me? Her parents? Mine? Ingrid?
What the fuck was she thinking?
Telly looks up, and I do the same to see the older lady standing at our table. She presses her hands into her hips, her eyes shooting daggers at me. “About time you showed up.” I can only gawk at her as she glares down at me. “I don’t know what your intentions are, but they better be good. Maria is the best mother I know and I love them, but this baby needs her father. She cries for you, carries a picture of you and Maria together and wonders when you’ll come for her. I was getting tired of hearing Maria say, ‘One day,’ but I guess she was right. Here you are.”
Each of her words is a slash to my chest. Anger vibrates throughout me alongside unfathomable pain. My throat works as I keep my gaze on her. Across the table, Owen says, “Bro, I don’t think that’s your kid. Her name is Maria.”
My voice is gravel as I mutter, “That’s Audrina’s middle name.”
“No fucking way,” Telly gasps, his eyes wide.
“So, that’s your kid?” Owen asks, mirroring Telly’s shocked look.
I ignore him because, really? Read the damn room. I hold the older lady’s gaze. “I didn’t know.”
“I realize that, but you’re here now. What are you going to do?”
What am I going to do?
What I promised.
I reach into my pocket, pulling out my keys and throwing them at Owen. I then toss money on the table, not sure how much we spent but knowing it can’t be more than the hundred that lands on the Formica.
“Thatcher?”
“Take my car. Go home,” I manage to get out as I stand. “I’ve got to figure this out.”
Telly’s eyes go wide as he urges, “We have a game tomorrow.”
I wave him off. “This is more important.”
“How are you going to get home?” Owen asks, and the shock on his face mirrors mine, I’m sure.
I get out of the booth. “I’ll figure that out later.”
I don’t even give them time to stop me or suggest otherwise. I move past the older lady and head toward the stairs. I feel everyone’s gazes on me, but I can’t care about anything but getting up those damn stairs. I take them three at a time, and they lead to a dark-red door. I lift my hand to knock, but I don’t want to give Audrina the choice to hide any longer. I grab the knob, turning it and entering without warning.
Audrina lets out a cry of surprise from where she’s lying on the bed with our daughter, who is resting on her belly while Audrina rubs her back. I step inside, and my stomach drops as I take in the small room. I assumed it was an apartment with bedrooms and a kitchen, but it’s basically a hotel room. Not a luxury one, but a Motel 6. There are toys everywhere and a clothes rack holding her clothes and the child’s. A desk and a little table are off to the side by the smallest kitchen I’ve ever seen. It’s basically just a mini fridge and a microwave. I don’t understand what I am looking at. Her family are billionaires, and she’s living like this?