Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
She ignored that comment and instead asked, “Can you call Zeke off? Convince him that what he’s about to do by getting a court-ordered DNA test isn’t a good idea?”
Vi stared at her longer than Kyra liked before shaking her head. “No. Anyway, he doesn’t need a DNA test if you tell him the truth. A truth that’s pretty damn clear to anyone who has functioning eyeballs and a handful of brain cells in their head. I thought he was simply using Ledger as an excuse for me to find you. It turns out his instincts were right.”
“I never said Zeke is Ledger’s father.”
Vi pursed her lips as she leaned forward. “You didn’t have to, Ky.” She blew out a breath. “I know you’re worried about Ledger, but being around all of us for so long, you also have to know that boy will be extremely loved. Not to mention, as a Jamison, protected. Zak and Sophie alone will be over the freaking moon when they find out they have a grandson. Their first grandchild.” She smiled as if she was witnessing their reaction.
Of course Vi was siding with her blood over Kyra. Her heart jumped into her throat, making her force out, “Vi. You know how Zeke is. You have to agree that he’s not good father material. He wasn’t even good boyfriend material.”
“But you were with him anyway.”
Shots fired. “Despite his faults, it was difficult to be immune to his charm. I wish I had been stronger and resisted.”
“Believe it or not, you weren’t just anyone to him, Ky. You were his ol’ lady. The truth is, there’s been no one like you before or since. Obviously, your relationship was far from perfect, but it meant something to him.”
“You could’ve fooled me. And Bunny. And everyone else who witnessed that display that night.”
“I get it. His fuck-up can’t be undone. But you didn’t see him after you left, Ky. I did. We all did. He put on a good front, but I’ve known him my whole life. We’re closer than siblings, so despite him hiding it well, I can read him better than anyone. His behavior also got worse after you left. More fights. Being reckless. He was lashing out at anyone and everyone.”
“You’re blaming me for his bad behavior?”
“No, I’m blaming him. He did it to himself. He fucked up, he knew it, and didn’t know how to fix it. What I’m trying to say is, he wouldn’t have acted like that if you truly didn’t mean something to him. Yes, he deserved you breaking up with him. He certainly deserved your ire. What he didn’t deserve was you hiding the fact you were pregnant with his son.”
Debatable.
Kyra wasn’t liking the direction this conversation was taking. She was hoping Vi would have had her back since, like Vi said, she knew Zeke better than anyone. “I had to look out for my child.”
“You didn’t even give him a chance to fix his fuck-up, whether you stayed with him or not. So, instead of asking me to call him off, why not give him a chance now? You don’t need to be with him to co-parent, but why keep a child from his father?”
“Because his father is Zeke.”
“Ky,” Vi breathed. “I understand that you’re worried. Zeke broke your heart and your trust. But he knows how important blood is. We all do. Just give him a chance to prove it. To you and to Ledger.”
“I came here hoping you’d convince him to leave us alone. Instead, you’re trying to convince me to let him back into our lives.”
“You’ve known me for a long time. If I didn’t think Zeke could step up, I never would’ve given him your info. I’d be helping you go underground instead.”
What?
Okay, she had not expected that. “And if I give him a chance to be a good parent and he fails, you’ll help me disappear and not tell him where we land?”
“Zeke isn’t the only one Ledger is related to. He has grandparents here. Aunts, uncles, and plenty of cousins. And that’s only our side of the family. Do you really want to take him away from your family, too? How is that fair to Ledger?”
That was what Kyra thought. Coming home to western PA was a mistake that couldn’t be undone. Just like dating Zeke. “Ledger is my priority, Vi. If you had a child, you’d understand.”
“I don’t need to be a parent to understand. Do you forget who my father is? The man was smothering when my sisters and I were little because he worried something might happen to us. He was one of the worst helicopter parents to ever helicopter. Anyway, no one expected him to be a good parent. He was gruff and grumpy and the king of assholes, but he turned out to be the best father. Zeke could turn out to be the same. But we won’t know that until you give him a shot.”