Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“You know what to do. Apologize to your wife. Talk it out. Get a DNA test and face the music. Tell your kids and brace yourself for some fallout. Be the man, the husband, and the dad you need to be.” He leaned forward, grasping my shoulder. “And it’s not the end of the world, Richard. It’s another person in your life to love. Stop looking at her like she’s the enemy. She’s your daughter. Get to know her. Maybe you two can build a relationship.”
“If she stops hating me.”
“If you stop blaming her. I know the way she went about it was wrong, but I agree with Luc. She was blindsided by this, and she reacted—badly, but then again, she is your daughter. Drama runs in the family.”
His words made my mouth quirk. Katy always said I was dramatic and liked to be the center of attention. She wasn’t wrong.
“Maybe we should wait for the DNA test.”
“Do you really need it?” he asked quietly.
“No,” I admitted. “But I want it.”
“I get that.”
“I don’t know how to make this right with Katy.”
“Yes, you do. But you need to give her some time, and you need some too. You’re coming with me to the Hub, and we’re hitting the gym. You need to sweat this out and find your equilibrium.”
“I ran a good ten miles this morning.”
“And you need to run some more. Lift some weights. Talk the anger out. Then have a swim, get your head out of your ass, and go talk to your wife.”
I stood. “You’re right.”
He joined me and slapped me on the back. “Let’s go.”
Aiden and Bentley joined us for some basketball. We spent a couple of hours shooting hoops, trash-talking, and pushing one another on the court. It was what I needed. The physical release, my attention focused on something other than the events of yesterday. My friends knew what I needed as well, driving me hard, not giving an inch. After, we had races in the pool, and I felt calmer than I had been in the past twenty-four hours. I had a change of clothes in my locker. We all kept one there, and I felt better after a shower. I dried off my hair and headed upstairs. There were platters of food left from the day before, and Maddox filled a plate and pushed it toward me.
“Eat. I think you burned off about ten thousand calories today. I don’t want you passing out on us.”
I glanced around the empty space. “No one else around today?”
Aiden smirked as he took a huge bite of some flatbread. He chewed and swallowed. “Nah, I told everyone the place was off-limits today. I said you were sulking and the place was closed until we beat it out of you.”
“Thanks, Aiden,” I said dryly.
He shrugged. “I do what I can.”
I rolled my eyes and ate the food in front of me. I wasn’t hungry, but I knew Maddox wouldn’t let me leave until I had eaten.
I did feel better. The exercise helped clear my mind. The time spent with my friends made me realize how I reacted to the situation would give others a clue on how to follow. If I was angry and upset, then those closest to me would be as well. If I remained calm and logical, it was for the best. I just had to remember that.
Halton walked in, sitting down and filling a plate. He clapped me on the back. “You look better than I expected.”
“I’m good.”
“I’ve arranged for the test tomorrow morning. Ashley did hers today.”
“How long until we get the results?”
“About a week, give or take.”
“Okay, so we hold tight until then.”
He studied me. “Do not contact her, Richard. I’ll arrange a meeting when I get the results. Do what I tell you.” He paused. “We don’t know what she wants.”
“What if she just wants answers?”
“Then you talk to her. If she wants more, we’ll take it one step at a time.”
“She can’t, like, sue me or something, can she?” I asked, feeling suddenly nauseated. What an embarrassment that would be for my family and my friends.
“No. If she were younger, she could have sued for emotional abandonment, or her mother could have sued you for child support, but it’s too late now.”
“Her mother never told me about her.”
“She says different.”
“So, it’s my word against that of a dead woman.”
“Let’s not get carried away. The test first, then we meet. Hopefully, she will have calmed down and can tell us what she wants.”
I nodded, pushing my plate away, my meager appetite totally gone now.
I stood. “I’m heading home. I need to talk to Katy.”
Maddox met my gaze. “Good luck.”
Bentley, who had been relatively quiet, spoke up. “This will pass, Richard. Trust in your wife, in your marriage. Katy is strong. So are your kids. They won’t hold your past against you.”