Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
After a moment, she stood. “I think I’m going to hit the sack.”
“Okay...” I got up from the couch. “Did you want a T-shirt to sleep in?”
She shook her head. “No. I’ll just sleep in my clothes.”
It didn’t surprise me that she’d reject wearing something of mine. It felt too intimate.
Tension lingered in her wake as she nodded and walked away. Long after she’d joined Nicholas in the bedroom, I sat in a daze, yearning to be in there with both of them.
Chapter 29
* * *
BLAIR
I’d insisted my mother sit down when she came to visit me this morning. After the intense Saturday at Tate’s rental, I needed to talk to her more than ever.
Nicholas was still sleeping, so I served her coffee and recounted the entire story of how I’d figured out Tate was Taylor’s father. Needless to say, she was shocked.
“What the hell are you going to do, Blair?”
“That’s a fair question.” I shrugged, stirring my coffee. “Basically, I’m screwed.”
Her mouth hung open. “I can’t believe this.”
“I know. I’m still absorbing it myself.”
“It was shocking enough when you came home from that trip four years ago and three months later announced that you’d gotten pregnant by an older man you met at the resort. I’d come to terms with the fact that we’d never find or know Nicholas’s father. But this? I don’t know how to process this.”
I sighed. “Aside from the fact that Tate is Taylor’s father, I still don’t regret anything. I told you a lot about Tate—what I remembered of him, what a good man I felt he was—before we knew his identity. None of that’s changed.”
My mother rubbed her temples. “Do you have a photo of him?”
Reaching for my phone, I smiled. “Yes. Finally, I do after the nightmare of having all my photos stolen from the trip. I took a couple of pictures this past weekend.”
I pulled up a photo of Tate and Nicholas in the yard at the rental house. They were both smiling for the camera, and the resemblance was uncanny. And Tate looked gorgeous, of course.
Her jaw dropped all over again. “Wow. Okay. Uh...” She shook her head. “Well, I can see why you got wrapped up in him. He’s an extremely handsome man.”
I couldn’t help but laugh because I knew she’d react that way once she got a look at him—the way anyone would. “Doesn’t Nicholas look just like him?”
“I absolutely see that, yes.” She nodded. “Tate also looks young for his age. A little different than I’d imagined.” After a moment, her expression changed.
“What are you thinking, Mom?”
She looked up at me. “I just feel badly for Taylor. He’s been such a good friend to you. This situation isn’t fair to anyone involved.”
I sighed. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it. This is going to crush him, and our friendship may not survive. But I’m more scared about ruining what he’s built with his dad.”
My mother let out a long breath. “I don’t know how to feel, because I’m so thrilled that Nicholas will get to have his father in his life.”
I nodded. “I know. It’s bittersweet.”
“I’m also a little concerned for you,” she added.
“Me?” I blinked. “Why?”
“Well, it’s clear you still have feelings for this man. But I don’t know that I trust him. He may be Nicholas’s father, but he’s much older than you—my age, for Christ’s sake. And obviously, Taylor’s had a rocky relationship with him.”
“Tate’s worked a long time to repair his relationship with Taylor. He understands where he went wrong, and it wasn’t all his fault. Taylor’s mom made things tough for him when they were younger. His relationship with her is better now, too.” I sighed. “Anyway, he and I have decided we can’t be together romantically. So, you don’t need to worry about me.”
She arched a brow. “Really, Blair? The look on your face a few moments ago when you were showing me the photo? The way you used to talk about the man you met on the trip? You’re absolutely smitten.”
I tried to shake it off, though I knew she was right. “It doesn’t matter, Mom.”
“Sure, it does. Why don’t your feelings matter?”
Sitting up straighter, I announced, “I’m actually going on a date with someone else.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. I made the decision earlier this morning. Tate encouraged it. He offered to babysit. Apparently, he’s already trying to pawn me off on someone else. See? There you go. Nothing to worry about.”
“I find that a bit strange.” My mother drew in her brows. “Who’s the date with?”
“It’s that guy Taylor surprised me with when we all went out to Bianco’s the other night.”
“Do you like him? You didn’t seem all that sure when you came home from that dinner.”
I shrugged. “I like him enough…”
“That’s promising.” She rolled her eyes. “Sounds to me like you’re forcing yourself to go out with him as a distraction from your feelings for Tate.”