My heart ached. My chest ached. My head ached.
Everything hurt.
Walking away from Jensen hurt.
I hadn’t wanted to do it. But I’d meant every word that I said. He didn’t trust, period. And I couldn’t be with him if he didn’t trust me. That left us at an impasse.
After the mess back in Austin, I’d thought moving home and trying to figure out what I wanted in my life would be easy. I’d spend time with Kimber and Heidi. I’d find a real job. I’d discover what I wanted.
Instead, my heart, mind, body, and soul belonged to Jensen Wright.
I should have stayed sworn off of men.
I should have stayed far away from the Wrights.
Then, I wouldn’t be standing here with a heart threatening to shatter.
“Fuck,” I whispered, jamming the button to go upstairs. I scrubbed at my face.
No more tears.
No more.
Kimber would notice. I was sure of it. But I was here for her now, and that was what was important. Meeting my new niece.
I took the elevator up to the fourth floor and was directed to my sister’s room.
“Knock, knock,” I said, entering the room.
Kimber was lying in the bed with Noah hovering next to her, holding a cup of ice chips.
“Hey!” she said with a genuine smile. “You made it.”
“I made it.”
“Are you okay?”
“Totally. I’m so excited to finally meet the little one!” I put on a big smile and pushed the last couple of hours out of my mind.
“Well, it’s still going to be a while,” Noah said. “Water hasn’t even broken, but she’s dilated and having contractions at a regular interval. Same as last time.”
“I’m here for an all-nighter then.”
“You look like you came straight from a party. Did you give up your midnight kiss for me?” Kimber asked.
I glanced up at the clock and realized it was only ten thirty. We’d totally missed our New Year’s kiss. Not that I was exactly up for a steamy kiss right now.
“Meh. Don’t worry about it. I know you brought a couple of extra outfits. I’ll just steal your clothes and send Mom back with more when I take over for Lily.”
“You are going to send Mom here?” Kimber asked hysterically.
I cackled, finally feeling an ounce of buoyancy. “Now, you admit your true feelings! She’s crazy, right?”
“I don’t need coaching! I already have two doctors. Sorry, Noah.”
“No offense taken.”
“Ohhh!” Kimber yelled. She doubled over as a contraction hit her full force.
And then I went into full-on sister mode. Kimber gave me something to focus on. I was able to be helpful and be there to make her smile and laugh through the worst of it.
Right after midnight, my phone started ringing and I saw that it was Heidi. “Is it okay if I take this?”
“We’re going to be here a while,” Kimber said. “Go ahead.”
I walked out of the room and found a quiet place to answer. “Hey Heidi.”
“Em! Where are you?” Heidi asked. “I found the hottest guy for my New Year’s kiss, and I want you to meet him.”
“I actually left.”
“Oh, you and Jensen left early for some sex,” Heidi said. I could tell she was drunk.
“Actually, no. Kimber went into labor, and Jensen and I got into a huge fight.”
“Kimber went into labor!” Heidi cried, sobering up. “Should I leave? And wait, what fight? What happened?”
“No, don’t leave. We’re going to be here all night. I can text you when the baby comes.”
“Okay. But what happened with Jensen?”
“His ex-wife Vanessa showed up at the party and told me that Jensen had a son.”
“Well, of course he has a son,” Heidi said. “Duh.”
I froze in place. “What do you mean of course he has a son, Heidi! You knew? Why wouldn’t you tell me something like that?”
“Jesus Christ, I didn’t know that you didn’t know, Emery. Everyone knows he has a kid. He’s like this absentee father, who spends all his money on child support and only sees his kid for the holidays. What did you think I meant when I said that he flies to New York every holiday?”
That conversation all those weeks ago when Heidi had said that came back to me. God, I hadn’t even known what she had meant, but now that I did, I felt like an idiot.
“Fuck. Really everyone knows?” I asked.
“I mean it’s not a secret that he had a kid. I swear I thought you knew before you even hooked up with him.”
“I didn’t.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. I would have said something, but I figured you knew and thought it was no big deal. It’s not like this is his first hook up post-child.”
“Yeah,” I said softly. It sure wasn’t. “It just…I don’t think he’s an absentee father, Heidi. I think he’s really involved in his son’s life. He said he’s very protective of people meeting him. He wants me to meet him, and I don’t know if I want that. I don’t think he really trusts me.”