“What you want? Zoey…”
“Please, Gabe, just give me time.”
Gabe ran his hand over his face in frustration, and probably to give himself a moment to calm down.
“You know I can’t come after you.”
“I know,” I replied. “That’s the only thin
g that makes this easier.”
“I’ll give you seven weeks, but, Zoey, after the camp is closed for the season, I’ll be in North Carolina.”
I nodded then started to ease myself away from him.
“I’ll call, text, email … whatever, every day.”
“I can’t promise I’ll answer.”
“I’ll do it anyway,” he said, and I took one last long look at him to get my fill, before turning and getting out of there as fast as I could without running.
When I reached the tree line, I looked back and saw Gabe still standing on the porch, his forearms leaning on the railing, his head in his hands. The need to go back and comfort him was great. I knew his whole world had changed in a single second, but so had mine, and I just didn’t think my heart could take another second.
I needed solace, and time to think. I needed my own space. My own things. I needed to figure out if I was strong enough to handle the fact that the man I’d fallen for was the father of my sister’s child.
Chapter Thirty-One ~ Gabe
I stayed there for a while after Zoey left, trying to cipher through all of the thoughts, feelings, and questions that were running through me.
When I felt like I was in control enough to talk to Chloe civilly, I started on the path to my office.
“Coach Lewis?” a now-familiar voice called from behind me, causing my chest to tighten as I turned.
“Hey, Chris, what can I do for you?”
My eyes roamed over him, as if seeing him for the first time, while simultaneously memorizing every inch of him. Heart pounding, a mixture of fear and dread filled my stomach as I wondered what the hell I was going to do about this unbelievable situation.
“Have you seen my mom, or Aunt Z?” he asked as he walked closer, his head coming up to my shoulder.
“Zoey had to go,” I began, not quite sure what to say, but not wanting to upset him. “Ah, your mom is waiting to talk to me in my office. She’ll be taking you home.”
“Oh, okay,” he replied with the easy acceptance that only a child could have. “Can you tell her I’ll be down by the lake with Grace and her folks?”
“Sure thing,” I replied, turning to go. Needing to put a little distance between us.
“Oh, and, Coach?”
“Yeah?”
“It really was so great to meet you. I had the best time, and can’t wait ‘til you come to Aunt Zoey’s. Maybe we can hang out, throw the ball or something.”
Christopher looked up at me, his face so eager and full of innocence, and I wondered how much of that innocence would be lost after all of this.
“Yeah, sure, kid.”
“Cool, see ya later, Coach.”
I watched him walk away, my nerves on edge as I thought about him, his mother, and what this may do to my relationship with Zoey. She was obviously, understandably, freaked, and I worried that the great thing we’d been building was about to be shattered.