Chapter 13
NOAH
“Yeah. We do.”
Sadie regarded me with worry in those gorgeous blue eyes as if part of her feared that I was about to leap across the room like a wild animal and scream in her face.
I wasn’t even close to doing something like that but damned if there wasn’t a big part of me that was frustrated as hell by what she’d done.
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to figure out where to start.
“Truth be told, I’m still processing it. I wanted to give us both a little time to think it all over, to let it settle in our minds. I mean, I’m sure you saw the look on my face when I noticed that tattoo of yours.”
She nodded. “Yes.” Sadie let her hand come to a rest where the tattoo was on her leg, the sheet covering her body. “I’d gotten so caught up in labor and knowing the babies were coming that I forgot all about it.”
“What would you have done if you’d remembered?” I asked. “Made sure it was covered up so there’d be no bloody way I’d ever find out?” There was irritation in my voice, and right away I regretted my words. I sighed, raising my palms. “Sorry. Let it be known right away that I didn’t come up here to tear you a new one.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you had.”
I pursed my lips and nodded. “Just when I saw that tattoo, it was…I didn’t even know what to think. I was mad, sure. You’d gone through a whole damn pregnancy without telling the father of your children.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sure you are. But the more I think about it, the more I don’t understand it. Why? That’s the question I keep asking myself. Why did you feel the need to lie so much to me? All of this, right from when we started talking that night all the way to the moment I saw the tattoo – it was one lie after another, not just to me, but to Camilla, to your family…to everyone.”
She blinked, a tear trickling down her face. I grabbed the box of tissues on the table nearby and brought them over. Sadie eagerly grabbed one and wiped her eyes.
“Sorry to cry. I’m not trying to pity my way out of this or anything. It’s just…” She took in a deep breath through her nose, then looked away and shook her head. “I guess I can start with the first lie. That night…I knew that if I were to tell you who I was, you wouldn’t want anything to do with me. At least, not in that way.”
“You’re right about that, Sadie. Not a chance in hell I would’ve done anything like that with my daughter’s best friend, a woman I’d known since she was a little girl.”
It felt so strange to say that out loud. More than that, it felt wrong.
I had to know why.
“Why Sadie? Why would you seduce me of all people?” I asked.
She looked sheepish for a moment before taking a deep breath and answering. “Because I wanted you. I’ve wanted you for a long time.”
I was shocked to realize that her explanation made me feel good. This beautiful woman wanted me.
Still…
“It never should have happened.”
However,
“I know.” Her voice was weak and loaded with shame.
“It was immature and irresponsible, and the worst part is that only by accident did I find out that I was a father again. Those children are mine as much as yours. And yet you never would’ve told me.”
More tears. I felt terrible as soon as they started pouring.
I closed my eyes and gave myself a moment to work through the anger.
“I didn’t come here to yell at you, I promise.”
“I deserve it. I wouldn’t be mad if you yelled at me all day.”