24. Secrets Never Worked
SECRETS NEVER WORKED
“It’s so good to see you, Baker,” Brittany said, rushing into his arms.
She’d texted that she was at Fierce, arrived earlier than she thought, and asked if she could stop in to see where he worked.
He had met her in the front. Damn, it hadn’t seemed like it’d been three years since he’d laid eyes on her.
“You look great.” His hands went to her hair, and fingered a strand. Longer, lighter, frilly. She’d always been a little girly to him.
“So do you.” She gripped his bicep. “A little bigger. Is it to find a chick or in boredom?”
He rolled his eyes. “You never change. And I’m not much bigger.”
At least he didn’t think so. He didn’t hit the gym. Never did and never would.
What he did was in his place, the old school way. Sit-ups, pushups, chin-ups. Burpees. The basic kick your ass things that required nothing fancy.
Because the truth was, he wasn’t a fancy guy and wasn’t going to profess to be.
Not even try to be one.
There was no hiding who he was. If it came back to bite him in the ass, it did, but secrets never worked well in the long run.
Which was why he was struggling with what Tasha told him on Friday.
Did he blame her?
Not really. But it was as he said—he wouldn’t be happy to find out he had a child out there who was kept from him.
There was a throat cleared, then Brittany put her arm around a brunette, the same size as his sister. Same height, same body frame, long curly hair, a bit more makeup and jewelry than his sister wore, but not outlandish either.
“Baker, this is Emme. Emme, my brother, Baker, who I’ve told you so much about.”
He put his hand out. “I’m a hugger,” Emme said, going right in and wrapping him up like his sister had. “I’ve heard so much about you and am thrilled to finally meet.”
“The same. Can’t say I heard all that much because my sister just recently told me.”
Brittany shoved his arm. “She knows that. And she knows why too, but you don’t need to bring it up again.”
“I understand,” Emme said. “My parents were a little nervous early on, but they have been wonderful. They love Brittany.”
“Oh, wow. You didn’t tell me you met her parents.”
“Let’s go to your office. Show me around,” Brittany said. “We can chat then.”
He brought her past the customers toward the door, swiped his card, and let them in. He walked them through the halls, talking about the brewery, then back to his building, and to his office. His sister wasn’t going to be all that interested in how his job worked.
“I’m sure my office isn’t as pretty as yours,” he said, opening the door and letting them in.
It was small, had a desk and a chair across from it, his laptop sitting on top opened, and not much more.
“Ugh, this is boring and plain.”
“It’s gray though,” he said. “It used to be white. I picked a paint color. And I look out onto the floor.”
“You need some color in here. I can buy you things.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t need the guys riding my ass that I made it pretty. We don’t do that shit here.”
Brittany laughed and bumped his shoulder. “Got it. I’m assuming Tasha wasn’t working up front since you went right by the stand.”
“No. She’s off today. Next week is her last week and it’s only a few days before she gets ready for school again.”
“That’s why we came now,” Brittany said. “Emme has to report to school on Wednesday. Just a quick trip.”
“I’m glad you could do it. Tasha is looking forward to meeting you tomorrow. Her mother is taking Micah for a few hours.”
He would have liked the entire night but didn’t want to push it.
He’d spent two dinners with Tasha’s son, played with him, but then left when Micah went to bed. No way the kid was going down while he was there and no reason to make Tasha’s life harder.
“I thought we’d meet him,” Brittany said.
“That would be up to Tasha, but he’s too young to go to a restaurant. He’s really high energy and wouldn’t sit still.”
“I’ve got to use the bathroom,” Emme said. “I think I saw it walking down.”
“Yep, down the hall and to the left.”
The minute Emme was out the door, Brittany said, “Tell me what is on your mind.”
“About what? Emme? You two look good together. She seems very nice. Bubbly like you. Can she put up with your snarkiness though?”
“She loves it,” Brittany said. “But that isn’t what I meant. When I talked to you yesterday you seemed off. Everything okay with you and Tasha?”
He didn’t know if he’d have enough time to talk to her alone. “I told her about Alexa.”
“Wow. Good for you, but I’m surprised that you did so soon. I thought things were going slow.”
“They were. Until they weren’t. I don’t know why it’s changed. I can’t put my finger on it, but I figured if I opened up, then she would too.”
“Did she? Do you know what is going on with the ex?”
“I do. I’m struggling. Or I’m conflicted, but understand.”
Brittany pulled her phone out and sent a text. “Okay. Emme is going to give us five minutes. I need to know what you’re struggling with.”
“What, did you tell her to stay in the bathroom?”
“Yep, I did. It’s this thing we do. She’s done it to me too when she’s introduced me to people. She’ll think you’re telling me what you think of her. And what you tell me, stays between us, I promise.”
His sister was the one person he knew he could count on to not say a word.
But did he want her to form an opinion about his girlfriend before meeting her?
“Micah’s father was married and she didn’t know.” He quickly explained that situation and how Tasha found out.
“Dickhead. And that’s why I don’t like human dicks. Give me the fake ones any day.”
He rolled his eyes. “Brittany.” It just pained him when she talked like that. Whether she was with a man or woman, he didn’t care. He didn’t talk sex with his sister.
“What?” she asked innocently. “It’s the truth. Why lie about it?”
“Not all men are like that.”
“And we’ve got such a great example of it at home living with Mom?”
“Your sarcasm is ready to peel the paint from the walls. But I’m not like that and none of my friends are.”
“I get it, I get it,” Brittany said, waving her hand. “But those few examples are enough to taint most people.”
“Well, it did her. So she hadn’t told anyone other than her best friend, and now me, who Micah’s father is.”
“And the asshole didn’t want to be part of his kid’s life?”
“That’s the thing,” he said. His head went back and forth. He couldn’t get the words out no matter how much he was trying.
“I wouldn’t have even told him,” Brittany said. “Sorry. After what he did to her. Fuck him.”
“Seriously?” he asked. “You would keep that secret?”
“Yeah. I’m not sure I’d want that kind of influence in my child’s life. Most wouldn’t agree, but I don’t care. When you’re hurt you do things to shield yourself. You know, like when a plane is going down, the mother takes the oxygen first so she’s strong enough for the kids.”
He didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it that way.
It was not as if Tasha hadn’t admitted that she knew it was selfish. And that it couldn’t be that way forever.
That months turned to years.
“Well, I’m trying to stay out of it for now. I’ll be there for her though.”
“I don’t get where you’re struggling,” Brittany said. “Just that she’s a single mother? Or the relationship she had with the ex? Do you think she knew he was married and she lied to you?”
This was where he didn’t want his sister to make those snap judgments. “No. Never that.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Fuck. You didn’t hear this from me.”
Brittany grabbed his arm. “What?”
“Guess she thinks more like you than I would have realized.”
“She didn’t tell him she was pregnant?”
He shook his head. “No. She said she needed time to process it. Then once Micah was born, she just wanted to enjoy him, and now time has gotten away from her. Only her best friend and I know. Not even her parents.”
“I want to say good for her, but I get it. Being the guy, maybe it’s not the right decision. But what he did to her, that wasn’t right either. That’s where you’re struggling?”
“Yeah.”
“I think considering she hadn’t told her parents and still told you says something more than words could.”
He nodded his head. “That too.”
“Which is eating at you almost as much as the knowledge of Micah’s father?” Brittany asked, her voice low, almost sympathetic. He nodded. “It doesn’t sound as if Tasha is anything like Alexa. She can take care of herself.”
“No shit.”
“Then wipe that from your mind. If her biggest secret was about Micah’s father, and she told you and not even her own family, then you should be content that she isn’t going to blindside you.”
He pulled Brittany in for a hug. “I’m glad you’re here. I needed that more than I realized.”