Chapter 39
Kia
Elody’s smaller hand is secured in mine as we walk out of the building and turn toward the park. She chatters nonstop about the dragon slide and how Daddy said he’ll meet us there soon. And how maybe he’ll push her really high on the swings if she asks politely.
I listen intently as the sound of her voice settles over me. For the first time in longer than I can remember, I’m not bracing for the fallout.
Everything feels steady.
It takes a moment to realize that this is exactly what normal feels like.
Sunlight filters through the bare tree branches lining the sidewalk, dappling the pavement with gold. Winter is right around the corner. There are dried leaves, a crisp breeze cutting between the buildings, and the faint scent of coffee and roasted nuts drifting from a nearby cart.
Elody squeezes my hand as she looks up at me, her ponytail bouncing. “I like our family,” she says casually, almost as if she’s commenting on her favorite color.
Happiness spreads through me because I feel it too, and it has everything to do with Laiken.
The way he willingly opened his life to me.
The way Elody slipped into my heart like she’d always belonged there.
And the way he didn’t flinch when he found out about the baby.
Instead of stepping back, he stepped forward without a second thought.
With him, choosing us was never a question.
I can’t stop thinking about the contrast—how the man who isn’t this baby’s biological father already loves this child with his whole heart, while the one who should have wanted it sees nothing but a mistake to erase.
Emotion rises in my throat. “I like it too.”
She beams, swinging our joined hands once, as if sealing the statement.
I swallow hard, blinking against the sting behind my eyes, only wanting to hold on to that feeling, when a flicker of unease crawls up my spine right before my name cuts through the bustle around us.
“Kia.”
I stop short. For half a second, my mind refuses to accept what I’m seeing. I blink, half-expecting the image in front of me to dissolve.
But it doesn’t.
Collin stands on the sidewalk a few feet away, hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket, irritation etched into every line of his face.
My stomach drops as icy tendrils of fear flood my veins.
He cocks his head. “Did you really think you could just ignore my calls? My texts? Ignore me?”
My body reacts before my mind has a chance to fully catch up, and I shift, drawing Elody closer to my side.
“You need to leave,” I say, forcing my voice not to wobble. “There’s nothing for us to talk about.”
Elody’s fingers tighten around mine. With a frown, she edges even closer, her small body pressing against my leg.
Collin’s gaze flicks to her before snapping back to me. “You’re wrong about that. And I’m not leaving until we do.”
“Then let’s go somewhere else. Tell me where you’re staying and I’ll meet you there. I’m not having this conversation on the street.”
He snorts. “Sorry, that’s not going to happen. I gave you plenty of time to handle the situation, and you refused. So now we’ll do it my way.”
Fear spikes through me as I shake my head and take a quick step back. When he tries to close the distance between us, I retreat again.
“Don’t come any closer,” I warn.
For a heartbeat, I think he might see reason and listen. Instead, he lunges, hand clamping around my arm, fingers biting into my skin through my jacket. My muscles lock, freezing in place as panic spikes through me.
“Elody—” I gasp, afraid she’ll get hurt in the fray.
She yanks her hand free from mine and shoves herself between us, her tiny body rigid with fury.
“Leave my mommy alone!” she screams.
The sound is enough to break through the fear locking me in place. Heads turn and footsteps falter as attention shifts our way. Before I can suck in a breath, think about screaming, or drag Elody away, a shadow looms over us.
“Take your goddamn hands off her!”
The roar is deep, furious, and familiar.
Laiken.
The force of his fist connecting with Collin’s face nearly steals my breath.
The impact snaps my ex’s head to the side and sends him stumbling backward, his grip loosening long enough for me to rip my arm free. I nearly fall to the sidewalk as adrenaline floods my system.
Shouts erupt around us as phones lift.
“Oh my God,” someone yells. “That’s Laiken Lennox!”
My arm throbs where Collin grabbed me, a deep ache blooming beneath the shock. Now that I’m free, my hands start to shake as fear finally catches up, rushing through my blood like poison.
Laiken scoops Elody up in one swift motion, pulling her against his chest. Then his arm slides around me as he shifts, planting himself between us and Collin.
“I’ve got you,” Laiken growls.
Elody clings to her father, sobbing into his shoulder, her body trembling. I step in and wrap an arm around her too, pulling her close, needing her to know without question that she’s safe.
The crowd around us continues to swell. People whisper as they record. Already, I know that pictures are being spread. Videos are being uploaded, and a narrative is being formed before there’s even a chance to breathe.
Laiken’s arm locks protectively around me as Elody’s fingers twist into the fabric of his coat.
I hate that the past has finally caught up with me.
More than that, I hate that it touched Elody.
And deep down, I know what will come next.
This won’t just impact me.
It’s going to affect Laiken too.
Because Collin didn’t just find me.
He found us.