Chapter 35
The Wager
? abcdefu - GAYLE
Angelina
My parents flew back to Europe a few weeks ago, and we’re finally adjusting to life without them.
They wholeheartedly approve of Griffin, not that I ever doubted they would.
I miss them so much, but I’m so glad we got to have that time together.
They were ecstatic when I told them we’d be visiting in June, and now they’re counting down the days until we’re finally on their side of the world.
“I’m coming with you,” Griffin says, clipping eight-week-old Jessie into her car seat and giving an extra tug on the straps. She coos at him, and his gaze softens like it always does. He peers down at her one more time, pulling the canopy over the seat.
“We’ll be fine,” I assure him. “I have to do this on my own. Having you there will just complicate things.”
“Are you going to let him see her?” he asks, his voice low and guttural.
“We’ve been over this already. He needs to see her. If he still feels nothing, he can sign the paperwork, and we can move on. I don’t want to leave any room for regret.”
“I don’t fucking like it.”
I take a small step into his space and wrap my arms around his waist. Tension instantly leaves his body as he returns the embrace.
“She’s still your baby girl,” I say. “Meeting the man who abandoned us isn’t going to change your role in her life.”
“And what about yours?”
My lips twitch into a half-smile as I glance up at him. “You’re jealous.”
“So what if I am?”
“I still have free will. A year ago, I chose you. He could get down on his knees and beg for all I care. Nothing is going to change my mind.”
“And if he wants to be in Jessie’s life?”
“He won’t.”
“But if he does.”
“Then he’ll have the fight of his life ahead of him.”
It would only take three simple words to set Griffin’s mind at ease, but I can’t bring myself to utter them—not now. Not while there’s still this threat looming over us. Once Tyler is out of the picture for good, I’ll tell Griffin I love him and hope like hell he says it back.
“I have to go, or we’ll be late.”
I bend to pick up Jessie’s car seat, but he gets there first. Threading his fingers through mine, he walks us out to his truck.
“You aren’t coming with us,” I remind him.
“Let me drive you there. I promise I’ll stay in the truck. I just want to be nearby in case you need me.”
I let out a resigned sigh. It’s not an unreasonable request, and I can’t think of a single good reason not to grant him this one concession. “Ok. You can drive.”
He opens my door first, waiting for me to slide into the seat and secure my belt. Once he’s satisfied, he closes the door and moves to the back, securing Jessie in her spot as the seat clicks into the base.
As we pull out of the ranch gate, Griffin’s knuckles blanch against the steering wheel.
This big, strong teddy bear of a man won’t ever admit he’s afraid, but I know him better than he realizes.
How could I possibly have resisted him? With his quiet strength and his steadfast support.
His big heart and his unending kindness. I was doomed from the very start.
Griffin pulls up outside of Rosie’s diner with a few minutes to spare.
I don’t dare get out of my seat until he pulls my door open for me; I know better than to rob him of the honor.
He takes Jessie’s stroller out of the truck and clicks her into place, lifting the flap of her canopy for one more glance at his girl.
“Be good for your mama, okay? Daddy loves you.”
If my heart still belonged to me, it would be in a puddle at my feet, but it belongs to them now—my husband, and the little girl who made my life complete.
He cups my cheek in his rough palm and takes my mouth in a languid kiss. “I’ll be right here waiting to take you home.”
I swallow the premature confession and turn on my heel, locking eyes with Tyler the second I look up from the ground. He’s standing outside the diner with his hands in his pockets and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
When did he start smoking again?
It doesn’t matter.
What he does with his life now is none of my business.
His eyes stray to the stroller for the briefest moment before he turns away, flicks the cigarette onto the curb, and pulls open the door. “Cute.”
Ignoring the comment, I stride past him into the diner.
“Perfect little happy family,” he mutters beneath the chiming of the bell signaling our arrival.
Rosie waves as I stop next to the only available booth. “I’ll be right with you, doll,” she calls over the din of the midday rush.
I shake my head. “No need. I’ll take my usual to go, and Griffin’s as well.”
“Of course. Holler if you need anything else.”
“I can wait if you want to get something for yourself,” I say, sliding into the seat with a view of Main Street.
Griffin is leaning against the side of the truck, glaring daggers at the back of Tyler’s head. Ridiculous man.
“I’m good,” Tyler replies. “Did you bring the papers?”
I pull a manila envelope out of the diaper bag, sliding it across the table with a pen. He has no legal claim over her since Griffin is on the birth certificate, but this adds another layer of security in case he changes his mind. By then, it’ll be too late.
Jessie chooses that exact moment to let out a quiet wail. I lift the canopy and offer her a pacifier. She takes it happily, her bright eyes staring up at me.
I didn’t truly understand the depth of a mother’s love until I held her in my arms, and it only grows stronger by the minute, encompassing all I am and all I will be. How anyone could look at their child and feel anything but complete adoration is unfathomable.
I glance at Tyler. His gaze is fixed on the papers in front of him.
“Her name is Jessie,” I tell him. “She’s eight weeks old.”
The only acknowledgment he heard me is a brief hum as he scrawls his name next to the first tab.
The familiar sting of rejection resounds in my chest, only this time it’s not for me—it’s for my daughter.
It lasts mere seconds before my attention strays to Griffin, the man who stepped up when he had every opportunity to walk away. We don’t need Tyler. We never did.
Tyler flips to another page. “I didn’t believe him at first. After everything he said that night, I really thought he was just being arrogant and self-righteous.”
My brows draw together. He doesn’t elaborate right away, and the questions begin to mount. It feels like ages before he speaks again.
“Imagine my surprise when I find out he convinced you to marry him the very day you were supposed to marry me.”
“What are you talking about?”
His mouth curves into a self-satisfied smile. I feel the color drain from my face seconds before he opens his mouth again. “Holy shit. You don’t know. The bastard didn’t tell you?”
“Enough with the games. Say whatever it is you want to say so we can be done with this.”
“I was still going to marry you, if only to see the look on his face when you said I do, but something he said kept me up all night. I couldn’t go through with it.”
The ice in my veins melts, the red-hot flame of anger replacing it.
“You know, he was a mess when you moved to town. Told me to stay the fuck away from you. I took that as a challenge.”
He flips to the next page, skimming through each paragraph with his pointer finger. My stomach roils with discomfort the longer I sit here and listen to him talk. I want to leave, but I’m not a coward, and I won’t let him turn me into one.
“I met him at the bar the night before the wedding. Just one drink to calm the nerves. One drink turned into six. I asked him if he was ever going to get married and settle down. He said he’d considered it once, but he lost the chance.
I should’ve let it go, but you know me. I always play to win.
That’s the thing about Griffin. He’s always trying to one-up me.
First, it was just the rodeo. I never could get an edge on him.
He retired before I could claim his title.
” Tyler scoffs, signing his name next to another tab.
“So, I made a wager. We were in Vegas, after all. It all came down to one hand of blackjack.”
A pang of betrayal resounds in my chest.
He wouldn’t.
Tyler shuffles the stack of papers and then slides them into the envelope. “Anyway, I’m moving to Texas tomorrow, and you won’t ever have to see me again. Have a nice life, Angie.”
He makes it out the door without so much as a glance back, and whatever pain I thought I’d feel about that is nothing compared to the crushing news that Griffin orchestrated this whole thing. I fell for it again, just another disappointing man to add to my tally. Way to go, Angie.